Helwani Unsure If McGregor vs. Chandler Will Happen – ‘There Is Pessimism All Over’

The UFC are once against sending out feelers over a new UFC 303 main event as doubts increase over a Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight. 

McGregor vs. Chandler has been set for June 29. It will be McGregor’s first fight since breaking his leg in his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The anticipation for the fight has been building ever since the two crossed paths on the TUF 31 series. Chandler also enters the fight with a loss to Poirier at UFC 281 in 2022. The fight has set a new UFC gate record exceeding $20 million. The first presser for the event was scheduled for June 3. Tickets sold out in nine minutes. However, the UFC postponed the presser until further notice. 

McGregor vs. Chandler

“The UFC 303 press conference scheduled for Monday, June 3 in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice. We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend. When we have further information on a new date and time, we will share it immediately. – Thank you.”

McGregor clarified those comments, saying obstacles were preventing it from happening. Since then, McGregor was pictured at a doctor’s office. This raised concerns that he may have been injured, although McGregor had a smile on his face. Ariel Helwani responded that the UFC had put out feelers for a replacement. However, the reporter qualified those comments, saying he expected the fight to go ahead. Once again, Helwani has raised doubts about the fight. 

Helwani Responds

“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, multiple 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. So…. will we see McGregor vs. Chandler at UFC 303? As the old saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Or is this a publicity build-up? It’s anyone’s guess,” Helwani

Comments

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.