Former Bellator champion upset over being excluded from Conor McGregor TUF season
UFC superstar Conor McGregor will be making his long-awaited return to the UFC in the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). The Irishman will coach the show opposite former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
Watch Dana White confirm Conor McGregor's UFC return below:
However, it seems that a certain ex-Bellator champion is upset over being excluded from the TUF season. In a recent tweet, former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks stated his disappointment in failing to make it to the season's roster.
The 36-year-old added that he'll stay ready regardless so that he can fill in if any fighters drop out of the competition owing to injuries:
"Damn. We missed it. Apparently, they've casted the whole TUF season already. But, I'll stay ready... You never know what could happen, we've seen injuries on the show before."
Damn.We missed it. Apparently, they've casted the whole TUF season already.
But, I'll stay ready... You never know what could happen, we've seen injuries on the show before.
#keepgoing
Brooks has been featured on TUF in the past. The Illinois native in fact won season 23 of the show, defeating Ross Pearson in the finale.
However, his UFC stint was less than ideal as he went 1-3 in the premier MMA promotion. Interestingly, 'Ill Will' holds two wins over Michael Chandler from his time in Bellator.
Watch Will Brooks knockout Michael Chandler below:
Will Brooks currently holds a pro-MMA record of 24-5. In his most recent fight at Xtreme MMA 5, the American edged out Luis Pena via a split decision.
What is unique about the upcoming season of TUF coached by Conor McGregor
The upcoming season of TUF featuring UFC megastar Conor McGregor is breaking away from the show's traditional format and bringing in some new and unique changes.
According to a tweet by mixed martial arts writer Cole Shelton, TUF 31 will have half its roster filled with veterans who have previously been released from the promotion and the other half occupied by new prospects. As such, the show will reportedly have a vets vs. prospects theme to it.
The tweet read:
"Been told by multiple sources that TUF 31 will see half the contestants being UFC veterans who have been cut with the other half being prospects. Theme is vets vs. prospects with McGregor and Chandler as coaches."
Been told by multiple sources that TUF 31 will see half the contestants being UFC veterans who have been cut with the other half being prospects. Theme is vets vs. prospects with McGregor and Chandler as coaches. #TUF31 #UFC
The upcoming season of the UFC feeder competition will premiere on May 30 on ESPN and ESPN +. McGregor and Chandler will go head-to-head in the octagon later this year.