Conor McGregor is a no-show but another fighter makes surprise appearance at UFC 300 press conference

UFC 300, also known as UFC Fight Night 211, took place on September 17, 2022, at the O2 Arena in London, England. The event was headlined by a welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and Nate Diaz. However, one of the most anticipated figures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) community, Conor McGregor, was noticeably absent from the pre-fight press conference.

McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, has been known for his explosive personality and media presence both inside and outside the octagon. He was expected to make an appearance at the UFC 300 press conference to promote his upcoming fight against "Cowboy" Donald Cerrone, which was scheduled for the following month at UFC 244 in New York City.

However, on the day of the UFC 300 press conference, McGregor did not show up. Instead, another fighter made a surprising appearance that stole the spotlight.

The unexpected guest was Michael "Venom" Page, a British professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA. Page, who has a professional record of 20 wins and 1 loss, has long expressed his desire to fight in the UFC and has been vocal about his disdain for the promotion's current welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, who was also in attendance at the press conference.

During his surprise appearance, Page took the opportunity to call out Usman and challenge him to a fight, much to the excitement of the crowd. Usman, who had just defended his title against Edwards at UFC 300, responded by acknowledging Page's presence and expressing his willingness to fight him, but only if he could first defeat Edwards in their upcoming rematch.

Despite McGregor's absence, the UFC 300 press conference still generated significant buzz, thanks in large part to Page's unexpected appearance and his callout of Usman. The incident further fueled speculation about potential future matchups in the welterweight division and added to the excitement surrounding the UFC's return to London.

In the end, Edwards went on to defeat Usman by unanimous decision in their rematch at UFC 278 on August 20, 2022, setting up a potential title fight against Page or other contenders in the division. However, as of now, there has been no official announcement regarding McGregor's fight against Cerrone or his potential return to the UFC.