Conor McGregor’s tense Ultimate Fighter showdown with Michael Chandler lasted 30 MINUTES

Michael Chandler has revealed that the tense showdown between him and Conor McGregor in the opening episode of Ultimate Fighter lasted 30 minutes because they had to wait in a gym during filming.

The two fighters are leading teams in the new series before battling each other later this year – a date and location have yet to be revealed.

It will be McGregor’s first time in the octagon since he broke his leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier nearly two years ago, but judging by the opening scene in the new series, the Irishman hasn’t lost an ounce of confidence. .

McGregor and Chandler met in a strangely awkward scene; McGregor paced around in a sharp suit, seemingly unsure whether to goad Chandler as the American tried to stay calm and away from what he later called “verbal ju-jitsu.”

“What was Mystic Mike’s prediction?” McGregor asked Chandler with a grin.

“Second round knockout,” Chandler replies. “Hitting you with the hard in the first.”

“Keep dreaming, keep dreaming,” McGregor replies. ‘Did I tell you what weight it’s going to be? 185. You do as you are told. I’m gonna pin you. This is my game. This is my game forever.”

After the show aired, Chandler talked about what it was like to come face-to-face with his troublesome opponent.

“Conor and I had met, we had a press conference earlier. When he fought Poirier, I fought Dan Hooker,” Chandler said. “They said go wait at the gym. I stood there for 10 minutes and then they sent Conor there and made us stand for 30 minutes.”

Chandler, for his part, was still trying to get hold of McGregor. In an unseen slip later shown on ESPN after the episode, he told McGregor, “It’s the pressure you can’t handle — the fighting pressure.”

But Chandler revealed that he felt no need to taunt McGregor excessively.

‘What are you doing? Start talking nonsense, insult each other? Conor and I have tremendous respect for each other.

“He’s a wordsmith, so comfortable in that realm. I don’t think Conor wanted to spit poison like he usually does. What is he going to say? I don’t go into the show thinking I’m going to win the verbal ju-jitsu match.

“Sometimes you have to lead with humility and show them they’re not going to win.”

McGregor was still toying with Chandler about what weight they’ll be fighting.

“It’s a good fight,” McGregor said. ‘Did I tell you what weight it’s going to be? 185? Watch what happens. Stay ready. 205? Good with 205? Would you make 155?”

Chandler said after the show that McGregor, 34, may not be able to carry the extra bulk he clearly carries.

“He’s going to get a little slimmer, I’m sure,” Chandler said. “You go to a training camp and you’re going to lose some excess mass. He’s definitely gained some weight.

“Conor and I are about the same size. He chooses the right photos for his Instagram feed. Can he carry that mass well? Can he be fast and reactive? It remains to be seen, he’s definitely a lot bigger.”