Michael Chandler remains hopeful after Conor McGregor withdraws from UFC 303 due to injury. Chandler addresses the disappointment and looks forward to a rescheduled fight. Read more on his journey and determination.

For the past 19 months, Michael Chandler has been eagerly anticipating a fight with Conor McGregor. The two were supposed to headline UFC 303, an event eagerly awaited by MMA fans worldwide. However, that changed last week when McGregor withdrew from the fight due to an injury. Despite this setback, Chandler remains undeterred and continues to focus on his training and preparation.

The Sudden Change of Plans

Chandler’s preparation for the fight was meticulous. Just last Thursday morning, he completed his final hard sparring session, a critical phase where fighters push their limits to ensure peak performance. However, within an hour of finishing this session, Chandler received the disappointing news that McGregor had pulled out due to injury. Chandler expressed his frustration in a heartfelt video posted on Instagram, saying:

“I got the rug pulled out from underneath me at the last possible moment. I had just got done with my last sparring session, Thursday morning, had been hearing rumblings since Monday, obviously, but really got the call about an hour after my last sparring session was completed. An hour after a celebration.”

Chandler highlighted the intensity of his training camp, explaining the importance of tapering off hard training to avoid injuries:

“Anybody who has trained for a fight or anybody who has gone through a training camp for something, you go through a really hard block and then, in order to peak, you get toward the very end, you don’t go hard anymore, as to throw yourself into the fire and take the chance of injuries, overtraining, bumps, bruises, cuts, all those different things. I had just gotten done with that. The happiest and healthiest, hardest to kill, most dangerous man I have ever been in my entire life, in that moment. To 30 minutes later getting a phone call that all of that was for naught.”

Looking Forward: The Fight is Postponed, Not Canceled

While the situation is undoubtedly frustrating, the fight between Chandler and McGregor has not been canceled, only postponed. UFC CEO Dana White has indicated that they are looking to reschedule the fight later this year, once McGregor has fully recovered. Chandler remains hopeful and optimistic about this development:

“So what do I do now? A little bit of uncertainty in my life. When’s this fight going to happen? What date would it be re-booked for? What venue? How bad is the injury? Reports have come out that it’s not that bad, just needs a little bit of a delay. But still, no guarantees. But I thrive when there are no guarantees.”

Despite the uncertainty, Chandler is determined to stay focused and continue his relentless pursuit of success. He emphasized his commitment and resilience in the face of adversity:

“Just a walk-on kid from High Ridge, Mo., who has continued to trod in a forward trajectory no matter what the opposition, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the situation. It’s not up to me to will outcomes into existence. It is up to me to do the work. We let the work talk. We do the work. And we do the work until we become undeniable.”

Chandler’s Message to Fans

Chandler’s message to his fans and supporters is clear—there is no room for sympathy or pity. Instead, he encourages everyone to be inspired by his steadfastness and determination:

“Don’t you dare disrespect me by feeling sorry for me. Don’t you dare disrespect me by having any kind of sympathy. Be emboldened by my situation. Be emboldened by my steadfastness and my immovability, of hitching my dreams to a shooting star and continuing to move forward. If you’ve been on this journey with me for a long time, you know how I operate. You know where my mindset is, where my mental is. And it is nowhere near down in the dumps. I am emboldened by this test, and this test ain’t done yet. And this test shall turn into part of my testimony. So we keep moving forward in the face of adversity, with complete disregard to previous failures, previous setbacks, previous things outside of our control, and future opposition.”

Chandler’s journey has been filled with ups and downs, but his resilience and dedication remain unwavering. He last fought at UFC 281, where he faced Dustin Poirier in a hard-fought battle. As he continues to prepare for his eventual showdown with McGregor, Chandler’s focus and determination serve as an inspiration to fans and fighters alike.

For more on the latest updates and analysis on UFC 303, visit our blog.