The Ultimate Fighter season 31 release date: When and where will Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler TUF air?

The upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 31 will mark the return of Conor McGregor, who will be cast opposite Michael Chandler as a rival coach. The pair are expected to square off once the shoot for the show concludes.

Michael Chandler's sensational callout set off the entire thing after his spectacular front-kick knockout victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. 'Iron' took advantage of the opportunity to voice his interest in locking horns with the biggest star in the UFC, and the organization obliged.

Conor McGregor recently arrived in Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world, to begin shooting for TUF. The Irishman is equally as excited as Chandler, and 'The Notorious' has guaranteed that his devoted followers will be treated to an unforgettable performance.

The series will premiere exclusively on ESPN on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The opening episode of The Ultimate Fighter 31's complete twelve-episode season will air on May 30 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. After the network premiere, episodes will be available for on-demand viewing on ESPN+. In addition, all 30 seasons of TUF can be rewatched on ESPN+ by UFC fans worldwide.

It was recently confirmed that TUF 31 will have a new premise pitting veterans against prospects. Half of the contestants will be previously released UFC fighters, while the other half will be fresh prospects. Although the UFC has not officially announced the competitors for The Ultimate Fighter 31, there have been sources confirming the list. Check out the list below:

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Gilbert Burns weighs in on Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter

It seems like there's no love lost between Gilbert Burns and Conor McGregor. The top-ranked welterweight contender had previously cautioned the Irishman not to compete in the 170-pound division.

McGregor, in keeping with his core value of doing things on his own terms, has hinted at a possible switch to welterweight in the future. With that, McGregor's highly anticipated return will take place in the welterweight division against Michael Chandler once the pair conclude shooting for The Ultimate Fighter.

Weighing in on the potential Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler clash following The Ultimate Fighter in a recent interview with Submission Radio, Burns stated:

“I think it’s a tough fight for Michael, I don’t think it’s an easy fight, but I hope Michael knocks him out very bad. I never hope that for anyone, but I hope Michael gets a good win. I don’t want to wish nothing bad for Conor, it is what it is. The guy’s a two-time champion, helped to change the sport. Didn’t make the right choice sometimes, but I just hope Michael wins and I’m going to do everything in my power to help Michael to get prepared and I hope Michael gets a finish.”

Check out the full interview below: