Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 is a great — perhaps even magical — fight, but it was not supposed to be the pay-per-view (PPV) main event of UFC 303. Hastily booked at the last second, the Light Heavyweight title fight serves as a perfectly accepted “International Fight Week” headliner, but it will generate nowhere near as much attention as the planned return of Conor McGregor.
It’s been about three years now since the sport’s biggest star actually competed. The layoff can largely and understandably be blamed on the gnarly leg break technical knockout loss suffered versus Dustin Poirier, which is a tremendously difficult injury to bounce back from. That said, a stint in Hollywood and copious yacht parties may have contributed to the delay as well.
Either way, the combat sports world was ready for the return of McGregor. Finally, the return date was set for UFC 303, and most of a training camp came and went without any issue. Then, less than one month removed from UFC 303, injury rumors began to swirl, and the end result was a last-second withdrawal.
How did it go so wrong so quickly? Let’s establish a timeline of McGregor’s withdrawal from UFC 303.
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June 2, 2024 (27 Days Until UFC 303)
Just 12 hours before it’s supposed to take place, the sold-out special UFC 303 press conference kickoff in Dublin, Ireland, is postponed without any explanation. Michael Chandler is alerted just in time to avoid catching his plane to “The Emerald Isle.” Chandler doesn’t address the presser, he just posts more goofy workout content.
June 3, 2024 (26 Days Until UFC 303)
The next day, McGregor breaks his silence on the press conference cancelation. He offers no explanation, merely referencing, “obstacles outside of our control.” Fans are panicked as the first speculation and rumors regarding a “minor injury” begin to circulate. McGregor cancels other media obligations.
June 4, 2024 (25 Days Until UFC 303)
UFC begins to send out feelers and look into other possible main event options in case McGregor is unable to fight. Meanwhile, Chandler leaves his training camp in Florida and returns home to Tennessee.
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June 5, 2024 (24 Days Until UFC 303)
Finally, a bit of positivity! The latest report regarding McGregor is one of “great positivity,” and there is general optimism that McGregor will indeed make it to fight night. Adding to the hype is McGregor himself, posing shirtless and smiling in a doctor’s office.
June 7, 2024 (22 Days Until UFC 303)
More positivity! Chandler appears on a podcast and claims the fight is on. McGregor drops some training footage online to hype up fans.
June 8, 2024 (22 Days Until UFC 303)
UFC drops a “The King Returns” promo video for UFC 303, publicly bolstering confidence that McGregor will … return.
June 11, 2024 (18 Days Until UFC 303)
Disaster. For the second time, a report reveals that UFC is once again looking into replacement options in the (increasingly likely) event that McGregor is unable to fight.
June 12, 2024 (17 Days Until UFC 303)
Conor McGregor posts an old clip talking about injuries and a sad face. A bad omen …
June 13, 2024 (16 Days Until UFC 303)
Disaster, but it’s now official. Conor McGregor withdraws from UFC 303, and his bout versus Chandler is postponed indefinitely. Pereira vs. Prochazka is announced as the new main event. Just for fun, this is also the date Khamzat Chimaev pulled out from his planned UFC Saudi Arabia main event vs. Robert Whittaker.
June 21, 2024 (8 Days Until UFC 303)
Finally, Conor McGregor reveals the injury that sank his UFC 303 return: a broken pinky toe. He posts the x-ray on social media and is met with a lot of criticism from internet haters and fellow fighters alike.
June 22, 2024 (7 Days Until UFC 303)
McGregor makes a public appearance at Bellator Dublin to support his team. While in attendance, a slightly limping Irishman announces August or September as his return timeline. It’s still unclear if that timeline will materialize or if Chandler will remain his opponent.
Since then, there’s been a classic Mac tweet-n-delete but no actual updates. Though I’m not much of a betting man on the whole, I would hazard a guess that McGregor is active online while the UFC 303 event he was supposed to headline airs.
Perhaps we’ll learn more then.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 303 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 303: “Alex vs. Jiri 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.