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UFC 303 is 16 days away and the MMA world still has no idea what’s going on with the main event.
Conor McGregor, the former champion in both the UFC Lightweight and Featherweight divisions, is set to be the main attraction in Las Vegas this month. However, the upcoming fight has been marred by controversy. Adding to the frustration is the UFC’s unwillingness to address the situation openly and provide the fans with any definitive updates.
Combat sports enthusiasts are filled with curiosity as we approach one of the most monumental MMA events in history, with less than two weeks left. Two burning questions arise in their minds: 1) Will McGregor vs. Chandler encounter cancellation? And 2) Is there a possibility that UFC 303 will be canceled completely?
This is the most recent update regarding the situation, along with the potential outcomes that may occur.
Latest on UFC 303: McGregor vs Chandler Situation
The journey of the UFC 303 main event has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, as anyone who has been keeping up with it would attest.
The announcement of this fight brought immense excitement among fans. McGregor’s reputation as one of the UFC’s greatest figures, coupled with his absence from the ring for almost three years, heightened the anticipation. On the other hand, Chandler, a former Bellator Lightweight titleholder, is renowned for his fearless approach towards formidable opponents.
But any hopes and dreams for the fight began to dim at the start of June. Last week, the UFC canceled a McGregor vs. Chandler press conference in Ireland at the last minute without providing a reason as to why. Things got even more confusing when Chandler revealed that he was ready to travel overseas, but ended up staying in Tennessee after learning about the cancelation.
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin reported earlier this week that the postponement was McGregor-related.
Is the UFC 303 main event in jeopardy?
With the UFC not releasing any sort of statement regarding the UFC 303 main event, fans assumed that everything was good to proceed. Unfortunately, the latest from MMA insider Ariel Helwani indicates that might not be the case.
“I found out, via multiple sources, that they (the UFC) are reaching out to people again,” Helwani reported on Tuesday’s MMA Hour. “They are reaching out to managers, they are reaching out to fighters, as potential replacements, as a new fight, as backups, as someone stepping in for McGregor, or just as insurance.”
The fact that the UFC is reaching out to potential replacements is worrisome, even if it’s just for insurance purposes. According to Helwani, his sources aren’t optimistic about the status of the upcoming main event, and he states that the fight is currently in a state of uncertainty.
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Deleted McGregor Social Media Post Sparks Controversy
Fans’ nerves became even more shot on Wednesday when McGregor made a cryptic social media post. The 35-year-old took to Instagram to post an old video of himself talking about injuries with sad and praying hands emojis overlayed on top of it.
After promptly removing the video, McGregor’s action failed to quell the curiosity of MMA enthusiasts who pondered its significance. If McGregor is indeed injured, wouldn’t it be logical for the UFC to publicly declare it?
Not everyone shares the same belief about the former champion’s injury, as opinions vary. Gilbert Burns, a former UFC welterweight title challenger and teammate of Chandler in Kill Cliff FC, expressed his thoughts on the matter through his YouTube channel. He believes that McGregor’s actions are merely mind games.
“I believe Conor McGregor is mimicking the Ryan Garcia strategy, attempting to portray himself as slightly unhinged,” expressed Gilbert on his popular channel, boasting more than 67,000 subscribers. “In my opinion, he is pretending. I genuinely think he is skilled and the fight will indeed take place, causing unnecessary speculation among the public.”
Burns is referring to world-class boxer Ryan Garcia, who had people thinking he was mentally unfit ahead of his April bout against Devin Haney. Garcia ended up winning via majority decision, indicating that the lead-up to the fight could’ve been his plan to throw Haney off his game.
However, it is still uncertain whether McGregor is intentionally deceiving us, and we will probably remain unaware until an official statement is released.
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So, is UFC 303: McGregor vs Chandler Canceled?
As of Thursday, June 13, the UFC 303: McGregor vs. Chandler main event is still on. Even if the outlook isn’t promising at the moment, we have to assume the headling act is going on as scheduled as long as the UFC, venue, and fighters are still advertising it.
Even if McGregor is replaced or the fight is scrapped, it’s incredibly unlikely that the entire pay-per-view will be canned. The last time that the UFC canceled an event for non-COVID reasons was when a replacement main event couldn’t be found for UFC 234 — over five years ago.
Ultimately, the UFC probably has financial motivations for their actions. If McGregor were to be taken off the PPV, numerous refund requests would flood in. Consequently, the company is most likely putting in tremendous effort to quickly identify a substitute fighter or match that would result in fewer negative reactions.
The fans deserve a solution that benefits them, as being in a state of uncertainty on a weekly basis, especially with the upcoming PPV just two weeks away, is not enjoyable. It is only fair that the fans receive a more reliable guarantee for the main event they pay for.
UFC 303: McGregor vs Chandler Information & FAQ
When is UFC 303?
- Mark your calendars for UFC 303, scheduled to happen on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Where is UFC 303?
- The live broadcast of UFC 303 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
What time does UFC 303 start?
- UFC 303 Early Prelims Start Time: 6 p.m. ET
- UFC 303 Preliminary Card Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
- UFC 303 Main Card Start Time: 10 p.m. ET
How to Watch UFC 303
- UFC 303 Early Prelims Channel: ESPN+, ESPN
- UFC 303 Preliminary Card Channel: ESPN+, PPV
- UFC 303 Main Card Channel: ESPN+, PPV
How to Bet on UFC 303
- All of the top online sports betting sites will have UFC 303 odds, but here are some of the sites we recommend most for UFC betting enthusiasts.
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