The UFC will feature another season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series as part of its 2023 calendar, and the promotion has recruited its biggest star to coach.
UFC president Dana White announced on Saturday that “The Ultimate Fighter 31” will feature Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as coaches, with a matchup between them slated for the end of the season.
According to White, “TUF 31” will debt on May 30 on ESPN and ESPN+, with the conclusion of the season set for Aug. 15 with weekly episodes airing on Tuesdays.
White did not reveal any additional details about “TUF 31.”
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will have his second stint on the reality show. The former UFC lightweight and featherweight coached opposite Urijah Faber on Season 22 of the show in 2015.
The Irishman was in the news again this past month for something outside the world of fighting. The Irishman is under investigation for allegedly attacking a woman on board his yacht in Ibiza in Spain in July 2022. A McGregor rep issued a denial statement on McGregor’s behalf.
McGregor has not fought since a July 2021 TKO loss to Dustin Poirier, which was his second straight knockout loss to him. McGregor broke his leg in the fight. He has been rehabbing since then and his return regularly is teased.
The former simultaneous two-division champ – who has never defended either belt and was stripped of both for inactivity – has lost three of his past four fights. His only win in that stretch was a quick knockout of Donald Cerrone three years ago, which was part of Cerrone’s six straight losses to close his career before retirement.
McGregor remains one of the most popular and bankable athletes in the world and is the UFC’s biggest draw. But in recent years, he’s become known more for his issues outside the cage than in it.
The promotion will attempt to use that star power to inject some life back into “TUF,” with former three-time Bellator titleholder Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on the other side.
Chandler has been pursuing a matchup with McGregor for the better part of the year. He’s coming off a submission loss to Poirier at UFC 281 in November, and told MMA Junkie in December that he was expecting a clash with McGregor to materialize in the second half of this year.
“My team versus his team,” Chandler said in a video posted to Instagram. “The competition starts right now.”
