What was supposed to be a highly anticipated comeb͏ack for Conor McGrego͏r has now turned into a sea of un͏certainties. The former dual-weight͏ world champ͏ion was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler on June 29͏th. However, the situation is deteri͏orating rapidly. The canc͏ellation of the p͏ress conference on June 3rd started off a series of discouraging updates, but the most disappointing one may have just come from ‘Mystic Mac’ himself!
It would hamper UFC’s reputation if they cancel the UFC 303 main event but seems like the wind is not blowing in favor of the promotion. After setting the record for the promotion’s highest gate ever at $20M, if McGregor does not show up, where does that leave the UFC? Amid all the hubbub, ‘The Notorious’ has come forward to share an old video of him talking about injuries. An early sign of his withdrawal? Let us find out.
Did Conor McGregor just confirm UFC 303 exit?
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Amidst all the uncertainty, Conor McGregor has come forward to share an old video of him talking about injuries which seems to have increased the anxiety levels of the MMA community. The former dual-weight champion said, “I think the more resistance you train with, the less movement and the more injury you risk. Conversely, the less resistance you train with, the more movement and the less injury you experience.”
He further added, “A resistance band balances itself: you might be going a little bit lighter, but the impositions are not as intense. If everyone was tense and trying to win every round, it would be different.” McGregor shared it with a sad emoji on his Instagram handle.
The Irishman has a reputation for not pulling out of fights. He came into the fight against Chad Mendes at UFC 189 with an ACL injury, which also hampered his training camp. This was despite the fact that Mendes was a last-minute replacement for Jose Aldo, who pulled out with an injury.
He also suffered a broken toe in the lead-up to the Khabib Nurmagomedov grudge match at UFC 229, which made the weight cut all the more difficult. But the biggest of them all was the Dustin Poirier trilogy. He came into the fight knowing that his left leg was not 100% and paid the ultimate price. So can he be blamed if he chooses not to take a risk at 36 years of age and his career seemingly at its tail end?
Conor McGregor just shared this old video to his Instagram story:
“I think the more resistance you train with, the less movement and the more injury.
But the less resistance you train with, the more movement and the less injury.”
🎥 IG / @TheNotoriousMMA #UFC303 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/6y7bXo5qmB
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 13, 2024
Well, the actuality that the stakeholders of the promotion are in the mood to not say a single word about the clash is in itself a big statement. As they say, sometimes silence is louder than words. Neither Conor McGregor nor Michael Chandler are in a mood to provide a straight answer about their fight and even the UFC supremo Dana White has sealed his lips about the clash. It all started with the cancellation of the press conference and now it is such a big mess that the entire MMA community is involved now.
Th͏͏͏e ͏͏UFC ͏had also mad͏e Cono͏r M͏cG͏regor͏͏’s old͏͏ fight vi͏d͏eo͏͏s private, whi͏ch ͏͏were ͏then reu͏ploaded by͏ the͏͏ pr͏omo͏t͏͏io͏n͏ ͏͏͏a few days ago. T͏he͏s͏e ͏mixed signal͏s ͏͏from the͏ p͏romot͏i͏o͏n a͏re con͏fusi͏͏ng th͏e͏͏ f͏ans. Further, re͏n͏ow͏n͏͏e͏d MMA ͏j͏ourn͏͏alist Ariel ͏H͏el͏w͏͏͏an͏͏i state͏d that t͏͏͏here is a͏c͏t͏i͏͏͏ve ͏pe͏s͏͏sim͏i͏sm abou͏͏͏͏t t͏h͏e clas͏h,͏ and it is just͏ in͏creas͏͏in͏͏g wit͏h͏͏ tim͏e.
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The probability of the fight happening is at an all-time low now that even optimistic Daniel Cormier is not sure whether the fight will happen or not.
Daniel Cormier is confused about the happening of the fight
UFC insider and former dual weight champion of the world, Daniel Cormier believes that this situation has to be one of the most confusing things that the UFC had to go through in the history of its promotion. Micahel Chandler believes that the fight is happening, Dana White is complete mum and Conor McGregor is, uncharacteristically, not even promoting the fight.
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In his recent YouTube video, Cormier said, “This is literally the most confusing thing I’ve ever seen in the UFC because now it seems like a week’s passed, we all just kind of forgot, just, moved on.” He further added, “Look, I’m going to Vegas. I’m going to Vegas in two weeks to call the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler [fight]. That is all I know until I’m told otherwise.”
The entire situation is turning into a big mess as no one seems to have the real answers regarding the clash. Will the fight ever happen? Or will it be another setback for the promotion? State your thoughts in the comments below.