Since the premiere of Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter on May 30, the incident where Conor McGregor shoved Michael Chandler’s face has become a major topic of discussion in the MMA community.
McGregor and Chandler, both prominent lightweight fighters, were announced as the coaches for TUF 31 earlier this year. Initially, their relationship seemed amicable, but tensions have escalated over time.
In the upcoming sixth episode, scheduled to air on July 4, viewers witnessed Conor forcefully pushing Michael’s face. The altercation began with McGregor hurling insults at Chandler. Prompting the latter to criticize Conor’s coaching efforts on the show.
Why did Dana White need to stop Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler?
Given the current performance of McGregor’s team, it’s understandable that things haven’t gone according to his plans. As a result, Conor’s frustration boiled over after his team member, Lee Hammond, suffered their sixth consecutive loss.
The footage revealed McGregor and Chandler entering the octagon and engaging in a heated verbal altercation following the sixth fight of the season. However, Conor chose to express his anger physically and pushed Michael by the neck.
UFC president Dana White swiftly intervened, rushing into the cage to prevent the situation from escalating further.
TUF31 latest results
Team Chandler escaped with another win to stay undefeated đł #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/e0RRW8PZgS
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 5, 2023
It has become less surprising as the week progress in Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” to witness coach Michael secure six consecutive victories over coach Conor.
In the latest fight, Lee Hammond from Team McGregor fell victim to a submission defeat against Kurt Holobaugh from Team Chandler. This win grants Holobaugh the sixth spot in the semifinals. With three fighters at bantamweight and three at lightweight, all coached by Chandler.
As Season 31 reaches its midpoint, the likelihood of seeing McGregor and Michael steps into the Octagon to face each other in 2023 diminishes.
Things hit a boiling point between the coaches tonight on #TUF31 đ¤Ź
[ Watch new episodes every Tuesday on ESPN & ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/yyz5iE7ft1
— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) July 5, 2023
While such a matchup would undoubtedly attract a significant audience. Several significant hurdles need to be addressed before the fight can be booked.
Conor is currently dealing with sexual assault allegations. He must also fulfill the requirements for entering the USADA testing pool.
Moreover, considering McGregor’s limited training appearances on the show. It raises questions about his activity level during his time away from competition and the amount of time he would need to prepare for a formidable opponent like Chandler after such a hiatus.
I look forward to my upcoming fight. I am well in preparation.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 4, 2023
Until these uncertainties are resolved, the post-fight moment between Conor and Michael might be the closest fans get to the anticipated matchup they eagerly await.
What are your thoughts regarding this? Let us know in the comment section below.
