Conor McGregor releases first statement after injury withdrawal from Michael Chandler fight at UFC 303

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has released his first comments since being forced to withdraw from the main event of UFC 303.

The postponement of McGregor’s long-awaited return to the octagon against Michael Chandler was made official by UFC CEO Dana White on Thursday night, with the revelation that McGregor suffered an undisclosed injury ahead of the June 29 bout. White then announced that a light heavyweight championship rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka is the new headliner.

McGregor released an Instagram statement Saturday confirming he did suffer an injury, although no specifics were given.

“Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout,” McGregor said. “I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. 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 hasn’t competed since an injury TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he suffered a brutal leg break. Since becoming the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous two-division titleholder with a knockout of Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November 2016, “The Notorious” has only competed five times — with four being inside the octagon, as well as a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.

During that stretch, the 35-year-old has earned just one victory, a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020, while suffering a pair of TKO losses to Poirier, a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, and a stoppage loss to Mayweather in his pro boxing debut.