It appears whatever cordial relationship Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler shared when The Ultimate Fighter 31 started filming has come to an abrupt end.
There was a sense of mutual respect among the UFC stars, as they mentored a group bantamweights and lightweights that included several UFC veterans like Jason Knight, Austin Hubbard and Brad Katona.
This all changed after a minor altercation occurred during filming. UFC President Dana White revealed that there had been bad news which made filming volatile between McGregor, Chandler.
“Chandler and Conor were very respectful to each other, and then some things started escalating that you’ll see on the show,” White said at the UFC 285 post-fight press conference. “They do not like each other now. On Friday .”
, a lot of s*** was shed.
The show was set to air on ESPN May 30, White could not reveal what actually happened. But it appeared things turned physical between the coaches.
White didn’t try to oversell the incident just for the sake of better TV ratings, but he admitted it was bad enough that he wishes the quarrel never unfolded in the first place.
“There was a lot of s*** that went down on Friday, yeah,” White said. “I don’t look at stuff that’s good for the show or things like that. Whatever happens, happens.
“The stuff that just happened shouldn’t have happened and I’m getting old. It would have been nice to be there earlier back in those days, but not good .”
.
While this is Chandler’s first stint as coach on The Ultimate Fighter, McGregor has been here before — and he’s been involved in physical altercations in the past. The most notable incident was when McGregor coached opposite Urijah Faber during TUF 22. T The Irish star was taking shots at T.J. Dillashaw who was part of Faber’s Team Alpha Male. A dispute broke out with Cody Garbrandt, former UFC bantamweight champion. Garbrandt shoved McGregor and almost starting a brawl between the two sides.
There’s no telling what went down between McGregor and Chandler, but it seems the once friendly rivals are now definitely at odds.
They’ll get to settle whatever grudge is being built up during the reality show when they finally face off later this year, though there’s still no date attached to the fight.
“Trust me if there was [a date], you would have heard about it already,” White responded when asked about a McGregor vs. Chandler. “As soon as there is, we’ll announce it, but no not yet.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/3/5/23625864/dana-white-conor-mcgregor-and-michael-chandler-do-not-like-each-other-now-after-tuf-31-drama?rand=96749
