Conor McGregor has explained he wanted to show his Ultimate Fighter prospects he is there for them by pushing Michael Chandler in the face.
The Irishman went 0-6 for the season last night as Chandler's veteran Kurt Holobaugh tapped out the Irishman's long-time friend and teammate Lee Hammond in a last-minute submission. McGregor then got into the octagon to console his pal, before getting into an heated confrontation with his rival which ended up getting physical.
Chandler has been critical of McGregor for his coaching throughout the show, and believes it shows a lack of interest to skip weigh-ins which he has done every episode thus far. But the Irishman feels that he has left his fighters in capable hands with his coaches including John Kavanagh, Owen Roddy, Cian Cowley and Phil Sutcliffe.
"I'm happy I got in there," McGregor told cameras after the incident. "Because they were trying to filter this thing about the weigh-ins, right? Chandler's trying to pick at that like I wasn't being involved, I'm setting it up, it's me who set it up first of all it's not like I just left them to their own devices.
"It's actually quite the opposite, they were left amongst the best... I wanted to show my team that I'm with them, I'm going to stand for them and make a case for them and that's what we done."
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Chandler had been taunting McGregor for not making the requisite effort, to which the Irishman responded by nicknaming him 'Bellator', where he made his name as lightweight world champion. It ended up in an intense face-off, which the American feels will push both men to be even more motivated when they meet in their own fight.
"Some of the kids were in the UFC before you were in the UFC," McGregor goaded. "So don't be starting to say you're this and that." When Chandler responded that he should "show up for them," the Irishman clapped back by saying "I'll show up and break your nose you little fool, you little Bellator thick."
Chandler then told the cameras: "The tension is growing, this is doing nothing but motivating each of us for annihilating each other and getting into that octagon as soon as we possibly can with the entire world watching. I want to get my hand raised in a dominant performance against Conor McGregor."
