Conor McGregor starts his long walk back to the octagon this week when he returns to our TV screens as one half of The Ultimate Fighter coaching team.
The legendary two-weight world champion has managed to remain in the headlines, for right or wrong, during his two-year absence from the action following a gruesome broken leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. But he's fit and ready to go, beginning his comeback with the task of taking on Michael Chandler; first as a trainer and then as a fighter.
McGregor and Chandler's friendly back-and-forth has been seen to get heated at times, and it's sure to be an exciting few weeks of television when the pair are finally brought into homes around the world this week. It's the first time many fans will have seen the Irishman around the sport since 2021, and it will be fascinating to see if he's still got it.
Here's how you can watch Conor McGregor on The Ultimate fighter this year...
How to watch TUF 31: McGregor vs Chandler in the UK
This season of The Ultimate Fighter will be aired on the UFC's UK home of BT Sport. The first broadcast will be two days after the initial American showing, and will take place at 10pm on BT Sport 3. Then it will be replayed at 3am on BT Sport 1. BT Sport customers can live stream the show at no extra cost via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices. In America, the show will air at 10pm Eastern Time, 7pm Pacific and 8pm Central on ESPN and ESPN+.
TUF 31: McGregor vs Chandler fighters
Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter will see a number of familiar faces to UFC fans making their way back to the octagon. But standing in the way of former fan favourites like Jason Knight and Brad Katona are youngsters such as McGregor's own teammate Lee Hammond, who is involved in the lightweight bracket.
Katona is one of a number of notable names at 135lb, which is the second group of fighters competing on this season. He was unceremoniously dropped from the UFC after suffering decision losses to Hunter Azure and Merab Dvalishvili, the latter of whom ended up as one of bantamweight's top fighters. But he's now back in the pool, with a newly-minted Brave CF title to boot.
Lightweights
- Lee Hammond
- Kurt Holobaugh
- Austin Hubbard
- Nate Jennerman
- Jason Knight
- Aaron McKenzie
- Landon Quinones
- Roosevelt Roberts
Bantamweights
- Hunter Azure
- Rico DiSciullo
- Cody Gibson
- Mando Gutierrez
- Brad Katona
- Timur Valiev
- Carlos Vera
- Trevor Wells
Quotes corner:
Conor McGregor: “I’ll do my best. It’s only four weeks. I’m not going to baby no one. World champions do not need their hands held, so I’m going to guide them and, like I said, let them out of the trap. It’s up to them whether they catch the hare. I’ll certainly add to what I’ve learned since 2015.
"Also, it’ll be different because I’ll be getting involved in the practice my own self, as where the last time, I was coming out of a heavy bout with a gash on the eye; I had just won the featherweight world title. This time, I’m beginning to build into my own camp, so it’s going to be good all around.”
Michael Chandler: “I want to go out there and leave no question that I’m better than Conor McGregor in every single aspect of this entire endeavor. From TUF, the finale, all the way to us fighting later this year.”
