The big 3Arena press conference for UFC 303 featuring Conor McGregor was abruptly canceled on Sunday night, hours before it was set to start. Fans are still wondering why.
The UFC 303 press conference in Dublin featuring Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler has been canceled at the 11th hour.
Not many details have been revealed as to why the UFC would decide to officially pull the plug, but they did at midnight E.T., 5 A.M. local time.
“The UFC 303 presser scheduled for today in Dublin at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice,” the announcement from UFC read. “We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend. When we have further information on a new date and time, we will share it immediately. Thank you.”
Dear UFC Fans–
The #UFC303 press conference scheduled for Monday June 3rd in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice. We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend. When we have further information on a new date and time, we will… pic.twitter.com/nIXRIZl5pv
— UFC (@ufc) June 3, 2024
Fans in Dublin have been registering their disappointment online, while those further out are wondering whether this means the actual fight between McGregor and Chandler is in jeopardy. All are wondering why. Dana White made the trip to Ireland immediately after UFC 302, so was it something he saw that made him pull the plug? Is McGregor not looking fight ready? The news about the presser being off was known internally early enough for Michael Chandler to be told not to get on a plane.
There’s also a theory that the press conference was cancelled to avoid having fans in downtown Dublin during a big protest planned for today. The city has seen several violent riots break out over the past several months during anti-immigration protests, with people setting fire to buildings and smashing store fronts. McGregor was investigated by gardai over statements made on X (formerly Twitter) that seemed to encourage protesters to burn down houses set for use by immigrants.
McGregor denied those accusations, saying he was being scapegoated by incompetent government officials.
But if the protests were why, wouldn’t the UFC include that reason and cite safety for everyone involved? We’ll keep you in the know as this story develops. For now let’s take a look at what the internet has to say via X.
The McGregor-Chandler press conference has been postponed and will no longer happen today.
The fight has to be in jeopardy.
— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) June 3, 2024
I won’t speculate on this, but will say that a lot went into putting together and organizing this press conference, so the decision to postpone it is a big deal. https://t.co/e3inENUKt7
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 3, 2024
Today’s UFC 303 presser in Dublin feat. Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler has been postponed. No word just yet as to why.
Luckily for Chandler, he found out yesterday am it was off, just before he was set to fly out there, I’m told. pic.twitter.com/Og1KI1tDYc
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 3, 2024
How come nobody told me like Chandler before I boarded my flight to Ireland? pic.twitter.com/LvVSl3kWjl
— Immortal (@thebringerx) June 3, 2024
McGregor been hitting the Proper 12 a little to much? pic.twitter.com/uhsy26fbk1
— Josh (@JUchiha909) June 3, 2024
Scared as to why it’s cancelled, delighted about the oncoming scramble of panic from touts who have spent hundreds on resale tickets
— Celtic MMA (@celts19671888) June 3, 2024
So those of us who have tickets, will we need to be put in a queue on Ticketmaster again and pray we get tickets? I was the lucky one out of my group of friends to get tickets and now there’s a chance I’ll get no hope of going? That’s if the press conference/fight even happens
— Eoghan Hartnett (@eoghanhart_02) June 3, 2024
It’s alright chandler can wait a other 30 year’s no problem ??? pic.twitter.com/qatWdpK172
— Abdel (@Abdelfettah87) June 3, 2024
Top 6 possible reasons the UFC 303 Dublin presser was postponed:
-Conor’s running for Irish president
-It’s going to be held at Power Slap now
-Chandler is Trump’s running mate
-sweet sweet drugs
-Saudis purchased the concept of MMA
-Dana had a last minute podcast booking— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) June 3, 2024
Conor McGregor in his Lambo yacht tomorrow on instagram live: https://t.co/Upf2QcVNqS pic.twitter.com/GHsQGGUDqk
— MacMally (@MacMallyMMA) June 3, 2024
This is likely due to protests scheduled in Dublin today. https://t.co/oV5pmtEX72
— Corey Brennan Of Fightful.com (@CoreyBrennanFF) June 3, 2024
The last thing you want in Dublin is a protest mixed with the Conor McGregor fanboys in this country.
It would lead to violence no matter what. https://t.co/gyL6NwDxHo
— Corey Brennan Of Fightful.com (@CoreyBrennanFF) June 3, 2024
The Conor McGregor press conference in Ireland was just postponed…
We will be robbed as MMA fans if we don’t get to see this again.#UFC303 pic.twitter.com/lGpEQtwf6d
— WINTER (@itsWinterWrites) June 3, 2024