DETAILS HAVE BEEN revealed for the finale of the 22nd season of The Ultimate Fighter, which features Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber as coaches.
The series, featuring US and European lightweight teams in opposition, is currently being filmed in Las Vegas. It’s now been confirmed that the finale will take place at the Palms in Vegas on Friday, 11 December.
That’s 24 hours before McGregor fights UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo down the road at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the main event at UFC 194.
Breaking with tradition, however, both coaches will not square off against each other for the finale, so McGregor won’t have to worry about fighting Faber a day before he faces Aldo — although it’s a challenge the Dubliner probably wouldn’t shy away from.
The TUF 22 cast has yet to be officially revealed, but according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the event will feature a lightweight fight between Joe Lauzon and Evan Dunham, as well as Mike Pierce versus Ryan LaFlare in a welterweight bout.
Scheduling the finale for the same weekend as UFC 194 will be good news for those who are set to make the journey again to support McGregor in his 12 December title bout.
A day after last month’s meeting of McGregor and Chad Mendes at UFC 189, many Irish fans attended the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 21 — which was also held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
However, the majority appeared to be still too busy celebrating Conor McGregor’s victory as the overall attendance of 4,844 was much smaller than anticipated, so the decision to hold this TUF finale the night before — instead of after — a pay-per-view event featuring Conor McGregor may be more suitable to those in town for the weekend.
TUF 22: Team McGregor (Europe) vs. Team Faber (USA) will premiere on BT Sport 2 on Thursday, 10 September, at 4am Irish time.
He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though