Michael Chandler controls it Episode 31 Training match with Conor McGregor.
In this week’s episode, Chandler’s team improved to 3-0 at TUF31 In the quarterfinals where Austin Hubbard (15-6) won a lopsided decision over Aaron McKenzie (11-2-1) in their match for the lightweight championship.
The younger, but slightly more experienced Hubbard (Hubbard has more professional fights than McKenzie, although both began their professional careers in 2015) showed impressive takedown defense in a two-round fight, repeatedly blocking McKenzie’s attempts to take the fight to the mat. McKenzie had moments on his feet, landing Hubbard with some powerful punches straight to the money, but Hubbard’s chin was up to the task and often countered.
Hubbard nearly ended the fight late in the first round as he hit McKenzie with an uppercut followed by an uppercut as McKenzie landed to slow Hubbard. This resulted in Hubbard getting first and firing powerful ground and pound jabs at McKenzie.
A bloodied McKenzie came out strong in the second round, but Hubbard stayed calm and eventually scored a squat of his own to take more ground and pound. When McKenzie attempted a wrestling counter, Hubbard simply pushed him back to the mat where he controlled him for the rest of the round. Hubbard went on to claim a unanimous decision victory.
In Hubbard’s first round with the UFC, he went 3-4 with wins over Dakota Bush, Max Rohskopf, and Kyle Pribolix. He was released in 2021, but bounced back with a pair of victories on the regional scene in 2022. He joins fellow UFC veterans Roosevelt Roberts and Cody Gibson in advancing to the semi-finals.
McGregor’s team of prospects (known as fighters who have not fought in the UFC) remain winless.
It wasn’t all bad news for McGregor, who received a visit from fan Samuel Romero, who brought him two custom-made McGregor action figures (one in combat gear, one in work clothes). “The Notorious” was so impressed with Romero’s work that he offered to buy the numbers on the spot and broke out a stack of $100 bills to seal the deal, much to Romero’s surprise.
Next week features a rescheduled matchup from Episode 2 as McGregor’s Trevor Wells (8-3) takes on Chandler’s Team Timur Valiev (18-3, 1 NC).
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
- Austin Hubbard Dave. Aaron McKenzie by unanimous decision
Here are the remaining quarter-final matches:
- Trevor Wells vs. Timur Valiev
- Lee Hammond vs. Kurt Holubow
- Jason Knight vs. Landon Quinones
- Hunter Azure vs. Rico DiCiolo
- Brad Katona vs. Carlos Vera
Advancement to the semi-finals: Roberts, Gibson, Hubbard
Excluded: Jennerman, Gutierrez, Mackenzie