Conor McGregor has pulled out of his comeback fight against Michael Chandler due to an injury.
The Irishman was scheduled to return against Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 to headline the promotion's International Fight Week in Las Vegas. McGregor hasn't fought in almost three years and will now have to wait even longer before stepping foot in the octagon having withdrawn from his fight against Chandler.
McGregor's fight against Chandler is expected to be rescheduled later this year. The new main event of UFC 303 will see light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defend his world title against Jiri Prochazka in a rematch seven months after their first fight, which Pereira won by second-round KO.
McGregor remained silent on rumours of his injury but took to social media on Wednesday to post an old video which he quickly deleted. "I think the more resistance you train with, the less movement and the more injury. The less resistance you train with, the more movement and the less injury," McGregor said in the clip.
UFC fans began to fear the worst for McGregor and Chandler's fight after their press conference at the beginning of the month was cancelled on just 12 hours notice. 12,000 tickets for the press conference sold out in less four minutes and fans were left in the dark about why the event was not taking place.
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McGregor's ill-fated UFC 303 fight was set to break a record for the highest-selling gate in promotional history. UFC boss Dana White admitted the gate was set to be "way over $20 million" but that number will significantly decline as fans will be eligible for a refund because of McGregor's withdrawal.
The co-main event of McGregor's comeback fight between Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg was also cancelled as former light-heavyweight champion Hill was forced out with a knee injury. Top featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes will now meet in chief support.