MMA: Conor McGregor says he’ll be back to fight Michael Chandler

LAS VEGAS: Conor McGregor, scratched from his upcoming UFC comeback fight due to injury, vowed Saturday to return to face Michael Chandler.

The two were scheduled to battle in a welterweight non-title fight June 29 at UFC 303 in Las Vegas, but McGregor was pulled due to an undisclosed injury.

Read more: Conor McGregor eyes a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia

“Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout. I picked up an injury prior to the (June 3) press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me,” McGregor posted to social media on Saturday.

“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! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!”

McGregor, who turns 36 next month, was preparing for his first fight since July 2021, when the Irish star (22-6) lost for his second straight matchup with Dustin Poirier and broke his leg in a TKO. McGregor last won when he beat Donald Cerrone in January 2020, following a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.

Chandler, a 38-year-old Missouri native who fights out of Florida, has also lost three of his past four bouts. For Chandler (23-8), his most recent action was a loss to Poirier in November 2022.

The new UFC 303 headline fight will be the light heavyweight title clash between Jiri Prochazka and champion Alex Pereira. Added to the card as a co-main event was a matchup of featherweights Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega.

Read more: MMA fighter Conor McGregor announces UFC comeback, Dana White sceptical

Dana White, the CEO of UFC, hasn’t not announced a reschedule date for a fight between Chandler and McGregor.