UPDATE: Conor McGregor is officially out of UFC 303 due to an unknown injury.
The new main event is now a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and JiYí Procházka.
EARLIER: Conor McGregor has not fought inside an octagon since 2021. It was unknown if the “Notorious” one, a two-division UFC champion, would ever return to compete. Fight fans waited and were finally rewarded, as McGregor got booked to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29.
Those same fans are now wondering about the status of the fight in Las Vegas.
A press conference was set for June 3 in Dublin to promote UFC 303. However, it got canceled the day it was scheduled to happen. The UFC released a statement, and McGregor apologized later that day, stating “... a series of obstacles outside of our control” led to the cancelation.
It came 48 hours after UFC CEO Dana White said after UFC 302 that he was heading to Dublin to meet with McGregor.
McGregor and Chandler have been on a collision course since they finished coaching The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year. Fighters from each team had already fought, with Team Chandler dominating, and it got teased they would clash sometime after. However, nothing got booked until later this year.
WATCH: UFC 303: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, exclusively on ESPN+
McGregor is coming back from a broken tibia suffered at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. He also promoted his new “Road House” movie, as well as his business ventures. In addition to all that, McGregor was involved in several controversies — two counts of dangerous driving, court hearings, and social media battles.
Meanwhile, Chandler has waited to fight after two years away himself. His last contest was a loss against Poirier at UFC 281.
What is the status of McGregor vs. Chandler at UFC 303?
Will Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler fight one another at UFC 303?
They will not.
Since the cancelation of the UFC 303 press conference, there have been no updates regarding the status of the McGregor vs. Chandler fight. As of June 13, the fight was still on the UFC schedule page. Meanwhile, Chandler posted on social media on June 4, seemingly stating the fight is still on.
“Planting seeds of doubt. #UFC303 - Walk On. - See you at the top!”
Online, fight fans and media members have pointed out several recent UFC videos highlighting McGregor to promote UFC 303 have been removed.
The Sporting News will provide additional details when available.
MORE: How much are tickets for UFC 303?
McGregor vs. Chandler timeline
- June 2021: McGregor undergoes surgery for his broken tibia.
- May 7, 2022: Chandler calls out McGregor for a fight following a vicious front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. McGregor responds on social media, discussing the idea of a fight.
- August 2022: McGregor is set to appear in the new “Road House” movie.
- February 4, 2023: The UFC announces The Ultimate Fighter 31 with McGregor and Chandler coaching.
- August 15, 2023: The final episode of TUF 31 airs, with McGregor and Chandler teasing a fight.
- October 11, 2023: McGregor re-enters the USADA testing pool. The UFC also announces it would end its partnership with USADA after 2023. USADA CEO Travis Tygart states that the partnership became, via MMA Fighting, “untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months.”
- October 12, 2023: The UFC responds to Tygart, calling the claims “disturbing,” and threatens the organization with legal action
- October 28, 2023: McGregor submits first drug test in two years as he re-enters the USADA testing pool.
- October 29, 2023: McGregor reveals (via MMA Junkie) an April target date for his UFC return.
- December 4, 2023: Chandler reveals on The MMA Hour it has been a frustrating waiting period. He expects a McGregor fight soon and is ready to continue to wait. “The door opening for this fight with Conor, whenever it’s finally supposed to be, it will be, and I’m just being at peace in the midst of the waiting.”
- February 17, 2024: White is asked about McGregor’s status. He says he has hoped for a fall return for McGregor. Regarding any holdup, White points out McGregor's surgery as well as money. “Any time we get Conor, we'll be thrilled when he comes back and fights," White says, via Sports Illustrated. "But money complicates a lot of things. He just filmed a movie. He's gotta do the press for the movie, and he's got obligations with that. He does want to fight this year, but we'll see what happens.”
- February 19, 2024: Chandler calls out McGregor for a fight while on an episode of Monday Night Raw.
- March 19, 2024: McGregor tells ESPN via MMA Junkie, "We got confirmation a few days ago that it’s all systems go. 'The Mac,’ ‘The Notorious’ will be returning to the UFC octagon this summer.” McGregor also discusses his UFC contract, noting he has two fights left on his deal.
- March 21, 2024: "Road House" makes its U.S. debut. McGregor goes on a massive press tour.
- April 14, 2024: Dana White announces McGregor vs. Chandler is official for UFC 303 on June 29
- May 24, 2024: A Dublin press conference featuring McGregor and Chandler gets announced for June 3 in the 3Arena
- June 3, 2024: The McGregor vs. Chandler press conference gets postponed. Ariel Helwani states there are no injuries or anything of that nature to report at the moment.
- June 5, 2024: Ariel Helwani reported "all systems go" for the fight. He stated on The MMA Hour there is "great positivity" McGregor vs. Chandler will happen at UFC 303
- June 11, 2024: Helwani stated "feelers are being sent out for a replacement and/or new main event” for UFC 303, just in case. He expects an answer on the main event sometime soon.
- June 13, 2024: Dana White confirms that McGregor is out with an unspecified injury and Pereira vs. Prochazka is the new main event.