The hiatus of Conor McGregor is well and truly over.
There’s a new docu-series on Netflix, talk of a return to the octagon and now a starring role on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter.
The two-time world champion has taken on the role as a coach on the newest season of the reality series.
It’s not exactly the ‘return’ that many are sweating over, but it does mean that he is back within the world of MMA. McGregor is tipped to be extending his rivalry with opposition coach on the show Michael Chandler; the pair facing off as coaches on the show and then for real in the octagon.
The Irish former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion will serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter for the second time, having done it back in 2015 for the show’s 22nd series.
With McGregor on board for this season, the spotlight will largely be on the coaching rivalry rather than the contestants like it quite normally is. The hype towards this McGregor-Chandler fight is going to be out of control.
Conor’s appearance on The Ultimate Fighter absolutely has the UFC community right back on the Irishman’s bandwagon.
So with the series finally arriving, here’s everything you need to know about the highly-anticipated television spectacle that, frankly, looks like compulsory viewing.
What is it The Ultimate Fighter?
The Ultimate Fighter is one of ESPN’s most influential broadcasts, having been instrumental in growing the popularity of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through the 2000s.
It follows two coaches in a reality TV series produced by the UFC who help develop a number fighters on their respective team, ultimately building up to a fight between the two at the end.
"The Ultimate Fighter is made for people like me."
— UFC News (@UFCNews) May 26, 2023
Mando Gutierrez sees himself as an in-your-face-fighter whose tenacity will make the difference.#TUF31 premieres on Tuesday, May 30 on ESPN and ESPN+ 📺
Over the 30 seasons, the show has produced many UFC champions such as Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson and Australia’s own Robert Whittaker.
This season sees two of the sport’s best in Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler battle it out as coaches before a reported mega-fight later this year – September at the earliest.
Whenever we see the return of McGregor into the octagon, it will be the first time since July 2021 that he has fought.
When is the The Ultimate Fighter starting and where can I watch it?
Wednesday May 31st on ESPN
The Ultimate Fighter season 31 starts Wednesday May 31st at 12:30pm AEST on ESPN.
There will be 12 episodes across the season featuring coaches McGregor and Chandler, and will be available for on demand watching on ESPN+.
Does The Ultimate Fighter have a trailer?
Hell yeah.
Watch it here or via the below embed.
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight
The hype is well and truly starting to build towards a return to the octagon for former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor who has been out of action recovering from a nasty leg injury sustained in his previous fight in July 2021.
He will likely be welcomed back into the sport by taking on opposition coach on The Ultimate Fighter Michael Chandler, a former Bellator champ.
In each season The Ultimate Fighter, the tension between the two coaches builds to a fight of their own at the end. So fans are practically destined to witness a fight between these two on a UFC card sometime soon.
Exact details on a fight between the two is yet to be determined at this point (May, 2023) but rumours are speculating September this year at the earliest.
