Ben Askren Blasts McGregor After UFC 303 Withdrawal
Ben Askren criticized Conor McGregor after McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 with an injury. McGregor later lost to Max Holloway at UFC 329.
Why McGregor–Chandler was canceled
McGregor and Chandler were scheduled to headline UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. The promotion canceled the bout after McGregor sustained an injury during preparation. UFC did not characterize the withdrawal as a consequence of McGregor’s lifestyle. The card went ahead with light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira facing Jiří Procházka in the main event. UFC’s announcement confirmed the replacement headliner and said the McGregor–Chandler fight had been scrapped due to McGregor’s injury.
Askren’s comments were opinion, not diagnosis
In September 2024, Askren discussed the canceled matchup on his show and argued that McGregor’s wealth and public partying made it easier for him to avoid the discipline expected of a fighter in camp. He urged Chandler to stop waiting for the bout. Contemporary reporting covered Askren’s remarks and his use of the word “addict.” The claim was not supported by a medical assessment in that report, so it should be understood as Askren’s criticism rather than an established fact about McGregor’s health.
At the time, McGregor publicly pushed for a new date and Chandler had spent an extended period waiting for the proposed fight. Chandler eventually moved on: he faced Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, and lost a unanimous decision. UFC’s event report records the result. That outcome ended the immediate expectation that Chandler would simply wait for the same matchup to be rescheduled.
What happened after the 2024 dispute
McGregor did return to competition in 2026, facing Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch at UFC 329. He lost after a leg injury stopped the fight 69 seconds into the first round, according to his official UFC record. That later result provides context for the long-delayed comeback, but it does not prove Askren’s 2024 accusations about McGregor’s lifestyle or explain the injury that caused the UFC 303 cancellation.
Askren’s remarks captured the frustration around a major fight falling through after a long wait. The documented facts are narrower: McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 with an injury, Askren publicly criticized him, and Chandler later fought Oliveira. Any claim about addiction or the cause of McGregor’s training habits remains an allegation unless supported by reliable evidence.
