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Conor McGregor’s practically three-year layoff from the UFC will change into even longer, because the Irishman withdrew from his UFC 303 battle in opposition to Michael Chandler on Thursday.
UFC president Dana White announced McGregor’s exit, solely saying that the Irishman had sustained an damage.
The primary occasion, set to happen June 29, can be changed by a lightweight heavyweight title rematch between champion Alex Pereira and former champion Jiri Procházka. Pereira beforehand defeated Procházka by way of second-round TKO to win the chronically vacant belt at UFC 295 final November.
The co-main occasion between former gentle heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg can be being changed by a bout between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes resulting from an damage to Hill. Ulberg will as an alternative face Anthony Smith.
It was a tough day total for the UFC, because the Struggle Night time scheduled the week earlier than 303 additionally noticed its predominant occasion between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker get derailed due to a medical issue with Chimaev. The UFC introduced earlier Thursday that Whittaker will as an alternative face Ikram Aliskerov.
McGregor final fought at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he misplaced a trilogy battle with Dustin Poirier by way of TKO after breaking his tibia on the finish of the primary spherical. It has been greater than 4 years since he final received a battle, and practically eight years since he received a title battle.
Conor McGregor’s UFC 303 withdrawal was rumored for greater than every week
Followers hoping for McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 303 first noticed crimson flags when a information convention with Chandler scheduled for June 3 was abruptly postponed, with little clarification from the promotion.
As rumors — and a video of McGregor partying with his fiancée — began to swirl, McGregor posted on X that “a collection of obstacles” had induced the postponement, however he insisted he was nonetheless wanting ahead to combating once more.
In session with the UFC, todays press convention was cancelled resulting from a collection of obstacles outdoors of our management. I apologize to my Irish followers, and followers around the globe, for the inconvenience and recognize all of your ardour and help. I can’t wait to placed on the best…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 3, 2024
Anybody inspired by that clarification would have been subsequently disheartened when veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported Tuesday that the UFC was placing out feelers for a McGregor substitute or a brand new battle completely.
These anxieties dissipated over the next week, with Chandler saying all was nicely in an interview and the UFC selling the battle like ordinary on a Struggle Night time, however Helwani reported the following Tuesday there was elevated pessimism and that the promotion was as soon as once more sending out feelers for a substitute.
Helwani reported soon after McGregor’s withdrawal that the previous champion had sustained the damage a day or two earlier than that information convention, with McGregor’s camp hoping in useless he may get well in time.
This newest improvement is especially tough for Chandler, who has been greater than affected person as he awaits what could be by far essentially the most profitable battle of his profession. Chandler final entered the Octagon in November 2022, when he additionally misplaced to Poirier. Months later, he and McGregor have been arrange for a bout as coaches of “The Final Fighter,” however months handed and not using a actual battle date. That span of time included the UFC’s contentious cut up with the USADA over McGregor’s reentry into the testing pool.
The battle date was lastly introduced in April, and no one was happier than Chandler.
McGregor staying busy, simply not within the UFC
McGregor’s most up-to-date loss to Poirier was a low level in a profession that was already trending downward, not less than when it got here to efficiency within the cage.
McGregor sat on the mat, with a badly damaged leg, hurling insult after insult and making a gun signal at Poirier, who stays one of the common fighters within the UFC. McGregor had spent the complete pre-fight course of making statements about Poirier’s household that clearly crossed a line, to the purpose that Poirier’s spouse Jolie was seen flipping him off as he obtained medical consideration.
It was a second of soul-searching for McGregor, who at that time had misplaced three of his final 4 fights, with two losses to Poirier and one to the since-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. Sure, he was (and nonetheless is) the most important attract MMA, however the former two-belt champ had by no means truly defended both belt, and was stripped of each resulting from inactivity.
So McGregor went by a gradual restoration course of, and he positively did not leap again into the UFC as early as he may. As an alternative, he centered on his appreciable enterprise portfolio and made his appearing debut because the antagonist in Jake Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of “Highway Home.”
There have been additionally some regarding accusations, to not point out no matter this was.
And now that three-year highway again to the UFC is prolonged, and you may solely surprise how for much longer the promotion can play ball with a fighter it has defended and indulged at each flip.
