Conor McGregor's fighter was knocked out in just nine seconds in the inaugural episode of The Ultimate Fighter season 31.
Former two-weight UFC champion McGregor, 34, is coaching against Michael Chandler on the UFC reality TV show ahead of their fight later this year. The first episode is now in the books and things didn't go to plan for McGregor fighter Nate Jennerman as he was stopped in the first exchange of his fight against Roosevelt Roberts.
At the beginning of the episode, McGregor won the 'coin toss' which allowed him to pick what group of fighters he wanted to coach. The Irishman chose to coach the 'prospects' at bantamweight and lightweight rather than the experienced veterans, a group that features several fighters who have fought in the UFC before such as Brad Katona and Jason Knight.
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Jennerman is the number two seed for McGregor's group of lightweights and he was picked to face Chandler's number three seed Roberts, who fought in the UFC from 2018 to 2021. Jennerman was planning to "put his name on the map" against the former UFC veteran but as the fight started, he was stunned by a big right hand just three seconds in. Roberts smelt blood and landed the same shot seconds later, dropping Jennerman and finishing the fight with some follow-up hammer-fists.
McGregor could be seen visibly frustrated by his fighter's loss as Jennerman tried his best to protest to referee Mark Smith that he wasn't unconscious. "We were all upset for Nate, he didn't get to show much of what he has. It's a big stage and sometimes we can rise, sometimes it can go against you. Essentially in this one, that's what happened," McGregor said.
Chandler was ecstatic after his fighter's knockout win, stating: "Roosevelt went out and did exactly what I knew he could do and what I wanted him to do. He got his range and before you knew it, hit Jennerman with a big right hand. It was picture-perfect and he should be very proud of that performance."
Jennerman apologised to McGregor for the loss as he sat dejected on his stool in the locker room, but the Irishman replied to him: "Don't worry about it, we'll get better now. Back to the gym." Jennerman, a one-time title challenger for Texas promotion Legacy Fighting Alliance, said of his loss: "Right now I'm just kind of down on myself, I just got clipped off the bat and didn't get to show myself out there."
