Amid uncertainty about the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight slated for UFC 303 on June 29, the UFC is reportedly discussing moving the matchup to August or September this year, per The MMA Hour's Ariel Helwani.
"The consensus seems to be that they want to announce it all + the new date for McGregor x Chandler," Helwani wrote on X. "August or September has been discussed, and that would likely mean creating a new PPV dates those months (8/31 and 9/28) have been discussed. That part—which is massive in all this—hasn't been finalized."
The main event between McGregor and Chandler has yet to be officially canceled, but it seems as if that will be the case as the UFC is reportedly looking for replacements.
McGregor, who has not fought since 2021 when he suffered a broken leg while fighting Dustin Poirier, was slated to make his return against Chandler.
There has been plenty of anticipation for the fight since McGregor and Chandler filmed a season of The Ultimate Fighter reality competition series in 2023, and the UFC wanted to maximize that hype by scheduling the fight as the main event for the annual International Fight Week in June.
Now, the promotion will likely need to pivot its plans while still drawing interest for UFC 303.
But another wrench was thrown in its plans on Thursday after it was reported that the co-main fight between Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg could need a replacement.
Hill was originally supposed to fight Khalil Rountree Jr., but Ulberg filled in as a replacement when Rountree tested positive for a banned substance in May.
With McGregor vs. Chandler on the rocks and Hill vs. Ulberg also seemingly on its way to being canceled, UFC 303 has quickly turned into a shell of what it was hyped up to be.
