Conor McGregor shows off new look as UFC star is seen for first time since pulling out of Michael Chandler fight
CONOR McGREGOR showed off his new bald look after being seen for the first time since pulling out of fighting Michael Chandler.
The Irish superstar was due to make his return after three years out in Las Vegas against Chandler on June 29.
But following a period of uncertainty, UFC boss Dana White confirmed McGregor was officially out of action.
The ex-champion later released a statement online and then followed it up with a Father’s Day picture with his youngest child Mack.
McGregor, wearing a grey tracksuit set, black sunglasses and Prada slippers, held his son with both arms and showed off his shaved head.
Speculation over McGregor’s return mounted when a scheduled June 3 Dublin press conference was abruptly cancelled on a day’s notice.
An up-and-down period where the UFC and McGregor remained silent then ensued before finally the comeback fight was officially axed.
White briefly spoke out to confirm his biggest draw of all time had suffered an injury so severe it forced him out.
And McGregor also broke his silence with a message of encouragement to fans.
He posted online: “Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout.
Inside McGregor's Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
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“I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me.
“The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team.
“My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!”
During his meteoric rise, McGregor gained a reputation for fighting through injury and never pulling out.
In fact, this marks the first time the former two-division champion has ever ruled himself out of a UFC bout.
McGregor, 35, has not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, 35.
But it remains to be seen whether the horror injury is connected to his withdrawal from UFC 303.
UFC boss White had only commented to confirm light-heavyweight champ Alex Pereira was filling in to rematch Jiří Prochazka on two weeks notice.
Pereira, 36, won the initial bout via second-round stoppage in November 2023.
White later told Sports Business Journal: “It’s the business, man.
“This is the way it goes. And from here on I’m not going to talk about it until when he’s healed and he’s right. Then we’ll look at the landscape and see what we can figure out.”
McGregor’s long-anticipated fight with Chandler, 38, is now expected to be rescheduled to later in the year.
August or September has been mooted as the likely reschedule date.