Yes, Conor McGregor did back out of UFC 303. His highly anticipated lightweight bout against Michael Chandler, which was scheduled to headline the event on June 29, was canceled.
McGregor's Withdrawal and Event Changes
UFC President Dana White officially announced that McGregor would not be participating in UFC 303. This news led to a significant change in the event's lineup.
- Original Main Event: The main event for UFC 303 was initially set to be the showdown between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
- New Main Event: Following McGregor's withdrawal, the event's headliner was replaced. The new main event for UFC 303 is now the light heavyweight title rematch featuring the reigning champion Alex Pereira against former champion Jiří Procházka. This shift ensures the card still features a high-stakes title bout for fans.
| Event Detail | Original Plan (McGregor Involved) | New Plan (After Withdrawal) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Event | McGregor vs. Chandler | Pereira vs. Procházka (Light Heavyweight Title) |
| Date | June 29 | June 29 |
| Announcement By | N/A | Dana White |
This change significantly impacted the card, moving a highly anticipated return for McGregor to an undetermined future date.
