There is still some concern surrounding UFC 303.
The upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) main event between the returning pair of Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler fell in jeopardy after the pre-fight press conference was canceled last week (Mon., June 3, 2024). After some justifiable concern as reports began to circulate, things seemed to end the week positively as “The Notorious” shared some cryptic images on his social media.
However, alternative options are once again being sought, according to Ariel Helwani, despite Chandler’s recent insistence that all systems are a go.
“Around this time last week, all the anxiety surrounding the UFC 303 main event seemed to start to dissipate,” Helwani tweeted. “By Wednesday, no more feelers about replacements were being sent out. All systems seemed to be a go (again). Later in the week, Chandler did an interview with The Pivot about it being all good, and on Saturday UFC was promoting it again on the ABC fight night telecast. There was a scare about the fight being off and the scare appeared to be no more.
“But since this morning, multiple sources are now saying feelers are being sent out again for June 29,” he continued. “For a replacement and/or new fight(s). In short, there seems to pessimism all over again regarding the status of the 303 main event. Actually even more pessimism – it seems – than on Monday last week after the presser was cancelled at the last minute.
“Is this insurance? Due diligence? Emergency replacement mode?” Helwani concluded. “Remains to be seen. It’s all developing (again). But it doesn’t appear as though we are out of the woods either way just yet. More to come, and hopefully a definitive answer one way or the other In short order.”
There are currently no title fights on UFC 303 as it relies solely on McGregor vs. Chandler as the featured attraction. In the co-main event, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, was supposed to take on Khalil Rountree Jr. until the latter tested positive for banned substances. Carlos Ulberg has since stepped in to replace Rountree.