Michael Chandler posts for first time since UFC 303 press conference gets canceled at the last minute (2024)

Michael Chandler has taken to social media to share his first post since his pre-fight Dublin press conference was canceled.

The American was due to travel to Ireland today for his first face-off with Conor McGregor at the 3Arena in front of a packed crowd expected to number over 10,000. However, with less than 12 hours to doors, the promotion mysteriously postponed the event indefinitely.

Chandler has been active on social media since the event was officially cancelled, which Bloody Elbow understands was yesterday afternoon based on sources close to the 3Arena. Ariel Helwani has also reported that he was told before he was due to fly yesterday morning.

But as recently as last night his page was reposting promotional material for the event, despite reports indicating that he would have known it was off. And he has since shared a video of himself training, which is his first public offering since the event was cancelled and may have been a scheduled post.

• NOTORIOUS: Conor McGregor breaks his silence after Islam Makhachev beats Dustin Poirier

Michael Chandler posts for the first time after UFC 303 press conference canceled

McGregor has been uncharacteristically quiet since this morning’s announcement, as has UFC boss Dana White who was due to host proceedings. But Michael Chandler has taken to social media, sharing a workout video and a caption which promotes the June 29 UFC 303 fight.

Chandler and McGregor have been on a collision course since last February when they filmed a season of The Ultimate Fighter, and finally set their date at the end of last year. Their launch event in Dublin today was due to be attended by a sold out 3Arena, with tickets snapped up inside just five minutes.

And in his first post since the news, Chandler showed off his fight camp, with the caption reading: “Denying yourself of your passions is a slow suicide. Throw yourself fully into purpose. Even if you fall short, what you gained along the way is immeasurable. #UFC303 – Walk On. – See you at the top!”

The footage shows Chandler sparring with a teammate at Kill Cliff MMA in Florida, clearly as part of an intensive workout. He has been out of action for almost two years since losing to Dustin Poirier in November of 2022, but has remained in shape as he awaits the McGregor fight.

Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler UFC 303 press conference postponed hours before doors

This month’s massive McGregor comeback fight will be the Irishman’s first since the summer of 2021, when he suffered a gruesome broken leg in his own grudge fight against Poirier. To mark the occasion, the promotion were jetting into his hometown for a rare media event.

The former two-weight world champion hasn’t been involved in an official UFC event in his home country since the 2015 world tour that promoted his fight with Jose Aldo. But he will have to wait even longer as the UFC 303 launch press conference was pushed back indefinitely.

A statement sent to credentialed media members for the press conference read: “Today’s UFC 303 press conference scheduled in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice.

“We sincerely apologise to all the media who were planning to cover the event.When we have further information on a new date and time, we will share it immediately.”

With the fight just under four weeks away, the likelihood of Chandler being asked to fly internationally from Florida to Ireland and back seems slim.

Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler set to break UFC gate records with sky-high ticket prices

After today’s drama, both fighters and the promotion have been subject to myriad conspiracy theories, the majority of which are baseless. But they will be keen to push forward with the June 29 fight after making a record-breaking amount at the gate already.

The promotion’s current gate record is over $17million from McGregor’s historic UFC 205 headliner against Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square Garden. It was the UFC’s first show since being made legal in New York, and saw the Irishman become the first ever simultaneous two-weight world champion.

But Dana White has confirmed that hey are already in excess of $20million at the box office for McGregor’s comeback event. Speaking at a press conference following UFC St Louis, he told reporters that the event is “already way over $20 million”.

• GREATS: Dana White likens Conor McGregor to Jon Jones amid late night partying videos

Related Topics