Dana White got used to keeping UFC cards after major cancellations.
Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated return against Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena due to an undisclosed injury.
The promotion swooped in and put together a new main event for UFC 303 – a light heavyweight title rematch between champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. An exciting featherweight bout between Brian Ortega and rising star Diego Lopes has also been added as the new co-main event.
For White, it’s just another day at the office.
“It’s the business, man,” White said. Sports Business Journal. “That’s how it happens. And from now on I won’t talk about it until he’s healed and he’s right. Then we will look at the landscape and see what we can discover.”
McGregor isn’t the only big star the UFC has had to find a replacement for. Undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 main event against Robert Whittaker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to illness.
Stepping in to face Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) on short notice is middleweight challenger Ikram Aliskerov (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC).
“It’s been interesting because we had to change the main fight in Saudi Arabia, which is next weekend, you know what I mean? Just a few days left,” White said. “So for us to put this guy (Aliskerov), who is 15-1, he’s Muslim and his only loss is to Khamzat Chimaev, and everyone in the division said no to fighting him except Robert Whittaker (that’s a good result). … I’m very happy (with the quality of the replacement fights).”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 303.
