A new report claims UFC 303 is getting some huge changes at the top of the card, and that the planned main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler has been removed from the June 29 event and could happen later this summer.
For the last week, there has been a whole bunch of speculation that the main event of UFC 303 could be in danger of being canceled after a press conference in front of 10,000 Irish fans in Dublin was canceled at the last minute. However, after the news that the presser was scrapped rumors claimed that the bout between McGregor and Chandler would still happen.
Well, what “Notorious” fans feared has now come to pass, and on Thursday night, veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed that after setting up a new main event for next week’s card in Saudi Arabia — following a sickness for Khamzat Chimaev — the UFC now has “a new main event lined up [for UFC 303] that doesn’t include McGregor and Chandler.”
Helwani claims that the late change in plans has not yet been announced due to a belief that the UFC wants to unveil the new headliner and a fresh date for McGregor vs. Chandler simultaneously. However, they want to lock in that date first for the Irish superstar’s return, which could come in either August or September at a yet-to-be-announced pay-per-view card.
When rumors started that the main event could be in danger, there was talk that Chandler could end up getting a new opponent for the event. However, Helwani reports that while that was once an idea “nothing made sense” and the company pivoted to finding a completely new main event.
Furthermore, along with an all-new headliner, there will reportedly be a new co-main event instead of the originally planned bout between Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg. It is unclear if Hill vs. Ulberg is still on the UFC 303 card or not.
Also Read: Is Conor McGregor Trying To Create Illusion He Is Still ‘Mystic Mac’ Ahead Of UFC 303?
