All articles tagged with #the ultimate fighter
In The Ultimate Fighter Season 34, referee Herb Dean stopped the bantamweight bout between Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu and Xavier Franklin for an eye-poke review, briefly restarting the fight with about 50 seconds left; Akylbek Uulu went on to win by decision, a finish that drew sharp criticism for Dean's handling of the sequence.
Former UFC champion Forrest Griffin revealed on the Love & War podcast that he forged medical paperwork to avoid paying for the required medicals to enter The Ultimate Fighter, xeroxing an older form and having a friend sign as the doctor. The deception didn’t surface publicly and didn’t derail his career, which later included winning the UFC light heavyweight title in 2008, with Griffin recalling Florida’s rough early days in MMA.
The article critiques the long-running UFC reality show 'The Ultimate Fighter,' arguing that after 20 years and 33 seasons, it has lost its novelty and significance, serving more as a business tool than an engaging television program, with its original groundbreaking appeal long faded.
Tony Ferguson proposes settling his long-standing UFC rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov by coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter, after five failed fight attempts, and also praises Islam Makhachev as a superior wrestler.
The Ultimate Fighter 32 premiered with coaches Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko selecting their teams from a diverse international roster. Grasso won the coin toss and picked Guillermo Torres and Robert Valentin first, while Shevchenko chose Roedie Roets and Shamidkhan Magomedov. In the first fight, Roets defeated Torres by decision, giving Shevchenko's team an early lead. The season will culminate in a flyweight championship trilogy bout between Grasso and Shevchenko, with TUF finalists competing for UFC contracts.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame, while women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is set to coach on the newest season of The Ultimate Fighter. Additionally, light heavyweight Jamahal Hill discusses his upcoming title bout against Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 300.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame, while women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is set to coach on the newest season of The Ultimate Fighter. Additionally, light heavyweight Jamahal Hill discusses his upcoming title bout against Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 300.
Brad Katona secures a split decision win over Timur Valiev in The Ultimate Fighter 31 bantamweight semifinals, advancing to the finals and giving Conor McGregor's team a much-needed victory. Katona, who previously won TUF 27 at featherweight, now has the opportunity to become the first-ever two-time winner of the reality show. The intense battle saw both fighters sustain cuts on their heads, with Katona showcasing strong counters and Valiev delivering damaging leg kicks and combinations. Katona's win sets up a potential welterweight bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, although the matchup is yet to be confirmed due to recent sexual assault accusations against McGregor and his ongoing USADA issues.
In Episode 7 of "The Ultimate Fighter 31: McGregor vs. Chandler," two fighters undergo injury exams before a lightweight fight ends quickly. Team McGregor is still seeking its first win after six straight losses. Conor McGregor spars with Landon Quinones, delivering a body kick that temporarily incapacitates Quinones. Team Chandler remains confident with a 6-0 lead. Jason Knight suffers a cut but continues to fight, while Cody Gibson discovers a grade 2 MCL tear but chooses to continue in the tournament. Knight defeats Quinones via submission, bringing Team Chandler's lead to 7-0. McGregor exchanges words with Knight and expresses frustration with the clean sweep. Next week, Hunter Azure and Rico DiSciullo face off, with tensions escalating between the teams.
Episode 6 of "The Ultimate Fighter 31: McGregor vs. Chandler" featured a physical altercation between coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler after a dramatic fight between Lee Hammond and Kurt Holobaugh. Holobaugh won the fight via submission, leading to McGregor berating Chandler and shoving him in the face. The episode also revealed the matchup for the next episode, with Jason Knight facing Landon Quinones.
Michael Chandler expresses frustration over Conor McGregor not being in the USADA testing pool yet and doubts their scheduled welterweight bout will happen by the end of 2023. McGregor has missed the mandatory six-month period required for a fighter to return to competition after being out of the USADA pool. Chandler and McGregor are currently appearing as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31, with Team Chandler winning all four episodes that have aired so far.
Episode 4 of The Ultimate Fighter 31 featured the rescheduled fight between Trevor Wells and Timur Valiev, which was previously canceled due to Wells' cold sore. Negotiations between coaches from each team regarding the weight class were drawn-out, but the fight eventually took place at a catchweight of 142 pounds. Valiev won via unanimous decision. Next week's episode will feature a bantamweight fight between Brad Katona and Carlos Vera.
Team Chandler, coached by Michael Chandler, wins for the third week in a row against Team McGregor in The Ultimate Fighter Season 31. Austin Hubbard secures a spot in the lightweight semifinals with a unanimous decision win over Aaron McKenzie. Chandler's investment in coaching and connectivity with his fighters has paid off with three straight wins. Team McGregor continues to struggle, raising questions about Conor McGregor's coaching abilities. Next week's matchup features Timur Valiev from Team Chandler against Trevor Wells from Team McGregor in the bantamweight division.
The second episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 saw Cody Gibson score a first-round knockout over Mando Gutierrez, securing a spot in the semifinals. Meanwhile, a medical issue forced the postponement of the bantamweight fight between Timur Valiev and Trevor Wells, leaving the teams to figure out how to proceed. Conor McGregor's team is now 0-2, while Michael Chandler's team continues to dominate with two wins. Next week's matchup features Austin Hubbard from Team Chandler against Aaron McKenzie from Team McGregor.
Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler faced off for the first time as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31. The show will feature a cast of lightweights and bantamweights and will debut on ESPN on May 30. McGregor and Chandler are scheduled to fight later this year, but no date or location has been announced, and McGregor has said he expects the fight to take place at 170 pounds.