Michael Chandler, a coach of the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter, has shared some candid thoughts on some of the biggest names of current UFC roster. Chandler quite surprisingly declared someone as the current ‘GOAT’ of UFC.
The 37-year-old fighter lost three of his last four bouts. A year ago, the American fighter defeated Tony Ferguson but he suffered defeat against Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira in since 2021. However, Chandler is once again at the center of the spotlight due TUF.
1-0 for #TeamChandler 😤#TUF31 pic.twitter.com/smD2Sjq20t
— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) May 31, 2023
Recently in an interview with ESPN MMA, Chandler expressed his instant opinions regarding some of fellow UFC fighters. He called Poirier as salty, Gaethje as savage, Oliveira as crafty, current lightweight champ Makhachev as legendary.
However, what he said about Alexander Volkanovski, the current featherweight champion caught everyone’s attention. According to Michael, Volk is the current GOAT of the UFC. While saying about Conor, his next octagon opponent, Chandler used two words, “Smash him”
We put @MikeChandlerMMA on the hot seat 🔥
He gave us his thoughts on some of the UFC’s biggest stars ahead of #TUF31 👀 pic.twitter.com/GyTKnrB24a
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 30, 2023
What is TUF?
The Ultimate Fighter or TUF in short is a television reality show organized by The Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dana White’s mixed martial arts based talent hunt venture has been a a massive hit since the beginning.
The first season of TUF aired in 2005. So far there has been thirty installments of the show. Each season consists of fighters of different weight classes. This year, the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter is scheduled to take place from May 30 to August 15.
We're just ONE HOUR away from the premiere of #TUF31!!! 🚨🚨🚨
🌎 Where in the world will you be tuning in to watch? pic.twitter.com/FmxsUhEAdX
— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2023
What is Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor’s role in TUF?
As per the regulation, in every season of TUF, two fighters from the UFC roster serves the role of head coaches of two teams as opponents. This year Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are the head coaches of their respective teams.
Conor, a former two-division UFC champion, and Chandler, a former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion, will compete against one another in the UFC Octagon later this year rather than merely battling against one another as head coaches in TUF.
For Mystic Mac, his TUF appearance was quite crucial as he has been out of the octagon for almost two years now. Hence his fight against Mystic Mike might just be the beginning of a second chapter of his mixed martial arts career.
🗣#TUF31 DEBUT DAY pic.twitter.com/Up4c1eMBYf
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) May 30, 2023
As The Irishman’s assistant coaches, Cian Cowley and Owen Roddy are also members of the coaching staff. Additionally, Ryan Bader, Robert Drysdale, and Jason Strout are acting as Chandler’s team’s assistant coaches.
