Back In Doubt After Fresh Wave Of ‘Pessimism’
The International Fight Week headliner appears up in the air once again.
The International Fight Week headliner appears up in the air once again.
A fresh update on the UFC 303 main event comes as difficult reading for fans of former two-division champion Conor McGregor.
McGregor’s long-awaited return fight was finally made official earlier this year, with a lengthy period of speculation regarding his clash against opposing TUF coach Michael Chandler brought to an end by confirmation that the pair would headline International Fight Week on June 29.
But as the highly anticipated pay-per-view approaches, McGregor’s comeback was recently thrown up in the air after the late-notice cancellation of a press conference scheduled for Dublin, Ireland, last Monday.
Posts from Chandler on social media, a statement with no mention of UFC 303 from McGregor, talk of ESPN removing pay-per-view pre-purchase for the event, and the promotion itself deleting promotional free fights featuring McGregor from YouTube increased rumors that trouble might be in the air.
Just as the community was gearing up for a disappointing announcement, however, a positive update emerged. Renowned combat sports personality Ariel Helwani reported that things were back on track, with the promotion now confident of McGregor vs. Chandler going ahead.
While that may have spurred celebrations from the Irishman’s fans, they may need to hold their horses…
In a fresh update on Tuesday, June 11, Helwani reported that the saga surrounding the UFC 303 main event has once again taken another turn.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Canadian journalist stated that not only is “pessimism” about the fight going ahead back, but there appears to be even more doubt than there was in the days after the press conference cancellation.
Helwani also revealed that the UFC is once again exploring other options should the long-discussed and feared worst-case scenario come to fruition.
"Latest on UFC 303: Around this time last week, all the anxiety surrounding the UFC 303 main event seemed to start to dissipate. By Wednesday, no more feelers about replacements were being sent out. All systems seemed to be a go (again). Later in the week, Chandler did an interview with The Pivot about it being all good, and on Saturday UFC was promoting it again on the ABC fight night telecast. There was a scare about the fight being off and the scare appeared to be no more.
“But since this morning, mutiple sources are now saying feelers are being sent out again for June 29. For a replacement and/or new fight(s). In short, there seems to pessimism all over again regarding the status of the 303 main event. Actually even more pessimism - it seems - than on Monday last week after the presser was cancelled at the last minute. Is this insurance? Due diligence? Emergency replacement mode? Remains to be seen. It’s all developing (again). But it doesn’t appear as though we are out of the woods either way just yet. More to come, and hopefully a definitive answer one way or the other In short order.”
It remains to be seen who will enter the cage in the main event of June 29. But as things stand, it appears far from a sure-fire thing that McGregor and Chandler will be the two closing out International Fight Week.
Conor McDougal is such a train wreck
If they can get Conor to actually show up, it’ll be the worst ,most one sided fight in recent memory.
He’ll probably vomit in the octagon and maybe even involuntarily shit his pants while he’s at it.
It will be epic!
If Conor doesn’t perform well, this is his last big money showcase, save a desperate freakshow or desperate money grab of irrelevance, like Jake Paul & Nate Diaz respectively.
I don’t know much about him, but I thought he was loaded and didn’t need a cash grab.
that’s why he’ll get wrecked, he doesn’t need the money and like most of us would rather not fight if we didn’t really have to.
Conors’ destiny was always to KO Jake Paul for a big payday…. Its happening
Thing is he’d make more $$ fighting Jake on his own or fighting Nat on their own. It makes more sense from a financial and health POV to fight lesser competition and make more money vs staying in UFC. He has two fights left on this deal so this fight and one more. Then big $$ fights on his own.
Considering he hasn’t beat anyone relevant since 2016 I can’t imagine his stock would be that high outside if the UFC. The UFC Champion in a Boxing match has already been done and he looked bad in it.
At this point I would be trying to get a refund for any plane tickets, hotels, UFC tickets.
Dude can’t even skip a night of partying for one training camp. Conor is done. Should just have him fight washed up Diaz bros and other past it fighters at this point.
Definitely. If enough people do this the UFC won’t be so fast to sign Conor for a fight unless he’s willing and able to actually fight.
He has a lot to lose fighting Chandler.
I saw somewhere a guy is out of pocket 10k for air fares etc.and was asking for advice. Im sure there are a lot of people in his shoes.
*card subject to change, *no refunds
Other than losing the fight, what else would he “lose”?
He’s living off other peoples memories and making a living.
He’s got no legacy to lose.