'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABggQAAEDBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQABQYREjEhNEEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGEQACAQUBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBEhQQVS/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDNcmw4iF0wp2FDlRmYT7zboI9zJ1dE8J7Lzz5DtflRc22Y27MkGmOxdE8a+3KHtd9IekpSjLJnZNs3en6NUXrRRR3TBEUDCawMaUV//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Michael Chandler is excited after it was announced that he will be serving as a coach on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Conor McGregor and will fight him later this year.
TUF won't be the first interaction between the two exciting lightweights. While speaking to ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto, Chandler revealed that the two had a friendly interaction backstage at UFC 257:
"He came down, shook my hand, and said, 'It's great to meet you.' And essentially something like, 'It's good to have you here in the UFC' type of thing so go do your thing, right. So, that was the nice Conor {McGregor} that was there for however long and then he turned into the not so nice Conor." [19:06 - 19:26]
'Iron' also brought up that he will have a competitive mindset even when coaching his fighters on TUF. He mentioned that he is taking the competition very seriously and is expecting 'The Notorious' to try getting under his skin throughout the season, saying:
"I think you're going to see some vintage Conor cause ultimately, we're here to create intrigue about this fight as well and we get the opportunity to do it on the biggest stage that you could actually ask for in mixed martial arts." [20:11 - 20:27]
The upcoming season of TUF could be an entertaining one as Chandler and McGregor are both committed to maximizing the amount of interest in their fight later this year.
Check out the full interview:
Michael Chandler says he's at his best when he's nervous
Michael Chandler has accomplished a lot in his MMA career. He gained a huge following and became a star outside the promotion throughout his tenure with Bellator MMA, where he was a three-time lightweight champion.
'Iron' is at a point in his career where he wants to compete in lucrative fights, and he'll do just that when he welcomes Conor McGregor back to the octagon later this year. During the aforementioned interview with ESPN MMA, he mentioned that he is at his best when he's nervous:
"Being able to build this animosity. To build the characters of who we are as coaches, as competitors, and also getting stuck in Vegas together and it being on prime TV. I'd be lying if I was saying it wasn't a little scary, a little nervous, but that's when the best of me comes out." [21:03 - 21:23]
Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter is scheduled to begin on May 30, and the two will fight at the end of the season.
