HW Champion’s Addition to Michael Chandler’s Team Has UFC Fans Convinced of Conor McGregor’s Stance

Season 31 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ featuring Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler just got another huge addition to it. The show began filming a few days ago and will air on May 30. Both McGregor and Chandler reached Vegas a few days back to kick things off. As the team selection was underway, allegations of favoritism from McGregor made headlines recently.

While McGregor has been on the receiving end of criticism from fighters like Chris Curtis and Gilbert Burns. Michael Chandler just added a huge profile to his TUF team.

Early reports stated that TUF 31 would feature 10 bantamweights and 10 lightweights- eight fighters and two substitutes from each weight class. While the fighters are an important element in both teams, the coaching staff also plays a pivotal role in the show. While McGregor is dousing the fires of several allegations, Chandler just got a huge addition to his team.

Fans react to the latest addition to Team Michael Chandler for TUF 31

Former UFC light heavyweight contender and current Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader will join Team Michael Chandler. According to an announcement from MMA Orbit, Bader will be a part of Michael Chandler’s coaching team for TUF 31.

Bader was a part of TUF himself, winning season 8 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ for Team Nogueira against Team Mir. He beat Vinny Magalhaes at the TUF finale in December 2008 to kick off his run in the UFC. Over his 8-year stint in the promotion, Bader has fought the cream of the crop, including the likes of Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, and Glover Teixeira.

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He then switched over to Bellator in 2017, where he is currently the heavyweight champion. His most recent title defense was against the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. After the news of the addition, fans had a few interesting reactions to the announcement.

With his experience in MMA and in TUF, Bader will be a valuable addition to team Chandler. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor provided an update of his own and it involved more subtraction than addition.

Conor McGregor provides TUF update

In a recent Facebook post, McGregor dropped the names of some of the fighters he had decided to cut from the show. Taking the jibe at all the favoritism claims, the Irishman namedropped fighters that did not measure up to his standards and therefore did not make team McGregor.

He wrote, “Good practice, team! Ok it’s time for the easiest part of any coach’s job.. the cuts. Now, while I wasn’t able to cut everyone I wanted to, I have cut a lot of you. Wendell is cut. Rudy is cut. Janey, you’re gone. Stephen, I like your hustle. That’s why it was so hard to cut you. Congratulations! The rest of you made the team! Except you, you and you.”

Ryan Bader’s presence in TUF could add value to the show and improve team Chandler’s prospects.

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What do you think about this addition to TUF? Let us know in the comments below.