The highly anticipated fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler at UFC 303 has been called off due to McGregor’s injury. This news came directly from UFC CEO Dana White, who announced that McGregor will no longer be headlining the event in Las Vegas on June 29. McGregor’s withdrawal marks the first time in his UFC career that he has pulled out of a fight for any reason.
The new main event for UFC 303 will now be a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka. Additionally, White revealed two more new fights to the card: Diego Lopes will now face Brian Ortega in the co-main event, and Carlos Ulberg will take on Anthony Smith in a light heavyweight bout, replacing the injured Jamahal Hill.
With McGregor out of the event, UFC 303 was on track to set a record for the organization with a live gate expected to exceed $20 million. However, the cancellation of the highly anticipated welterweight bout between McGregor and Chandler has left fans disappointed and wondering if the fight will be rescheduled at a later date.
McGregor, who was set to make his return to the Octagon after suffering a broken leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, has had a mixed record in his recent appearances. With losses to Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor’s return to the UFC was highly anticipated, only to be derailed by this latest injury.
The buildup to the McGregor vs. Chandler fight has been a long and winding road. Chandler first called out McGregor in 2022, and the two were set to coach against each other on „The Ultimate Fighter“ reality series in early 2023. However, the fight date was repeatedly pushed back for various reasons, including issues with the UFC’s drug testing program and McGregor’s recovery from his leg injury.
Despite promises from McGregor of a „Greatest Comeback in Sports History,“ the fight between McGregor and Chandler has been plagued by delays and setbacks. The public news conference scheduled for June 3 in Dublin, where McGregor and Chandler were set to face off, was canceled just hours before it was supposed to take place, raising questions about the future of the matchup.
Meanwhile, Michael Chandler, who has not fought since his loss to Poirier in November 2022, has expressed interest in potential bouts against Nate Diaz and Max Holloway. However, with Diaz not currently signed to the UFC and Holloway holding the BMF title, Chandler’s future in the organization remains uncertain.
As fans await updates on McGregor’s injury and the potential rescheduling of the fight with Chandler, the new main event between Pereira and Procházka promises to deliver an exciting matchup for UFC 303. While McGregor’s withdrawal is a setback for the event, the card remains stacked with talent and promises to deliver an unforgettable night of fights in Las Vegas.
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