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The UFC world was rocked this week with the announcement that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, a highly anticipated showdown, has been officially cancelled for UFC 303 on June 29. Fans who were eager to see the recent Ultimate Fighter 31 coaches face off will have to wait as McGregor has been sidelined due to an injury.
Speculation around the fight's cancellation began after a pre-fight press conference was abruptly called off. McGregor later issued a statement explaining the cancellation was due to "a series of obstacles outside of our control."
Despite some hope that the fight would go on as planned, the UFC was already preparing for the worst-case scenario. Ultimately, McGregor’s injury confirmed the fears, ending what would have been his first fight since his leg injury against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
The cancellation leaves Michael Chandler in a difficult spot. Having put his career on hold to wait for this fight, Chandler now faces an uncertain future. His last appearance in the octagon was back in 2022, and with this latest development, he may be looking at a two-year hiatus before his next bout.
However, the UFC 303 event is far from a disappointment. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira steps up on short notice to headline the event in a thrilling rematch against Jiri Prochazka. This fight, originally rumoured to take place later this summer, now serves as the main event of International Fight Week 2024.
Pereira, a former middleweight champion, has been unstoppable since moving to the 205-pound division. He captured the light heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Prochazka in 2023 and defended it with a decisive win over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April. Now, Pereira will look to reaffirm his dominance against a determined Prochazka, who seeks redemption after a knockout victory over Aleksandar Rakic at the same UFC 300 event.
UFC CEO Dana White announced these changes, ensuring fans that the reshuffled UFC 303 card will still deliver an electrifying night of fights. Despite the setbacks and changes, the event promises to keep the excitement alive for MMA fans worldwide.
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