It’s code purple, people. The UFC is scrambling arduous to discover a alternative battle worthy sufficient to fill in for Conor McGregor ought to he be unable to battle at UFC 303.
In a brand new replace on X (previously Twitter), MMA Combating’s Ariel Helwani defined why the battle promotion has been silent for almost two weeks since McGregor pulled out of a Dublin press convention on June third. The outlook has gone from dangerous to good to dangerous once more, all with the UFC refusing to touch upon the state of affairs.
“UFC shouldn’t be deliberately making an attempt to tug out this 303 saga,” Helwani wrote. “They’re burning the midnight oil looking for a alternative resolution. The problem is there aren’t a ton of choices obtainable proper now. If there was they’d have introduced all of it already and moved on.”
UFC shouldn’t be deliberately making an attempt to tug out this 303 saga.
They’re burning the midnight oil looking for a alternative resolution. The problem is there aren’t a ton of choices obtainable proper now. If there was they’d have introduced all of it already and moved on.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 13, 2024
UFC 303 was being touted by Dana White as pulling a $20 million gate, and a few analysts estimated the ultimate quantity may very well be someplace between $30 and $40 million. A number of that cash could also be misplaced if Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler doesn’t go down. Nevada Athletic Fee laws are clear: promoters should supply a refund if the principle occasion falls by.
Merely asserting McGregor is off would trigger a run on refunds. Put collectively a adequate alternative battle (or fights) and possibly you don’t need to refund an enormous proportion of the gate. However with tickets for Conor’s return promoting for 1000’s of {dollars}, there’s few fights that may stay as much as that worth.
For many who haven’t purchased tickets and simply wish to know if McGregor is preventing: nothing is 100% for certain, but it surely’s extraordinarily dangerous that we’re now reportedly ready on alternative battle plans quite than information of McGregor’s situation. Keep tuned as this story continues to develop.