In a statement that marked his first comment since the cancellation of his highly anticipated fight with Conor McGregor, former Bellator champion Michael Chandler broke his silence on social media. The bout, scheduled to be the main event of UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas, was replaced with a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, as announced by promoter Dana White in a video on Thursday night.

Chandler and McGregor had signed up to face each other in February of 2023, even coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter last season. However, the fight had been repeatedly postponed before being postponed indefinitely this summer.

Finally addressing the situation, Chandler took to Twitter on Saturday evening, following an earlier video of him pouring a drink from his Hiatus Tequila. In his official statement, he declared, "I'm here, just as in 2009 when I started. The most reliable man in MMA. See you when I see you." He also responded to McGregor's apology tweet, expressing no hard feelings and wishing him a speedy recovery.

The statement from Chandler's sponsor, MegaFit Meals, which had been wrongly attributed to him as his first statement, was actually a post he shared on Instagram. It praised McGregor as a high-risk opponent with a big opportunity, and commended Chandler for embracing uncertainty and taking calculated risks in his career.

Chandler's last octagon appearance was in November of 2022 when he faced Dustin Poirier at UFC 281. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night bonuses for their impressive performances. While Poirier went on to fight for and win BMF and undisputed world titles, Chandler has been patiently waiting for his shot at McGregor, but it seems that the big money fight remains elusive for him.

McGregor, on the other hand, posted his first statement on social media after the fight cancellation, explaining that he had sustained an injury prior to the press conference, requiring more time to heal than was available. He assured his fans and opponent that he would return at his best, expressing gratitude for the support he received during this time.

The drama surrounding UFC 303 began on June 3 when the promotion canceled a launch press conference just hours before it was scheduled to take place at Dublin's 3Arena. Speculation grew as McGregor shared a photo from what appeared to be a doctor's office, fueling rumors of an injury. Despite hopes of a recovery, the fight was ultimately called off, leaving fans disappointed.

Despite the disappointment and uncertainty, Michael Chandler remained positive until the end. In a Twitter post, he defended both his and McGregor's track records, highlighting that neither fighter had ever pulled out of a fight in their careers.

As the MMA world eagerly awaits the next developments, the spotlight now shifts to the new main event of UFC 303, featuring Pereira and Prochazka, while fans and fighters alike eagerly anticipate the eventual rescheduling of the highly anticipated match-up between Chandler and McGregor.