“Can’t Be an Injury” – Conor McGregor’s Bait Backfires as Orthopaedic Visit Hours After Next Fight Confirmation at UFC 303 Called Out by Fans

There appears to be a new twist in the saga of Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 303! The MMA world was sent into frenzy when it was announced by the UFC and Dana White that the Dublin press-conference for promotion of the event was postponed just 12 hours before it was supposed to take place. In the official statement, the UFC revealed that, “When we have further information on a new date and time, we will share it immediately.”

McGregor also shared a response on X where he apologized to the fans but didn’t reveal the reason as to why the press conference was canceled. ‘The Notorious’ stated, “In consultation with the UFC, today’s press conference was canceled due to a series of obstacles outside of our control”. As such, this led to a wave of speculation and concern by the fandom about the June 29 event being canceled as well.

But in the latest update shared on X by MMA Uncensored, it was reported that “@TheNotoriousMMA shares picture at the Orthopedic doctors office after possible injury.” This has provided more clarity on the situation as former UFC fighter Josh Thomson had indicated on an episode of the ‘Weighing in’ podcast, “A couple of sources that I have heard from, was that he is dealing with a little bit of injury you know Conor is…”. However, according to Ariel Helwani, the fight against Michael Chandler is still on, despite all the confusion and rumors surrounding the event.

Speaking on ‘The MMA Hour’, Helwani stated, “I can tell you there is great positivity that this fight is going forward. As of right now, if you’re asking me straight up, to shoot with you all straight up, and I’m the only one doing it, is Conor McGregor going to fight Michael Chandler on June 29th? My answer is yes.”

With the entire situation finally receiving some much-needed clarity, the fandom took to the comment section to make their thoughts known on McGregor’s antics online, and it seems that the attempt to ‘bait’ the community might not have gone according to ‘The Notorious’s plans! Here’s a look at what the fandom had to say!

Fans not pleased with Conor McGregor’s attempt to “troll” them with UFC 303 drama

A fan claimed that Conor McGregor’s picture cannot be an injury update and that the Irishman is probably just doing recovery. However, with Josh Thomson’s claims that McGregor suffered a minor injury, it would make sense for him to visit a doctor to make sure he’s on track to make the walk to the Octagon on June 29.

Others pointed out that the entire situation was a  ploy by McGregor to force the UFC and Dana White into increasing his pay-out for the event

Some took a different approach as they used McGregor’s line from his role in ‘Road House’ to claim that the fight is still on

One fan brought up the fact that McGregor’s doctor was probably making sure his leg is in “good” shape as the Irishman will be making his first foray into the cage since 2021 when he suffered a horrific fracture in his fight against Dustin Poirier.

The idea that The Notorious is trying to ‘bait’ the fandom with his posts was also put forth by one fan but with Ariel Helwani confirming that the fight is still on, it appears that the move by McGregor has backfired

A section of the fanbase also indicated their displeasure with the Irishman’s antics as UFC 303 is one of the most anticipated events of the year and the past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for the MMA fandom

One fan was blunt in their response as they were stunned by McGregor’s decision to play with the fan’s emotions

Another fan blasted other members of the community as they pointed out that the picture shared by McGregor is an “obvious” attempt at trolling the MMA sphere

Amidst the speculation and emotional turmoil, the consensus amongst the fans remains cautiously optimistic. As the situation continues to develop, the MMA community remains on edge, eagerly awaiting any further updates. Conor McGregor’s antics have certainly stirred the pot, but the prospect of his return to the Octagon keeps the excitement alive.

For now, fans can hold onto the hope shared by Ariel Helwani that McGregor vs. Chandler will proceed as planned, promising an electrifying showdown at UFC 303!