Michael Chandler has already won Ultimate Warrior 31 series season, now it’s just a matter of whether he can sweep Conor McGregor.
Chandler’s team improved to 5-0 on show this week with Chandler’s #2 ranked fighter Brad Katona (12-2) taking a unanimous decision over #3 Carlos Vera in McGregor (11-3).
The match was competitive, with a crafty Vera causing Katona trouble on his feet, but he struggled to stop Katona from bullying his way and taking the fight to the mat. Heavy Katona remained in first place for most of the two-round fight, sneaking in wild strikes as both fighters worked hard in the grappling duel. Although Vera had his moments, including some nice setbacks, he couldn’t overcome Katona’s stifling control.
This is Katona’s third win now TUF He also won a pair of fights in the 27th season of the show before going on to win the championship title at the TUF27 The World Cup returns in July 2018. Katona was at the center of some drama this episode as he trained for years with McGregor and his coaches at SBG Ireland in Dublin, but that didn’t seem to factor into the fight at all.
More drama came later when a frustrated McGregor walked to the cage after the fight to complain about it TUF Bouts being a two-round affair only. This is the second consecutive episode that a fighter from McGregor’s team has lost a competitive decision.
Now, McGregor can only hope to avoid going winless in the competition with three fights remaining. His team’s best chance for victory may come on the next episode as SBG Ireland’s undefeated Lee Hammond (5-0) faces off against the season’s oldest cast member, 36-year-old Kurt Holubow (19-7, 1 North). Carolina) of Team Chandler in the lightweight bout.
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. However, the feud has not yet been made official, and the recent sexual assault accusations against McGregor have left his future competitive status unclear.
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.
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
- Timur Valeev defeated. Trevor Wells via unanimous decision
- Brad Katona Dave. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision
Here are the remaining quarter-final matches:
- Lee Hammond vs. Kurt Holubow
- Jason Knight vs. Landon Quinones
- Hunter Azure vs. Rico DiCiolo
Advancement to the semi-finals: Roberts, Gibson, Hubbard, Valve, Katona
Excluded: Jennerman, Gutierrez, McKenzie, Wells, Vera