Conor McGregor’s joke on The Ultimate Fighter versus Michael Chandler has fueled speculation that he may never fight again. Conor is facing a very horrible time in the TUF 31 season as his team’s consecutive losses. Recently a video surfaced that made fans suspect whether ‘Notorious‘ will come back in the octagon or not. McGregor is yet to fight in the UFC since his last injury against Dustin Poirier which cost him his leg.
Furthermore, Conor has been quite occupied since filming for The Ultimate Fighter which is airing since last month. With disappointing form from all his fighters, McGregor seems to have delivered the wrong message to fans suspecting an end to his career. Timur Valiev of Team Chandler defeated Team McGregor’s Trevor Wells by unanimous decision in the newest episode of TUF 31 securing a bantamweight semi-final place.
McGregor is still unsure whether he is going to make a comeback or not. Conor failed to enroll himself in the USADA drug testing pool earlier this year. Their rematch was set to take place in December when the promotion marked a date in Las Vegas, but Chandler remains optimistic that it will happen at some time.
Michael Chandler said in an interview, “As far as I’m concerned, the fight against Conor [McGregor] is still happening. Maybe it doesn’t happen by the end of this year, which it still might. But if not, it’s going to be [the] first quarter of next year.”
TUF 31 going downhill for Team Conor McGregor, fans seem quite annoyed
In a recent video of the series, Conor was caught training with Steven ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, where McGregor’s attitude to coaching was questioned by fans after acting strangely. Steven quoted in the footage: “Are you coaching with me today?” To which McGregor answered: “That’s tonight, that’s perfect. Yeah, okay we will do it.”
You gonna help me coach today? pic.twitter.com/XhOJyWG9y7
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 21, 2023
With a disappointing run for Team McGregor so far, many fans were annoyed with the inattentive behavior of Conor. They turned to Twitter to vent their displeasure when the fourth episode of the reality show aired. One of the fans wrote his discontent, how can a team win without their coach showing up, “What the hell is up with Conor? You expect your team to win when you aren’t showing up? #TUF31.”
Needs a rehab. Not a fight
— Mario_Yamasaki (@Snuff_a_Smutt) June 21, 2023
He is also horrible with corner advice while coaching the fights. “You’re doing great…Good one!” etc.
— White Belt BJJ & MMA (@WhiteBeltBJJ) June 22, 2023
Wonderboy pit him on the spot 😭😭. He wanted wonderboy to coach that day so he can bounce. Conor was trying to dip and have wonderboy coach by himself. If the camera wasn’t there, conor would have left
— naj (@naj21) June 21, 2023
just give us wonderboy vs chandler at 170
— gloomtusk (@oldatlas) June 21, 2023
This guy seems in no condition to compete.
— Jason (@JasonAmadi) June 21, 2023
However, the video shows McGregor attempting to ‘race away’ from Thompson before being stopped and looped around, as if grudgingly. Fans were not behind in reacting to this. One fan wrote, “This guy seems in no condition to compete.” Responding to this, another fan agreed, saying, “TUF was a PR stunt for Conor, nothing more. The fight with Chandler ain’t happening.”
The four winners at present are lightweights Roosevelt Roberts and Austin Hubbard, as well as bantamweights Timur Valiev and Cody Gibson. Brad Katona of Team Chandler will meet Carlos Vera of Team McGregor in a bantamweight fight in the upcoming episode on Tuesday.