Chandler’s McGregor Fight Never Happened; Pimblett Beat Him
Michael Chandler said in November 2024 that he hoped to face Conor McGregor during International Fight Week 2025. That matchup never took place. The bout had first been booked for UFC 303 in June 2024, then was withdrawn after McGregor sustained an injury; no replacement date followed in 2025.
The fight that was booked—and canceled
UFC president Dana White announced Chandler vs. McGregor for UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, as the International Fight Week main event. The UFC later confirmed the bout would not happen after McGregor withdrew with an injury. The card continued with Alex Pereira vs. Jiří Procházka instead. The original booking and the UFC’s June 2024 report document the change.
Chandler’s next fight
Chandler returned at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, losing a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira. He later fought Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025, where Pimblett won by third-round TKO at 3:07. That is Chandler’s most recent bout listed on his official UFC profile.
Where the McGregor matchup stands
The rivalry grew out of their roles as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 and the abandoned UFC 303 booking. But Chandler’s later fight schedule moved on, and the planned International Fight Week 2025 showdown did not materialize. The report’s original forecast should be read as a report of what Chandler was targeting at the time, not as a fight that was confirmed for 2025.
