In a shocking turn of events, the highly anticipated UFC 303 main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler has been officially cancelled. A few weeks ago, rumors began circulating that the clash between Chandler and McGregor was in jeopardy after the scheduled UFC 303 press conference was canceled just a few hours before the event. Then reports came that the UFC was looking for replacement fighters for the UFC 303 main event. The fight was set to mark the Irishman’s return to the UFC octagon. His last appearance in the UFC was in 2021 and now the MMA fans have to wait more for his return.
Dana White announced the new main event
UFC President Dana White made the announcement on Thursday, citing McGregor’s injury as the reason for the cancellation of the bout. Now the UFC 303 main event will be headlined by Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, who will fight for the light heavyweight title. The co-main event will now feature former featherweight champion Brian Ortega facing Diego Lopez. Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg were originally set to co-main event, but Hill suffered an injury that led the change in event.
McGregor vs Chandler will be rescheduled
Despite the turn of events, there is still hope that the clash between “Iron” and “The Notorious” could take place later this year, with discussions indicating it could be rescheduled for August or September. The scheduling will depend on McGregor’s recovery timeline. This is not the first time the former UFC champion has withdrawn from a bout due to injury.
Excitement for UFC 303 remains high
Conor McGregor is yet to address the main event change and tell fans about the severity of his injury. However, he did put a cryptic message yesterday on his Instagram story and soon deleted the post. It seems like McGregor suffered an injury during his training. Although the UFC 303 card has been changed, excitement for Pereira and Prochazka in the main event is high.
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