The Ultimate Fighter 31: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler Episode 6 Recap

In the sixth episode of The Ultimate Fighter 31, Conor McGregor’s team suffered a setback despite sending their most promising prospect into the octagon.

Coach Michael Chandler continued his winning streak as Kurt Holobaugh (19-7, 1 NC) secured a remarkable comeback submission victory over Lee Hammond (5-0*), a teammate of McGregor from SBG Ireland. This defeat was a significant blow to Team McGregor, considering Hammond’s status as the highest-ranked lightweight fighter on their roster, while Holobaugh held the fourth position on Team Chandler.

(*Note: The results of TUF bouts are considered exhibitions and do not affect a fighter’s professional record.)

During the first round, it seemed like Hammond would finally secure a victory for McGregor’s team. The 26-year-old Irish fighter outperformed Holobaugh in the grappling exchanges, effectively neutralizing Holobaugh’s active guard and landing impactful strikes from the ground. With a successful Round 1, Hammond continued to dominate in the second round, leaving Holobaugh bloodied and battered.

However, Holobaugh capitalized on an opportunity to escape from a disadvantageous position and swiftly turned the tables. With less than two minutes remaining in the fight, the former UFC competitor relentlessly pursued a guillotine choke, forcing Hammond to submit. The unexpected outcome left McGregor visibly stunned, kneeling outside the cage.

Following the fight, tensions rose as Chandler and McGregor engaged in a tense faceoff, culminating in McGregor shoving Chandler forcefully. UFC President Dana White swiftly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating, but it was evident that animosity between the two stars was palpable, fueling anticipation for a future fight.

Holobaugh, who had previously competed twice in the UFC (once in 2013 and a three-fight run from 2018-2019), joins lightweight veterans Roosevelt Roberts and Austin Hubbard from Team Chandler in advancing to the TUF 31 semifinals.

In the upcoming episode, Jason Knight (23-7) from Team Chandler will face Landon Quinones (7-1-1) from Team McGregor for the final lightweight semifinal spot.

The Ultimate Fighter 31 airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

Once the season finale concludes, a welterweight bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler is expected, although it has not been officially confirmed. However, recent sexual assault allegations against McGregor have cast uncertainty on his future in competitive fighting.

Additionally, the finalists of the TUF 31 lightweight and bantamweight tournaments will vie for a lucrative UFC contract at the live finale of the show. The date for this event is yet to be announced.

Below is the TUF 31 roster divided by team:

Team McGregor (prospects):

Lightweight:

• Lee Hammond (27, 5-0)
• Nate Jennerman (29, 16-5)
• Aaron McKenzie (34, 11-2-1)
• Landon Quinones (27, 7-1-1)

Bantamweight:

• Mando Gutierrez (26, 8-2)
• Trevor Wells (27, 8-3)
• Carlos Vera (35, 11-3)
• Rico DiSciullo (36, 11-2, 1 NC)

Team Chandler (veterans):

Lightweight:

• Jason Knight (30, 23-7)
• Austin Hubbard (31, 15-6)
• Roosevelt Roberts (28, 12-3, 1 NC)
• Kurt Holobaugh (36, 19-7, 1 NC)

Bantamweight:

• Hunter Azure (31, 10-3)
• Brad Katona (31, 12-2)
• Timur Valiev (33, 18-3, 1 NC)
• Cody Gibson (35, 19-8)

Here are the quarterfinal results thus far:

• Roosevelt Roberts defeated Nate Jennerman via first-round KO
• Cody Gibson defeated Mando Gutierrez via first-round TKO
• Austin Hubbard defeated Aaron McKenzie via unanimous decision
• Timur Valiev defeated Trevor Wells via unanimous decision
• Brad Katona defeated Carlos Vera via unanimous decision
• Kurt Holobaugh defeated Lee Hammond via second-round submission (guillotine choke)

The remaining quarterfinal matchups are as follows:

• Jason Knight vs. Landon Quinones
• Hunter Azure vs. Rico DiSciullo

Advancing to the semifinals are: Roberts, Gibson, Hubbard, Valiev, Katona, Holobaugh

Eliminated from the competition: Jennerman, Gutierrez, McKenzie, Wells, Vera, Hammond

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• The Ultimate Fighter Official Website
• Conor McGregor Official UFC Profile
• Michael Chandler Official UFC Profile
• ESPN Official Website
• UFC Official Website