Michael Chandler gives official statement on UFC 303 fight cancellation after Conor McGregor confirms injury
Michael Chandler recently released a statement about Conor McGregor's disappointing withdrawal from the main event of UFC 303. 'Iron' was thus taken off the card by the promotion as they now wait for McGregor to recover completely and reschedule the fight.
The mixed martial arts community has been curious to find out whether the reports that McGregor had an injury during his training camp were accurate over the past two weeks. Regretfully, Dana White has announced that the former UFC two-division champion will not be able to square off against Chandler on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Following the announcement, Chandler took to X and expressed his thoughts on McGgregor's withdrawal, writing:
''Official statement: “I’m here, just as in 2009 when I started. The most reliable man in MMA. See you when I see you.”''
Chandler also wished for The Irishman's quick recovery, writing:
''No hard feelings. Heal up. My heart is full. See you soon.''
The UFC CEO also revealed who will take the main event slot at UFC 303. The June 29 pay-per-view main fight will feature Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka in a highly anticipated rematch, rather than McGregor vs. Chandler.
Previously, McGregor addressed the incident on Instagram. To prevent Chandler from having an advantage later in the year, 'The Notorious' disclosed only a few details about his injuries without disclosing the whole details:
''Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout. I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team. My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I'll be back!"
Michael Chandler outlines the risks that come with fighting Conor McGregor
Michael Chandler expressed his thoughts on Conor McGregor being forced to withdraw from their bout at UFC 303 in a joint Instagram post with MEGAFIT MEALS. The former Bellator lightweight champion stated that the clear financial impact that accompanies the uncertainty makes facing McGregor worthwhile.
He wrote:
''@thenotoriousmma was never the safe bet as an opponent, he was always the highest risk. Maybe the highest reward...but the biggest opportunity. There is no right or wrong in this business...you only take risk to grow, or remain comfortable where you are. Embrace the uncertainty. Seek the opportunity. Take calculated risk...And if it doesn't go as planned...redirect the course to something even more great."