Las Vegas, Nevada – Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon has been put on hold once again. UFC made the announcement Thursday that McGregor’s fight against Michael Chandler, scheduled to headline UFC 303 in Las Vegas on June 29, will no longer take place due to an injury.
Instead, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is set to defend his title against Jiri Prochazka in the new main event, as revealed by UFC CEO Dana White in a video shared on social media. McGregor last fought in July 2021, where he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 after breaking his left leg. The injury required surgery and an extensive recovery period.
Despite his recent setbacks, McGregor remains a dominant force in the world of mixed martial arts, known for his charisma and skills inside the cage. The Irish superstar has headlined some of the top-selling pay-per-view UFC events of all time, including his memorable clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018. He also ventured into the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, generating record-breaking PPV numbers.
Chandler, a former UFC lightweight title contender and Bellator champion, has been eager to face McGregor but has not competed since November 2022. While his UFC record stands at 2-3, Chandler has consistently impressed with his performances, receiving post-fight bonuses in four of his five bouts.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether the much-anticipated matchup between McGregor and Chandler will be rescheduled. Fans will have to wait to see if the two fighters will eventually cross paths in the octagon. McGregor’s journey back to the top of the UFC remains a compelling storyline in the world of mixed martial arts.