- Booted TUF 31 contestant Mitch Ramirez detailed how Conor McGregor demanded to have them kicked out and replaced by his own guys
- Ramirez said he was told that there was nothing they could do because it was McGregor
The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 is just hours away from debuting on ESPN and ESPN+. Ahead of the show’s maiden episode, Mitch Ramirez, one of the three TUF 31 contestants who were ejected from the final roster, opened up about how Conor McGregor allegedly had them kicked out.
It’s Conor Period
Speaking to Fight Fluency, Ramirez revealed how things played out the moment the TUF crew learned that McGregor was demanding to inject “two of his guys” into the official roster. Ramirez added that not all were in favor of “Notorious” but they just couldn’t do anything about it because he is the ultra-popular Conor McGregor.
“One of the producers came in and he just, he looked upset,” Ramirez recalled. “I believed him. His body language, what he was telling me sounded like the truth. What he told me is that, ‘Conor landed today and he brought two of his guys with him. He’s demanding they’re on the show. He’s got the prospects. Unfortunately, you have the least amount of fights on your record, so you’re being replaced.’
“To me, that was such a blow,” he added. “Such a nut shot, honestly. I remember sitting there being stunned and being, like, ‘Is there anything we can do? What the f—?’ And they’re like, ‘We’re sorry, dude, it is what it is. It’s Conor.’”
It happened
It can be recalled that UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns shared the same sentiments after his friend and teammate, Loik Radzhabov was also allegedly forcefully removed by McGregor from the TUF 31 roster.
McGregor, meanwhile, has already denied the allegations but UFC president Dana White admitted that they indeed, allowed the former two-division champ to bring two guys with him. However, White insisted that it wasn’t like how the media presented it to the public.
“That just happened recently where Conor McGregor was going to coach this season of The Ultimate Fighter and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it, but I’m bringing two guys that I want to make it right onto the show.’ Then, of course, the f****** media [says], ‘Oh, that’s not fair, and what happened to those guys?’ Shut the f*** up. So we’ll take care of the guys that aren’t on it, and this is what Conor wants, we’ll give it to him,” White revealed.
McGregor will face his rival coach Michael Chandler at the season finale of TUF 31 in a showdown expected to take place in the final quarter of the year.
