UFC has ‘great optimism’ that Conor McGregor return will go ahead

Conor McGregor‘s highly-anticipated return against Michael Chandler is still scheduled to go ahead at UFC 303, according to reports.

Fears have been brewing over the status of McGregor and Chandler’s grudge match – slated for June 29 in Las Vegas – after a Dublin press conference to promote the upcoming fight was cancelled on Monday.

MMA reporter Ariel Helwani claimed earlier this week that UFC chiefs have even been ‘sending out feelers’ over potential replacements for the Irishman, who has not competed in the Octagon for close to three years.

Fans were quick to speculate on social media that he has pulled out of his comeback fight, which has been in the works since the two rivals appeared on the Ultimate Fighter together last year.

Yet in a more positive update on Wednesday, Helwani revealed there is now ‘great optimism’ that McGregor vs Chandler will take place on June 29 as billed.

‘As of last night and as of today, this morning, early afternoon… I can tell you that there is great positivity that this fight is going forward,’ he said on his ‘MMA Hour‘ show.

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‘As of right now, if you’re asking me to shoot with you all straight up, and I’m the only one doing it… is Conor McGregor gonna fight Michael Chandler on June 29? My answer is yes, as of right now.’ 

Helwani then added: ‘Do I know what happens tomorrow? Do I know what happens the next day? Do I know what happens in an hour? No.

‘But as of right now, the vibes could not be any more different than Sunday and Monday. The positivity could not be any greater than what I was hearing on those particular days.

‘It is so much higher now, and there is great positivity I would say and great optimism that all systems are go.’ 

No reason was given for the postponement of Monday’s press conference in Dublin, with McGregor touching on ‘a series of obstacles outside of our control’ in a statement on X.

‘In consultation with the UFC, todays press conference was cancelled due to a series of obstacles outside of our control,’ said the former two-weight UFC champion.

‘I apologize to my Irish fans, and fans around the world, for the inconvenience and appreciate all your passion and support. ‘I can’t wait to put on the greatest all-time show in the Octagon.’

In another cryptic message surrounding the fight, Chandler appeared to suggest that he has returned home to Nashville, Tennessee, this week amid doubts over his clash with McGregor taking place.

The 38-year-old wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him in training: ‘If you’re looking for me, I’ll be out in Tennessee. No way out of the life we chose… 

‘Walk On. See you at the top!’ 

Videos had circulated last week of McGregor partying into the early hours of the morning at his bar in Dublin, despite being scheduled to face Chandler on June 29.

‘The Notorious’ shared a video of himself dancing at The Black Forge Inn with a group of men and pointing at the camera with his tongue out, as reported by Mail Online last week. 

In the footage, McGregor – who is engaged – shows off an expensive watch on his left wrist before the camera pans to him using his hand to try and open a women’s dress.  

Taken aback, the unidentified woman rebuffs the move by quickly grabbing her leopard print dress to avoid being exposed before the video abruptly ends. 

Other videos last week showed him kissing his fiancee Dee Devlin, posing behind the DJ decks along with several fans, and also raising a bottle of whiskey into the air – though no video showed him drinking. 

McGregor, a former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, had previously hinted that he would be going on a self-imposed alcohol ban ahead of his bout at UFC 303 on June 30.