Michael Chandler has spoken extensively for the first time since his UFC 303 main event against Conor McGregor was canceled this past week.

Late last week UFC CEO, Dana White, took to social media to finally announce that the rumors regarding Conor McGregor‘s comeback fight against Michael Chandler on June 29 at UFC 303, were true and that the Irishman was out with an injury.

The rumors sparked a few weeks prior when the promotion canceled their press conference that was scheduled to take place at the 3Arena, in Dublin, Ireland.

(L-R) Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler face off during the filming of The Ultimate Fighter at UFC APEX on March 3, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Michael Chandler issues emotional video reaction to UFC 303 cancelation

‘Iron’ Michael Chandler has been sitting on the sidelines for two years waiting for his matchup with McGregor to take place after the two coached against each other on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.

‘The Notorious’ released a statement of his own not long after White announced his withdrawal, stating that he picked up an injury prior to the scheduled press conference and that it would take longer to heal than he could afford.

A few days removed from the colossal news, Chandler has provided his reaction to finding out that he will have to wait even longer to fight the 35-year-old Irishman.

“It’s Monday morning, on the trail getting my mind right, thinking about what has transpired over the last couple of days,” Chandler said in a video on his Instagram.

“I got the rug pulled out from underneath me at the last possible moment. I’d just got done with my last sparring session (on) Thursday morning.

“I’d been hearing rumblings (that McGregor was out) since Monday but I really got the call about an hour after my last sparring session was completed,” Chandler added.

The 38-year-old claimed that he was feeling the happiest, healthiest, and most dangerous he’s ever felt heading into UFC 303.

“The happiest and healthiest and hardest to kill, most dangerous man I have ever been in my entire life at that moment, to 30 minutes later getting a phone call that all of that was for not. Or was it?” Chandler questioned.

Chandler not looking for sympathy following fight cancelation

The former two-weight world champion’s injury is not deemed to be serious, and he will likely only be out of training for a few months.

Despite that, the UFC is reportedly not looking at making McGregor vs Chandler for UFC 306 at the Sphere, something the fans have been calling for, and they will instead likely need to add another PPV event to the schedule.

Chandler isn’t looking to take a different fight, and will stay ‘obedient to the cause’.

“Sometimes in life, the best thing you can be is just obedient to the cause, obedient to the grind, obedient to the process and the result will take care of itself, whether the result is a letdown or a delay.

“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 rebooked for? No guarantees, but I thrive in the no guarantees, just a walk-on kid from High Ridge, Missouri,” Chandler added.

Although the situation is an extremely unfortunate one, ‘Iron’ isn’t looking for any sympathy from the fans and he is attempting to stay in high spirits.

“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 steadfastness and my immovability of hitching my dreams to a shooting star and continuing to move forward.

“I am emboldened by this test, and this test ain’t done yet, and this test shall turn into part of my testimony,” Chandler finished.