Connor McGregor's Return Fight Canceled Over Injury—Meaning ...

20 days ago

Forbes

Topline

Conor McGregor's return to the octagon has been delayed after the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion withdrew from his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, causing a last-minute change in the event’s lineup that appears to have impacted ticket prices on the resale market.

Conor McGregor was set to take on Michael Chandler in his first UFC bout since July 2021.

Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Key Facts

In a post on X, UFC President Dana White said McGregor is out of UFC 303 “with an injury,” adding the new main event for the pay-per-view show will be a light heavyweight title rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former champion Jiri Procházka.

The Irish UFC star did not comment on the cancelation, but Chandler posted on X hours before the announcement that he and McGregor had “pulled out” of zero fights “in their entire careers.”

White’s announcement included no details, but MMA journalist Ariel Helwani said the former champion suffered an injury earlier this month “a day or so before” a press conference promoting the fight in Dublin—which had to be cancelled.

Helwani said everyone involved initially believed McGregor might be able to recover in time for the fight, but “about 48 hours or so ago the realization was that this fight isn’t going to happen.”

The co-main event fight between former light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg was also cancelled over an injury to Hill and replaced with a bout between featherweights Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes.

UFC 303 is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on June 29.

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Big Number

Way over $20 million. That is how much UFC 303 generated from ticket sales, White said at a press conference in Las Vegas in May. This makes it the highest live gate in UFC history and the first one where the $20 million mark has been breached. The record sales were likely the result of McGregor making his long-anticipated return to the octagon after nearly three years.

What To Watch For

With McGregor out, ticket resale prices for the event are likely to take a hit. At around $843, the event’s average ticket price was already more than four times higher than other UFC events. Last week, the cheapest ticket available for resale on the secondary market was $1,084, but now that has dropped to $500 on StubHub. Most upper deck seats are selling for less than $1,000.

Key Background

The planned main event between McGregor and Chandler was set to be the Irish fighter’s first MMA bout since UFC 264 in July 2021. In his last fight, McGregor lost to then-No.1 lightweight Dustin Poirier in the first round after a doctor stoppage. This was McGregor’s second consecutive loss to Poirier, who beat him at UFC 257 a few months prior. Since then, McGregor has focused on his liquor business and movie career. Earlier this year, he starred in the remake of Roadhouse alongside actor Jake Gyllenhaal. His bout with Chandler was built up over the past year, as they coached opposing teams in the 31st season of the reality competition show The Ultimate Fighter. In February, Chandler even appeared on a WWE show to call out McGregor.