Conor McGregor two fights in the hole.
Coach Michael Chandler got another take on McGregor on this week’s episode of Ultimate Warrior 31 Where Cody Gibson #4 bantamweight (19-8) defeated #1 Mando Gutierrez in McGregor (8-2). After Roosevelt Roberts beat Nate Jennerman in Episode 1, Chandler is now 2-0 up in the series so far.
Episode 2 began with a twist as bantamweights Trevor Wells (Team McGregor) and Timur Valiev (Team Chandler) were originally scheduled to fight, but it was announced that Wells would not be allowed to fight due to a highly contagious cold sore on his face. The match has been postponed for the time being, in the hope that Wells’ infection will clear up in time for him to finally be able to compete.
This left Gibson and Gutierrez slipping into this week’s spot, giving viewers a real chance to match the veterans and prospects. While the veteran and potential hires this season are questionable — the distinction is tough between whether or not a person has fought in the UFC, regardless of age or amount of professional experience — Gibson and Gutierrez entered this on opposite ends of the career spectrum, with Gibson having He has fought since 2008 and Gutierrez made his debut in 2019; When Gibson made his professional debut, Gutierrez was 11 years old.
This experience gap proved too much for Gutierrez, as the much larger – and much taller – Gibson brushed off Gutierrez’s takedown attempts and picked him wide from distance. The end came when Gutierrez lunged for the strike and Gibson caught him with a beautifully timed jumping knee which badly hurt McGregor’s tag team fighter. Follow-up strikes followed and referee Jason Herzog was right there to stop the fight at the start.
Two wins and a two-time knockout now for Team Chandler and the Vets. Next week, the lightweights are back in action as Chandler’s No. 2 fighter Austin Hubbard (15-6) takes on No. 3 McGregor’s Aaron McKenzie (11-2-1).
This episode also featured more of “The Notorious” on camera during his visit to TUF House and teamed with both teams while Gutierrez cut his hair. All fighters, regardless of team, seemed to warmly welcome the previous two division champions. Meanwhile, Chandler, a father of two adopted children, is attached to Gibson due to his upbringing, which includes Gibson coming from a family where he is one of two foster children with two brothers with special needs.
Ultimate Warrior 31 Live every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
After the season finale, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are expected to face off in a welterweight bout at a date yet to be determined.
Finalists from TUF31 The lightweight and lightweight championships will also be vying for the UFC’s six-figure contract on the show’s live finale. No date has been announced for this event yet.
Here it is TUF31 The list is divided by team:
Team McGregor (Horizons)
Lightweight
- Lee Hammond (27, 5-0)
- Nate Jennerman (29, 16-5)
- Aaron McKenzie (34, 11-2-1)
- Landon Quinones (27, 7-1-1)
Bantam weight
- Mando Gutierrez (26, 8-2)
- Trevor Wells (27, 8-3)
- Carlos Vera (35, 11-3)
- Rico DiCiolo (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 Holubow (36, 19-7, 1 NC)
Bantam weight
- Hunter Azure (31, 10-3)
- Brad Soldier (31, 12-2)
- Timur Valiev (33, 18-3, 1 NC)
- Cody Gibson (35, 19-8)
Here are the quarter-final results so far:
- Roosevelt Roberts defeated. Nate Jennerman via first round KO
- Cody Gibson defeated. Mando Gutierrez via first-round TKO
Here are the remaining quarter-final matches:
- Austin Hubbard vs. Aaron McKenzie
- Lee Hammond vs. Kurt Holubow
- Jason Knight vs. Landon Quinones
- Hunter Azure vs. Rico DiCiolo
- Brad Katona vs. Carlos Vera
- Trevor Wells vs. Timur Valiev *
- Advances to the semi-finals: Roberts, Gibson
- Elimination: Jennerman, Gutierrez