After the long wait since its announcement earlier this year, TUF 31 is finally here. The returning Conor McGregor and future opponent Michael Chandler stepped into their coaching roles in the premier episode of season 31 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter. The show marks the beginning of the road to return for McGregor, who is set to enter the USADA testing pool.
The Irishman will look to shake off the cobwebs and prove himself once more after the horrific leg break in 2021. During his interaction with Michael Chandler in the first episode, ‘The Notorious’ spoke about something on his wishlist for the UFC. In fact, he and Chandler both agreed on the excitement behind the idea proposed by McGregor.
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During the pandemic, the UFC started holding shows at the Apex in Las Vegas. A smaller set-up with a smaller cage, the Apex did not house any audience during the pandemic. Therefore, the sound of shots landing on fighters could be heard clearly. This fact intrigued ‘Mystic Mac.’
Conor McGregor talks UFC Apex with ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler
During their first meeting on TUF, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler had a discussion about fighting at the UFC Apex. McGregor seemed interested in the idea of thudding shots landing without the noise of the crowd. The 34-year-old asked Chandler, “Did you ever fight at the Apex?”
When Chandler responded he hadn’t, McGregor said, “Me neither. I would have liked to though.” He continued, “With no sound.” “I actually loved it,” ‘Iron’ Mike chimed in.
The former two-weight champion said, “Imagine my shots with no crowd. Imagine the sound of my shots with no crowd. You’d hear them up close.”
McGregor and Chandler discuss fighting at the Apex 👀 #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/xFjtSHansQ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 31, 2023
It did not take long for the cordiality to turn into banter. Chandler responded, “Imagine my shots with no crowd.” McGregor took a dig at him implying he would miss. He said, “Yeah, whistling. Your shots whistling by, yeah…Whistler is what we call them. Wind.”
Chandler laughed it off but said, “Hey, but if it lands… if it lands…”
The first episode of TUF 31 had its moments with interactions like these. Furthermore, the unexpected visit from UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was a surprise for the fans.
Bruvvvv Islam is on TUF 👀 pic.twitter.com/YJl8HfYaC5
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) May 31, 2023
The highly anticipated TUF 31 premiere delivered memorable moments and kicked off its 12-episode run with a bang. Fans can expect things to heat up as more episodes drop in the coming weeks. The show is set to run till mid-August.
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Did you watch the TUF 31 premiere? Did it live up to your expectations? What are your takeaways from the first episode? Let us know in the comments below.
