Fight Cancelled? Michael Chandler posts cryptic message on Instagram

05 June 2024

MMA fans are puzzled about whether the fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler would happen at UFC 303. After the cancellation of the press conference in Dublin, Chandler has posted a cryptic message on Instagram which has left the fans puzzled. 

“If you are looking for more, I’ll be out in Tennessee. No way out of the life we chose, Walk on. See you on top,” Chandler wrote. 

Some fans suggest that he is stopping his fight camp after learning that the fight is off. 

Chandler is scheduled to face off against McGregor on June 29 as the headliner for UFC 303. This match is one Chandler has eagerly anticipated for 18 months. However, an unexpected twist occurred over the weekend when the pre-fight press conference, set for Monday in Dublin, was abruptly postponed with minimal explanation.

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Chandler's most recent bout took place at UFC 281 in November 2022, where he was defeated by Dustin Poirier via rear-naked choke. Following that fight, Chandler took on a coaching role opposite McGregor in The Ultimate Fighter 31, with the understanding that the two would eventually clash in 2023. Despite frequent rumors throughout last year, the fight was never officially scheduled, with delays becoming a recurring theme. Throughout this period, Chandler remained hopeful for a match he has aimed for since joining the UFC in 2020.

Now, with the fight's status uncertain, the question arises whether Chandler will continue to wait for McGregor. At 38, he has already spent 18 months of his career's latter stages out of action. Nonetheless, as Johnson points out, the financial allure of a bout with McGregor makes the wait tempting.