The UFC appear to have been left scrambling after announcing a surprising co-main event for Conor McGregor’s comeback fight this summer.
Former two-weight world champion McGregor will face ex-Bellator title holder Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. And with the event’s first seven fights confirmed last night by the promotion, one piece of the puzzle hasn’t clicked with fans.
Former light-heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill’s own octagon return fight with Khalil Rountree was the first undercard bout announced shortly after the initial event was confirmed. But it is now being billed as the co-main event, despite claims to the contrary from one of McGregor’s close friends and countrymen.
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight date and undercard confirmed
Earlier this month in a bizarre UFC 300 post-fight press conference, promotional boss Dana White confirmed that McGregor and Chandler will finally fight at UFC 303. This followed an announcement of the same date by the Irishman as far back as New Years’ Eve, which had previously been rubbished.
The mega-fight, McGregor’s first since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in the summer of 20221 at UFC 264, is set to be the year’s biggest. Tickets are due to go on general sale this week, with a record gate expected as prices skyrocketed into the tens of thousands during pre-sales.
Last night, the promotion officially confirmed the main and co-main events, as well as a five-fight undercard which will be added to in the coming weeks. The likes of Cub Swanson, Andre Fili and fan favourite Joe Pyfer will compete on the stacked card.
Confusion over Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler co-main event
Part of the UFC press release yesterday that caused confusion was the declaration that Hill vs Rountree is the co-main event fight. Top welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry had previously implied that he was due to face former interim world champion Colby Covington in that slot, but it appears that fight is now falling by the wayside.
Garry for his part has not given up on the dream, which would be the culmination of a lifetime watching and idolising McGregor as a youngster in Ireland. He has previously insisted that he would share the card with the man who inspired his career, and still believes the fight can happen.
When it was tweeted by Spinnin’ Backfist that Hill and Rountree would take the coveted spot, Garry attempted to correct the record by replying: “I think you mean ‘Featured bout’ #UFC303.” But his tone has become less confident of late, and it now appears that he could be set to lose out on the June date.
Colby Covington accused of ‘ruining’ Conor McGregor’s comeback fight event by Ian Machado Garry
Garry has now begun to even claim that Covington is “ruining” the event by refusing to sign for their grudge fight. The American most recently lost his third effort at undisputed welterweight gold against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296.
He has since made a crass callout of Garry that included branding him a ‘cuck’ and making inappropriate remarks towards his wife; TV host and model Layla Machado Garry. But it seems that he isn’t being receptive to the latest contract offer, with Garry sharing a cryptic picture captioned “Something ain’t right…”
The Irishman has since shared a DM he sent to Covington which read: “”Stop being a p**** your foot is fine agree to the fight. You can’t talk all that s*** and not back it up COWARD.” He then added that “Colby Covington is single handedly ruining #UFC303.”
Garry is not relenting in his pressure towards Covington, who held the interim belt at 170lb in the summer of 2018. He later shared a meme showing himself dancing at the idea of his rival signing the contract, as well as one of a milk carton with a ‘Missing: Colby Covington’ advert.