Fans were buzzing about two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor‘s highly anticipated return at UFC 303, where he was set to face #6 ranked lightweight contender Michael Chandler in the welterweight bout on June 29th. Unfortunately, an injury once again dashed those hopes, keeping McGregor away from the octagon for over three years. The wait drags on for fans who were eager to see ‘The Notorious’ back in action.

Renowned journalist Ariel Helwani, who first broke the news of Conor McGregor’s injury, recently revealed a potential new return date for McGregor on his social media platform X. Helwani also hinted at agendas behind McGregor’s comeback and the UFC CEO, Dana White‘s involvement.

Conor McGregor’s return delayed despite Dana White’s involvement

With Conor McGregor sidelined by injury, the UFC scrambled to find a new main event. They landed a light heavyweight title rematch between current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and former champ Jiri Prochazka. It fills the fight card gap, but the void in the fan’s mind won’t be filled anytime soon. They’re desperate to see McGregor back in the octagon. A hardcore fan, clearly fed up, tagged renowned journalist Ariel Helwani in a social media post asking, “Can Conor actually come back in a few months or not lil bro?”

Things got real when insider Ariel Helwani dropped a bomb. There’s no easy date for McGregor’s comeback. They don’t want to hold it on a random fight night, and neither Australia nor Utah seems like a good fit. This means they’d either have to create a whole new pay-per-view event or reschedule, which neither McGregor nor his opponent is keen on.

“He can lil b. Issue is there may not be an available date. They don’t want the sphere (wish they did). Perth makes no sense, neither does Utah. So they’ll have to either create a new PPV date or really push it, which both camps desperately don’t want,” wrote the journalist.

One fan took a sarcastic dig at McGregor’s star power, suggesting his return is big enough to warrant its event. Helwani, sensing a hidden motive by the UFC, agreed. He pointed out, “Agreed. That’s what they are pushing for. UFC historically doesn’t love doing this. Let’s see.” It seems like a tense negotiation is unfolding.

Meanwhile, McGregor himself took to social media, offering some hints about his situation and teasing his return to the octagon.

Conor McGregor’s statement on UFC 303 withdrawal

After two weeks of fans being left in the dark, Conor McGregor finally broke radio silence on Instagram. In a Saturday post, he addressed pulling out of the much-hyped fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, which slammed the brakes on his anticipated comeback. McGregor admitted he was injured, but kept the specifics under wraps.

In his Instagram post, Conor McGregor admitted, “Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout, I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team. My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there!”

Later, McGregor ended his post with a positive note, thanking fans for their support and assuring them of his return. This is just another setback for McGregor’s comeback journey. Indeed, he hasn’t stepped foot in the UFC octagon since facing Dustin Poirier way back in 2021 at UFC 264.

Fans are itching to see McGregor back in action, but the biggest question remains: when he will be healed and ready to fight again? Share your thoughts about the same in the comment box.