The positivity that the UFC as soon as had relating to Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon is “nowhere to be discovered.”
Throughout Wednesday’s version of The MMA Hour, host Ariel Helwani as soon as once more expressed doubt over whether or not or not the Irishman’s “best comeback in fight sports activities historical past” would truly occur. The week prior, every little thing seemed to be all techniques go along with Helwani reporting “nice positivity” that the struggle between McGregor and fellow TUF coach would headline UFC 303 on June 29 as marketed.
That now not seems to be the case as a sequence of studies lately claimed that the promotion was placing out one other spherical of “feelers” to give you a “Plan B” within the occasion McGregor vs. Chandler is axed.
Optimism is ‘Not Very Excessive’ on Conor McGregor’s Return at UFC 303
“On Monday of final week, I’d say optimism stage was not very excessive,” Helwani mentioned on his present. “There was some concern, there was some doubt, there have been street blocks. I got here on this present on Wednesday and mentioned optimism was excessive. There was nice positivity, all these phrases I used. It felt like we had dodged a bullet, it felt like we had turned a nook.
“On Tuesday, I reported that the UFC was sending out feelers, they have been reaching out to fighters and managers to see who may probably be accessible to both change the struggle — which means two new fighters — or step in and change one of many fighters concerned to struggle on this card. Clearly the fighter we’re speaking about is Conor McGregor, as a result of if not, why would Chandler be able to go on a airplane to Dublin?
“So I mentioned that it appeared we have been all good, and by Wednesday, no feelers have been being thrown out, nobody was speaking about this, actually. It appeared as if all techniques have been a go.
“Yesterday morning I began to listen to — as I continued to test in as a result of I do know there’s lots of nervousness, lots of doubt, lots of concern about this as a result of it’s such an enormous struggle and since nobody concerned are talking about this publicly, Chandler did the one interview and I feel that squashed some concern, however nobody is actually speaking about this — and I came upon, by way of a number of sources, that they’re reaching out to folks once more.
“They’re reaching out to managers, they’re reaching out to fighters, as potential replacements, as a brand new struggle, as backups, as somebody stepping in for McGregor, or simply as insurance coverage. Simply in case. All these items are in play.
“One step additional, right here we’re, Wednesday, 1:15, the positivity that I talked about precisely one week in the past at the moment is nowhere to be discovered. I’d say this struggle could be very a lot in limbo. I’d say it’s hanging on and the UFC is working very, very laborious proper now to determine a Plan B. The Plan B might be somebody stepping in to struggle Chandler, the Plan C might be an entire new struggle.”
Because it stands, neither McGregor, Chandler nor the UFC have supplied any clarification for why the struggle might be in jeopardy. Nonetheless, a report from MMA Preventing’s Damon Martin did verify with sources that the struggle seems to be doubtful as a consequence of a problem with McGregor, the likeliest situation being an damage.
