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Conor McGregor's highly anticipated return to the octagon has hit a major roadblock. The former two-division champion has pulled out of his scheduled fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, leaving fans and analysts questioning his future in the sport.

McGregor's Injury Woes Continue

An undisclosed injury has forced McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) to withdraw from his comeback bout against Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC), which was set to take place on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena. This marks the first time McGregor has pulled out of a UFC fight, and the bout is expected to be rescheduled for later this year.

The Leg That Won't Heal

Rumors suggest that McGregor re-injured the same leg he broke during his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. This injury has kept him sidelined for years, and many are skeptical about his ability to return to peak form. Michael Bisping, a former UFC champion, shared his doubts on his YouTube channel:

"I don’t know why I was kind of optimistic that this fight was still going to go ahead... His titanium skin bone has failed. That’s what ‘Big’ John said."

Historical Parallels

Bisping pointed to the careers of Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman as cautionary tales. Both fighters struggled to regain their former glory after suffering similar leg injuries. Silva and Weidman never quite returned to their pre-injury form, raising questions about McGregor's future.

The Big Question: Will McGregor Fight Again?

The rescheduling of McGregor vs. Chandler is still on the table, but concerns remain about McGregor's long-term health and performance. Bisping's comments underscore the uncertainty:

"What’s to say he won’t hurt himself next time? What’s to say that he’ll ever be the same fighter again?"

Conclusion: A Career in Limbo

As fans await further updates, the big question remains: Will Conor McGregor ever fight again? History suggests that his path to recovery will be fraught with challenges, and only time will tell if he can defy the odds and return to the octagon in top form.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova