UFC has cancelled the highly anticipated bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, originally scheduled for June 29, at UFC 303. The abrupt cancellation of a pre-fight press conference has led to speculation about the fight’s status. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news on Thursday, citing McGregor’s injury as the reason for the cancellation.
In place of the McGregor-Chandler fight, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will now defend his title in a rematch against Jiri Prochazka. This new main event will headline International Fight Week 2024.
The change follows a series of tumultuous events, including the cancelled press conference and McGregor’s subsequent statement attributing the disruption to “a series of obstacles outside of our control.” Despite initial hopes that the fight would proceed, McGregor’s injury has ultimately derailed his return to the octagon, which would have been his first fight since a severe leg injury against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Chandler, who has been on the sidelines awaiting this matchup, faces a prolonged absence from competition. His last fight was in 2022, and with the cancellation, he may not return to the ring for another year.
Stepping in to save the main event, Pereira and Prochazka will rekindle their rivalry. Pereira, a former middleweight champion, has dominated the light heavyweight division, capturing the title with a knockout win over Prochazka in 2023 and defending it with a victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April. Prochazka, meanwhile, rebounded with a second-round knockout of Aleksandar Rakic at the same UFC 300 event and is eager for revenge against Pereira.
The co-main event has also seen changes. Originally featuring Jamahal Hill, who is now out with a knee injury, featherweights Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes will now fill the spot. Carlos Ulberg, who was set to face Hill, will instead fight former title challenger Anthony Smith.
UFC 303 promises to be an action-packed event despite the setbacks, with Pereira and Prochazka headlining and exciting new matchups on the undercard.
