Michael Chandler was scheduled to be in the biggest fight of his life at UFC 303 but had the opportunity slip through his hands at the last minute. With the UFC announcing a new main event for the pay-per-view card, Chandler will again have to wait for his opportunity to face Conor McGregor.
On June 13 — just 16 days before McGregor and Chandler were scheduled to fight — Dana White announced that the Irishman would not be able to compete in the event due to an undisclosed injury.
Michael Chandler Reacts to Conor McGregor’s Injury
Welp…back #onHiatus @hiatustequila pic.twitter.com/x5kpncPKja
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) June 15, 2024
One day after the official announcement from Dana White had been released to social media, Michael Chandler publicly reacted to the news in a way that most would be able to understand. The former title challenger posted a short video shot in his kitchen, showing himself walking in and pouring a glass of tequila.
Chandler captioned the post:
“Welp… back #onhiatus @hiatustequila”
‘Iron’ tied his understandably dejected emotions with a pun promoting his sponsorship with the Hiatus tequila brand. While the UFC 303 situation is disappointing for most, none were in a worse position than Chandler, who has spent the past two years of his career campaigning for and waiting on a fight with Conor McGregor.
Michael Chandler’s Last Fight
When Michael Chandler next steps into the UFC Octagon, it will likely be close to two years since his last fight. The former Bellator lightweight champion last competed at UFC 281, losing to Dustin Poirier by submission.
Since joining the UFC in 2020, Chandler has gone 2-3. His promotional run has included a title fight loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 and a Fight of the Year war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. In each of his five most recent fights, the American has either fought for the title or received a post-fight performance bonus.
Despite his career success, Chandler is now 38 and has taken a lengthy absence from fighting due to engaging in the high-risk, high-reward endeavor of chasing a fight with Conor McGregor. The UFC is reportedly targeting a re-scheduling of the fight in the Fall of 2024, but hope for the matchup materializing is at an all-time low after the UFC 303 cancellation.
UFC 303 New Main Event
Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against Jiří Procházka at #UFC303 in Las Vegas on June 29, Dana White announced. pic.twitter.com/7NPIUuOZOB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 14, 2024
With Conor McGregor out of UFC 303, the promotion has pivoted entirely to having a new main event. As Dana White announced in the same video that he addressed McGregor’s injury, June 29 will now be headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and fan-favorite contender Jiri Prochazka.
Both Pereira and Prochazka last competed at UFC 300, with ‘Poatan’ defending his title against Jamahal Hill in the main event and Prochazka bouncing back with a come-from-behind victory over Aleksandar Rakic in the featured prelim. The fight will be a highly-anticipated rematch as the two first met in the headliner of UFC 295, with Pereira winning the 205-pound belt by a controversial TKO.
The fight will be the second consecutive occasion that Pereira has accepted a short-notice title defense after saving the UFC 300 card. The 36-year-old will be in search of his second title defense at UFC 303 and fourth straight win overall since moving up to the light heavyweight division in 2023.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana by way of Honolulu, Hawaii with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst. Follow on X/Twitter at @jarenkawada1 or on Instagram at @kawadajaren.
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