This was a brutal week for UFC President Dana White. His main event in two major cards had to be scrapped as contestants pulled out due to injury. The biggest blow was to the UFC 303 card, which was set to feature Conor McGregor returning to the octagon to fight Michael Chandler.
A fight that has been in the books for a while will be postponed again. It was announced officially by Dana White that Conor McGregor had to pull out of the bout because of an injury. It is the first time in his career that McGregor pulled out of a fight for any reason.
Replacing Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is a light heavyweight bout. Alex Pereira will put his belt on the line against Jiri Prochazka to headline UFC 303 in Las Vegas on June 29th. This is the second time Pereira and Prochazka will save a card, as their first bout saved UFC 295 following the cancelation of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.
Also being added to the UFC 303 card will be a featherweight bout between rising star Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega. Carlos Ulberg, who was set to face Jamahl Hill as the co-main event, was replaced by Lopes and Ortega after Hill had to pull out because of injury. Ulberg will now be facing former champion Anthony Smith.
Losing Conor McGregor as the main event is a huge blow to the company. Dana White said the sellout event was on pace to break a UFC record with more than $20 million at the live gate. That will be no more, as Pereira/Prochazka is a major fight but not the draw at the box office that McGregor is.
The Irishman was set to get in the Octagon for the first time since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier. Since boxing Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, he has stepped into the octagon only four times. He has gone 1-3 in those bouts but has lost none of his luster when it comes to fan appeal.
Chandler has not fought since November 2022 when he also lost to Poirier. He has been patiently waiting for a bout against Conor McGregor but will have to wait a little longer. No make date has been announced for coaches of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023.
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