TUF 31: Mac Shoves Mike, Chaos Ensues!

Team McGregor is now 0-6.

You don’t have to be outside to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) was back on the air earlier tonight (Tues., July 4, 2023) on ESPN for Ep. 6 of the long-running combat sports reality show, featuring head coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler leading respective squads of lightweight and bantamweight contestants. Remember, immediate replays of TUF 31 are available on ESPN+ (sign up here) immediately after each episode, or you can save yourself an hour and just read our complete recap below.

Missed last week’s episode? No problem! Get full results and recap videos right here.

We kick things off at the TUF house and Kurt Holobaugh (Team Chandler) is previewing his quarterfinal fight against Lee Hammond (Team McGregor). For those of you joining us late, the squads are split into two groups: UFC veterans coached by Chandler and UFC newcomers coached by McGregor. Keep in mind it was McGregor’s choice to go with a squad of rookies and so far he’s lost every fight. You can blame his coaching style — which consists of fancy suits and cageside shouting matches — or his ego for thinking fighters with previous UFC experience are washed up simply because they got cut before scoring a TUF callback.

We also get a closer look at Hammond, who is a longtime training partner of McGregor. Hammond may be one of the Straight Blast Gym fighters who got grandfathered in at the request of “Notorious” (more on that drama here). Holobaugh is nine years older than his Irish opponent at age 36, to which the Louisiana native suggests is “a grown man taking on a little boy.” I thought that comment was a little on the rude side until it was revealed that Hammond still lives at home in Crumlin with his parents and sister, which at age 27 is a little unusual. I guess the counter to that is it lets Hammond focus exclusively on martial arts without having the pressures of life weighing him down.

Speaking of getting weighed down, Coach McGregor is once again a no-show at the official weigh ins, where both combatants make their marks without incident.

Let’s fight.

155 lbs.: Lee Hammond (Team McGregor) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (Team Chandler)

Round 1: Quick touch of gloves and Holobaugh uncorks a leg kick. Hammond catches it and trips Holobaugh to the floor. UFC President Dana White, sitting cageside, is impressed by the size and range of Hammond. The action slows as Holobaugh worms his way into guard. Hammond wants to posture but Holobaugh is holding the head nicely. Hammond transitions to side control but Holobaugh is able to swing his legs out. Hammond makes the necessary adjustments and pulls Holobaugh back to the floor but only briefly. A still-fresh Holobaugh gets back to his feet and hoists Hammond for the slam, but Hammond stays composed and uses the leverage to bring the fight back down to the floor. Mad scramble follows and Holobaugh gets trapped in a bad position. Half guard for Hammond and he tags Holobaugh with a pair of big shots. Holobaugh flat on his back with Hammond in complete control. Coach Chandler and Co. screaming for Holobaugh to get up. Hammond jumps up with 20 seconds left and takes Holobaugh’s back. Here come the elbows. Holobaugh taking abuse until the bell. Easy 10-9 for Hammond.

Round 2: Holobaugh comes out looking fresh and uncorks a couple of stiff jabs. Hammond gets his head snapped back with a right hand. Hammond returns fire. Jumping knee from Hammond but Holobaugh catches it and dumps Hammond to the floor, almost a mirror image of how the first frame opened. Hammond sweeps and rolls then sinks in a guillotine but Holobaugh defends. Hammond lets it go and goes back to half guard where he spent most of Round 1 in control. Hammond with an elbow. Coach Chandler screaming for Holobaugh to “explode out” but instead he eats an elbow. Halfway mark and Hammond in cruise control. Holobaugh’s corner is not happy. Hammond tries for a lazy transition which is basically just standing up and moving to the other side of his opponent’s body and Holobaugh seizes the opportunity to escape. Hammond tries to sink in a leg lock but Holobaugh is having none of it. Holobaugh spins into top control and drops in a sneaky guillotine. Coach Chandler screaming for him to SQUEEZE! He does and Hammond taps. Wow. A stunned coach McGregor collapses with his head buried in his hands.

Result: Holobaugh def. Hammond by submission (guillotine choke)

Here’s where we stand after Ep. 6:

Team McGregor:

135 lbs.: Mando Gutierrez (No. 1)
135 lbs.: Trevor Wells (No. 2)
135 lbs.: Carlos Vera (No. 3)
135 lbs.: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4)

155 lbs.: Lee Hammond (No. 1)
155 lbs.: Nate Jennerman (No. 2)
155 lbs.: Aaron McKenzie (No. 3)
155 lbs.: Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)

Team Chandler:

135 lbs.: Hunter Azure (No. 1)
135 lbs.: Brad Katona (No. 2)
135 lbs.: Timur Valiev (No. 3)
135 lbs.: Cody Gibson (No. 4)

155 lbs.: Jason Knight (No. 1)
155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard (No. 2)
155 lbs.: Roosevelt Roberts (No. 3)
155 lbs.: Kurt Holobaugh (No. 4)

Coach Chandler and his team of UFC veterans are up six fights to zero.

After the contest, McGregor and Chandler start jawing and it’s clear “Notorious” is frustrated by his inability to win a fight, particularly with his handpicked top seed. McGregor claims Hammond was dominating and Holobaugh “got lucky.” The trash talk intensifies and they come face-to-face before McGregor two-hands Chandler across the cage. “Iron” seems more invigorated than upset by the contact. White rushes in to keep them from doing anything crazy and the drama comes to an end.

For now.

Here are the remaining quarterfinal elimination fights:

155 lbs.: Jason Knight (No. 1) vs. Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)
135 lbs.: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4) vs. Hunter Azure (No. 1)

See you next week for Jason Knight vs. Landon Quinones Stewart and the rest of Ep. 7!