The first Ultimate Fighter season 31 trailer has given us a preview of what happens when you pit two of this generation’s most entertaining mixed martial artists in Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler against one other. And they haven’t even stepped into the Octagon yet.
As some of you may already be aware, the former two-division UFC champion (22-6) and Bellator transplant (23-8) have coached opposing teams in the hit reality television format ahead of their undoubtedly explosive bout (date, event, location still TBA); something the latter has also snatched from Tony Ferguson in addition to the aging boogeyman’s soul and the title shot against Charles Oliveira, which Ferguson himself has hilariously dubbed “Dana White Privilege.”
While McGregor, a perennial pay-per-view draw, has committed to fighting in 2023, in light of the fact all rostered athletes must (re)enter the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug testing pool six months prior to their bout, time is certainly running out. Unless the Notorious submits a pee-pee sample within the next two weeks, his hotly-anticipated return will have to wait until early 2024. Perhaps even later.
In terms of the forthcoming instalment of TUF itself, this season will feature male bantamweights and lightweights – eight former UFC fighters (including The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated featherweight winner Brad Katona) and eight promotional newcomers, all vying for a shot/second chance at the big leagues.
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The contestants are as follows:
Bantamweights
- Hunter Azure
- Rico DiSciullo
- Cody Gibson
- Mando Gutierrez
- Brad Katona
- Timur Valiev
- Carlos Vera
- Trevor Wells
Lightweights
- Lee Hammond
- Kurt Holobaugh
- Austin Hubbard
- Nate Jennerman
- Jason Knight
- Aaron McKenzie
- Landon Quinones
- Roosevelt Roberts
Team McGregor will be supported by the fightin’ Irishman’s own head coach John Kavanagh and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Owen Roddy; while Team Chandler’s coaching staff welcomes the likes of ex-UFC heavyweight turned Bellator champion Ryan Bader, Robert Drysdale (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), Jason Strout (Striking), and Greg Jones (Wrestling).
Ultimate Fighter season 31 (Team McGregor vs Team Chandler) is set to premiere later this month on May 30th via ESPN and ESPN+ – expect it to land on UFC Fight Pass soon after, and check out the trailer above.
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