Earlier today (Sat., Feb. 4, 2023), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President, Dana White, announced the long-awaited return of “The Notorious” Irish sports star, revealing hat he would reprise his role on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and then lock horns with his coaching counterpart, Michael Chandler, in a 170-pound showdown later this year.
The date and location for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is unknown at this time. Nevertheless, TUF 31 will debut on May 30, 2023, and run until Aug. 15, 2023.
McGregor will be returning from a lengthy layoff after recovering from a broken leg (see it) last time he appeared inside the Octagon at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier (watch highlights). Chandler, meanwhile, is also coming off a loss against Poirier, tapping to a submission at UFC 281 (watch highlights) in a “Fight of the Night”-winning performance.
Twitter, unsurprisingly, has reacted wildly to the news …
SURPRISE SURPRISE MFERS THE KING IS BACK??#MMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/j12SDY5URE
— UFE (@ufenft) February 4, 2023
Ill sign up for a tuf season of Connor trash talk. Get the popcorn ready.#ufc https://t.co/wyiVRYXhXj
— JT Kirkman (@JtkirkmanWF) February 4, 2023
This is a message from my mother who grew up southern baptist and can’t stand the sight of blood. She’s been keeping up with the sport for the last year now, I love it. It’s beautiful. pic.twitter.com/YjFlDYLeWa
— Hannah Rose (@mrsmmacasual) February 4, 2023
I never though I will get the chance to see this again!!!! Thanks God of War Kratos!!!!!? ?????? https://t.co/CUX4oVyJm6 pic.twitter.com/ukeLsNqytH
— PatyKboom™ (@PatyKboom) February 4, 2023
Twitter user, Grapegone, raises a great question. What was Tony Ferguson tweeting about?
So since Conor vs Chandler is confirmed Wtf was tony on about pic.twitter.com/7isAga3Cme
— ?OO? (@Grapegone) February 4, 2023
me waking up to the TUF news: pic.twitter.com/dxTD9NTOmp
— MacMally (@MacMallyMMA) February 4, 2023
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler pic.twitter.com/BJczOa9f9B
— ??????????? (@TheArtOfWar6) February 4, 2023
They really went from Peña & Nunes as TUF coaches to McGregor & Chandler
— ??????????? (@TheArtOfWar6) February 4, 2023
me when someone tells me they won’t watch the mcgregor vs chandler tuf season pic.twitter.com/nZm8ldQjQm
— hayden (@haydenthethird) February 4, 2023
FIRST THING I SEE WHEN I WAKE UP IS CHANDLER AND MCGREGOR AS TUF COACHES pic.twitter.com/unt0fHFpqu
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) February 4, 2023
Omfg that is fuckin huge https://t.co/eHcjBJyqCM
— ? (@ImAntoMMA) February 4, 2023
CONOR AND CHANDLER ON TUF HOLY FUCK
— UFC Lemon of War (@KenTheLemon) February 4, 2023
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler announced pic.twitter.com/eedvbIt8mC
— Brock’s Load (@_MMAMindset) February 4, 2023
As you can see, most fans are excited that UFC chose McGregor and Chandler to be the TUF 31 coaches; however, some people aren’t so high on the announcement.
TUF could have been so much more entertaining, what a shame. Wrong fight #TUF #UFC
— Niall McGrath (@niallmcgrath4) February 4, 2023
Meh. I was hoping it’d be against Tony but whatever.
— Yasuke (@KombatJunky) February 4, 2023
Should’ve been Conor vs Tony. Chandler is an entertaining fighter but not personality. He’ll be praising Conor the whole time thanking him for accepting the fight
— . (@Menacee0) February 4, 2023
Being named coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter is whatever.
All I care about is that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are going to fight. #TUF31 #UFC
— Mikey Bats (@MikeJBknows) February 4, 2023
1. Chandler sucks
2. McGregor sucks and is a huge piece of shit
3. Who the fuck actually still watches TUFThe ufc sucks so bad https://t.co/mA7QMDGwEt
— Air lew (@AirLew_) February 4, 2023
Maniacs, you have seen Twitter react. What do you think of the surprise TUF 31 announcement?