In an unprecedented move, the UFC has canceled the highly anticipated UFC 303 press conference less than 12 hours before it was scheduled to take place. The event, set for Dublin, Ireland, was abruptly called off with no reschedule date announced, sending social media into a frenzy.

The press conference was a ticketed event, though entry was free, and all tickets were snapped up within minutes of their public release. Fans were eager to catch a glimpse of Conor McGregor ahead of his return bout against Michael Chandler.

“Dear UFC Fans, The #UFC303 press conference scheduled for Monday, June 3rd in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena has been postponed until further notice,” the UFC announced on X. “We sincerely apologize to all the fans who were planning to attend. When we have further information on a new date and time, we will share it immediately. – Thank you.”

The UFC 303 event is still set to take place on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White, who was expected to be in attendance for the Dublin press conference, had not indicated any issues in his recent comments following UFC 302 in Newark.

Speculation regarding the cancellation quickly spread on social media, with many pointing the finger at McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion was seen partying just weeks ahead of his return to the Octagon. McGregor shared footage on Instagram, where he has 45 million followers, showing him dancing and enjoying himself at an event. In one clip, he danced in front of his Forged Irish Stout workers, and in another, he was seen dancing and kissing his fiancée, Dee Devlin.

With the cancellation occurring just days after the release of these videos, fans were quick to link the two events. Writer Nick Lombardi speculated, “This statement is unlike anything I’ve ever seen from the UFC before. I speculate a significant change is happening to the card, specifically the McGregor v Chandler fight. It’s the only fight that would warrant this type of reaction.”

One social media user wrote, “Christ, what did Conor McGregor do now? Just hours before? Lotta Irish fans gonna wake up pretty angry that thought they were going to this.” Another added, “Conor back at it again.”

If the event goes ahead as planned, McGregor’s showdown with Chandler will be his first fight since breaking his left leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Despite the injury, McGregor has expressed confidence in his return. “I am Terminator now. I have a titanium rod that goes into the knee and down to the bone, right down to my ankle. It’s unbreakable,” McGregor said in a recent interview with James Corden. “I wish for and I will work on landing this kick – with this steel bar in my leg – against an opponent and getting them out of there.”

While McGregor continues to talk a big game, UFC fans now eagerly await an explanation for the sudden press conference cancellation, just weeks out from the main event.

Credit: New York Post