CONOR McGREGOR has finally spoken out after his withdrawal from UFC 303 to vow: “I’ll be back.”
The Irish superstar was due to make his return after three years out in Las Vegas against Michael Chandler on June 29.
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But after a homecoming Dublin press conference on June 3 was cancelled, immediately there were fears over the bout.
Following an up-and-down period where the UFC and McGregor remained silent, finally two weeks before the scheduled comeback fight was officially axed.
Dana White briefly confirmed his biggest draw of all time had suffered an injury so severe it forced him out.
McGregor had remained radio silent until at last breaking his silence with a message of encouragement to fans.
He posted online: “Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout.
“I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me.
“The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team.
“My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!”
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During his meteoric rise, McGregor gained a reputation for fighting through injury and never pulling out.
In fact, this marks the first time the former two-division champion has ever ruled himself out of a UFC bout.
McGregor, 35, has not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, 35.
But it remains to be seen whether the horror injury is connected to his withdrawal from UFC 303.
UFC boss White had only commented to confirm light-heavyweight champ Alex Pereira was filling in to rematch Jiří Prochazka on two weeks notice.
Pereira, 36, won the initial bout via second-round stoppage in November 2023.
White later told Sports Business Journal: “It’s the business, man.
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“This is the way it goes. And from here on I’m not going to talk about it until when he’s healed and he’s right. Then we’ll look at the landscape and see what we can figure out.”
McGregor’s long-anticipated fight with Chandler, 38, is now expected to be rescheduled to later in the year.
August or September has been mooted as the likely reschedule date.
Chandler also reacted to the news by posting a statement to Instagram.
It read: “@thenotoriousmma was never the safe bet as an opponent, he was always the highest risk. Maybe the highest reward… but the biggest opportunity.
“There is no right or wrong in business… you only take risk to grow, or remain comfortable where you are.
“Embrace the uncertainty. See the opportunity. Take calculated risk… That’s what @mikechandlermma does.
“And if it doesn’t go as planned… redirect the course to something even greater.
“Our respect to the man who represents the fight world better than anyone we’ve ever known. NO FEAR. NO LIMITS. NO EXCUSES.”
