UFC News: UFC 303 main event will not take place after Conor McGregor's press conference is cancelled, Islam Makhachev claims

Conor McGregor has found himself in the crosshairs of Islam Makhachev as the MMA world wonders whether or not the Irishman will step into the cage on June 29! McGregor, who is set to make his long-awaited comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, has been actively promoting the event, with hints about his training camps and social media posts claiming: “June 29th, records and jaws will be broken! Onwards and upwards!”

However, fans remained in the dark as the pre-fight press conference scheduled for June 3 in Dublin, Ireland, was abruptly cancelled just hours before it was due to start. This led to a wave of speculation in the MMA scene as to whether “The Notorious” would miss his fight against Chandler. Makhachev, the current lightweight king of the UFC, took the opportunity to take a swipe at the Irishman's situation!

Islam Makhachev dashes fans' hopes by claiming Conor McGregor will not enter the cage at UFC 303

Concerns over Conor McGregor’s status at UFC 303 began when the UFC announced that the pre-event press conference in his home country of Ireland “postponed until further notice” just 12 hours before the start time. Since then, there has been a wave of speculation and rumors about what the reason for the delay could be.

Although McGregor issued a statement and apologized to fans for the issue, his response raised more questions than it answered. “The Notorious” explained on X: “In consultation with the UFC, today's press conference has been cancelled due to a number of obstacles beyond our control. I apologize to my Irish fans and fans around the world for the inconvenience and appreciate all of your passion and support. I can't wait to put on the biggest show ever in the Octagon.”

This led many prominent figures in the MMA world to wonder if McGregor had suffered an injury or if there was another reason for the press conference being cancelled. But apparently Islam Makhachev had also been following the situation closely!

In a conversation on the YouTube channel “Ushatayka”, Makhachev was asked whether he would prefer to fight Arman Tsarukyan or Conor McGregor next. The Dagestani champion answered bluntly: “…McGregor would be interesting, but I don't think his next fight will happen because we saw a video there recently and their press conference was recently cancelled. I don't think he can even compete.”

With McGregor's status for UFC 303 still uncertain, fans and fighters alike are anxiously awaiting clarity on whether “The Notorious” will make his highly anticipated comeback or if unforeseen obstacles will bench him once again. But there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel, as a veteran MMA journalist has suggested there is still “hope” for the main event on June 29!

Ariel Helwani brings much-needed “positivity” to MMA fans

The current situation surrounding Conor McGregor and UFC 303 continues to cause discussion and excitement among fans, but according to Ariel Helwani, there is still a high probability that “The Notorious” will step into the Octagon against Michael Chandler.

In a recent episode of “The MMA Hour,” Helwani revealed: “I can tell you that the hope that this fight will go ahead is very high. If you ask me directly now, if I'm asking you all directly and I'm the only one doing this, will Conor McGregor fight Michael Chandler on June 29th? My answer is yes.”

The ongoing drama has the MMA world on tenterhooks, with everyone anxious to see if McGregor can make his highly anticipated comeback. With positive signs from trusted sources like Helwani, fans can still hope that “The Notorious” will indeed face Chandler on June 29 and deliver the electrifying spectacle they have been waiting for.

Do you think Islam Makhachev is right when he says Conor McGregor is pulling out of UFC 303? Or do you tend to believe Ariel Helwani's claims? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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