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Conor McGregor comeback vs Michael Chandler 'NOT looking good' says Ariel Helwani as the UFC is exploring backup plans
Award-winning MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that Conor McGregor's return fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 is 'very much in limbo.'
As skepticism over the Irishman's first fight in nearly three years circulates, Helwani spoke on The MMA Hour on Wednesday to shed light on where the fight stands.
'I continue to check in and be a pest and be annoying,' Helwani said of his coverage of the events. 'I found out, via multiple sources, that they are reaching out to people again. They are reaching out to managers. They are reaching out to fighters.'
'I would say this fight is very much in limbo,' Helwani continued. 'I would say that it's hanging on. And I would say that the UFC is working very, very hard right now to figure out a plan b.'
On Tuesday, Helwani posted a tweet providing an update from his sources. He wrote that after pausing feelers and replacement searches, the UFC has resumed the backup quest.
Ariel Helwani reported that Conor McGregor's June 29 UFC return is 'very much in limbo'
'As I reported yesterday - as potential replacements, i.e. a new fight, as backups, as someone stepping in for McGregor, or as insurance. Just in case, all these things are at play.'
The doubt toward the highly-anticipated fight began when a June 1 press conference in Dublin got postponed in the 11th hour.
After the presser was called off, McGregor apologized to the fans and cited the cancelation was due to a 'series of obstacles out of our control.'
The events that transpired from that point worried fans as it appeared the build-up was sprinting towards a wall of disappointment.
The UFC paused advertising UFC 303 on pay-per-view and archived the free Conor McGregor fights posted to promote the event. McGregor and UFC chief Dana White remained quiet through the period, while Chandler hinted through an Instagram post that he had left training camp and went home to Nashville.
Chandler reportedly left training camp after the June 1 press conference was cancelled
UFC chief Dana White has been surprisingly quiet since rumors of a cancelled fight surfaced
'If you're looking for me, I'll be out in Tennessee. No way out of the life we chose,' Chandler wrote. 'Walk On. See you at the top!'
Additionally, the UFC reportedly sent out feelers and looked for potential replacements, gearing for a worst-case scenario.
However, fans saw a ray of light when the campaign for the fight resumed. On June 8, the UFC posted an official promo for the UFC 303 main event across their YouTube and social media platforms.
Exactly one week after reporting that the fight is 'all systems a go,' Helwani followed up with worrying news and noted how quiet McGregor and Dana White have been about the situation.
McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021
McGregor and Chandler coached opposite each other in a season of The Ultimate Fighter
The fight between Chandler and McGregor was officially announced after UFC 300 in April
'I know there's a lot of anxiety, a lot of doubt, a lot of concern about this. Cause it's such a big fight,' Helwani said. 'And because no one involved, in particular, the UFC side and from the McGregor camp are speaking about this publicly.'
'Chandler did the one interview, and that was it. And I think that squashed some concern. But no one is coming out and really talking about this.'
'One step further, here we are, Wednesday, 1:13 [pm], the positivity I talked about exactly one week ago today is nowhere to be found.'