Ariel Helwani triggers pandemonium with explosive update on UFC 303 main event: "Feelers are being sent out again for June 29"

Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani dropped a major bombshell regarding the future of UFC 303. The highly-anticipated June 29 fight card, which features the return of Conor McGregor as he faces Michael Chandler, has had the entire MMA world holding its breath due to the uncertainty of its main event.

Just days after its announcement, the massive UFC 303 press conference set in Dublin, Ireland, was canceled without much explanation from the UFC.

Although McGregor himself provided some explanation for the cancellation of the presser, it wasn't fully reassuring to fans. Considering the promotion's history of last-minute cancellations of high-profile bouts (not to mention the near-two-year delay of McGregor's return), fans have been more than worried for over a week now.

Helwani posted a tweet updating fans on the timeline and where we are as far as the massive McGregor-Chandler bout truly happening, saying:

"Around this time last week, all the anxiety surrounding the UFC 303 main event seemed to start to dissipate. By Wednesday, no more feelers about replacements were being sent out. All systems seemed to be a go (again). Later in the week, Chandler did an interview with The Pivot about it being all good, and on Saturday UFC was promoting it again on the ABC fight night telecast. There was a scare about the fight being off and the scare appeared to be no more."

Helwani continued with a rather worrisome development, saying:

"But since this morning, mutiple sources are now saying feelers are being sent out again for June 29. For a replacement and/or new fight(s). In short, there seems to pessimism all over again regarding the status of the 303 main event. Actually even more pessimism - it seems - than on Monday last week after the presser was cancelled at the last minute."

Check out Ariel Helwani's full tweet:

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Ariel Helwani provides further analysis of the UFC 303 situation

Speaking further into what's been happening in the development of UFC 303, Ariel Helwani gave us an honest insight, saying:

"Is this insurance? Due diligence? Emergency replacement mode? Remains to be seen. It's all developing (again). But it doesn't appear as though we are out of the woods either way just yet. More to come, and hopefully a definitive answer one way or the other In short order."

If this is a ploy for the promotion to generate more interest and anticipation for the event, we say it is highly effective. We are all holding our breaths for this one. Although this is purely speculation. Regardless, we pray to the MMA gods that this main event truly happens. More updates to come.