Conor McGregor Backs Out of Fight with Michael Chandler
Conor McGregor Backs Out of Fight with Michael Chandler
UFC President Dana White revealed on Thursday night that Conor McGregor will no longer be participating in the highly anticipated showdown against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, slated for June 29 in Las Vegas.
McGregor (22-6) was primed to take center stage in the event; however, he’s had to bow out due to an injury, marking the first instance in his illustrious UFC journey where he’s sidelined himself from a fight.
In a swift change of plans, the new headline match will feature a clash for the light heavyweight title between Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka, as confirmed by White.
White further disclosed two additional matchups for the event: Diego Lopes versus Brian Ortega will serve as the co-main event, while Carlos Ulberg steps in to face Anthony Smith in a light heavyweight encounter, following Jamahal Hill’s withdrawal due to injury.
The UFC, under White’s guidance, had been anticipating a record-setting event, with a projected live gate surpassing $20 million. However, it remains uncertain whether the non-title welterweight bout between McGregor and Chandler will be rescheduled.
McGregor, 35, was on the verge of making a comeback after his unfortunate leg injury during a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Since his blockbuster boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, McGregor has only entered the Octagon four times, with mixed results including two defeats to Poirier and a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
The cancellation of the June fight marks another setback in the ongoing saga between McGregor and Chandler. Chandler, a former Bellator MMA champion, had been earnestly pursuing a bout with McGregor since 2022. Although the UFC confirmed their coaching roles on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series in early 2023, it took until this year to finalize a fight date due to various hurdles.
Notably, McGregor’s situation led to a rift with the UFC’s former drug testing partner, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), resulting in the dissolution of their partnership. Allegations surfaced that the UFC sought to exempt McGregor from a mandatory six-month testing requirement post-injury, a claim vehemently denied by UFC’s chief business officer, Hunter Campbell.
In light of these events, the UFC has established collaborations with alternative agencies to manage its drug testing protocols.
McGregor, hailing from Ireland, had vowed to initiate the “Greatest Comeback in Sports History” upon his return to the Octagon this year. However, a public news conference scheduled for June 3 in Dublin, featuring McGregor and Chandler, was abruptly canceled, sparking speculations regarding the fate of their bout.
Meanwhile, Chandler, 38, has remained inactive since his closely contested bout with Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. While expressing fleeting interest in potential matchups against Nate Diaz and BMF titleholder Max Holloway, Chandler’s future plans in the UFC remain uncertain.
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