“The Final Fighter 31” is ongoing with coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler attracting extra eyeballs again to the collection.
This season, which options eight lightweights and eight bantamweights, airs Tuesdays on ESPN. McGregor’s workforce options eight fighters who haven’t competed within the UFC in opposition to Chandler’s workforce of eight UFC alumni.
Amongst these UFC alums is Kurt Holobaugh, the lone fighter who had two earlier stints with the promotion. Holobaugh went 0-4 over these stretches, however historical past reveals a tricky energy of schedule: Steven Siler, Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises.
Now at light-weight relatively than featherweight, Holobaugh devastated two opponents to get a 3rd look from the UFC.
Every week right here at MMA Junkie, Holobaugh will peel again the curtain and supply an unique, behind-the-scenes look and provides perception into what could not have made the reduce onto the episode.
Try what Holobaugh needed to say about Episode 10 under.
No laborious emotions in opposition to Brad Katona
“I don’t see how one can (fault him). If that was my coaches on the opposite facet, that I’ve been coaching with for the previous couple of years, and I had the prospect to go there as a result of I used to be preventing a teammate or a man, I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t make that change. It really labored out completely for Brad Katona that he was ready to do this. I used to be really standing proper there. You’ll be able to see me come into the nook when Brad is speaking to Chandler and all the opposite coaches, letting them know he appreciates all the things they’d completed for him. I don’t assume can maintain it in opposition to him. Anyone would’ve completed that in the event that they had been in Brad’s footwear.”
An elevated feeling of stakes throughout semifinals?
“Being in the home the entire time, you’re regular working towards one thing. The fellows who misplaced within the quarterfinal battle are basically out of the competitors. They don’t have something to sit up for vs. we did, proper? We’re within the semifinals. We’re nonetheless coaching for a battle, so we had slightly little bit of stress on our shoulders. All of us knew we had robust fights. For us, we’re preventing to make it. … I didn’t let the stress get to me however you’ll be able to really feel slightly bit there.”
Battle response: Brad Katona def. Timur Valiev through break up resolution
“Each guys had been sort of an equal stage. Each of them had nice runs within the UFC. In fact, Brad gained an earlier season of ‘TUF.’ Timur Valiev was the way in which he was within the UFC, profitable fights. Each of these guys most likely acquired reduce or launched from the contract slightly early. It was positively a rattling good battle.
“… I didn’t get to see that battle stay, so this week was the primary time I’ve acquired to see this battle. … It was a enjoyable and entertaining battle. Each guys I believe actually needed to go in there and actually confirmed how unhealthy they needed to win that battle.”
Good resolution?
“I don’t know if I’m being biased or not. I’m making an attempt to not be biased however I felt like I gave Timur all three rounds. Everyone knew that Brad had the talents. He already gained the present earlier than, so he’s really gained what everyone is there to win. … It didn’t actually shock me in any respect, the efficiency he placed on. We all know Brad is nice. A whole lot of guys could not like Brad however that doesn’t say something concerning the talent.”
Did fighters have a lot interplay with Dana White exterior what viewers noticed?
“Not likely, particularly not battle night time. I don’t assume I talked to him one time on battle night time, besides perhaps saying one thing by means of the cage. We talked to him slightly bit after we did the fighter picks at the start of the present and perhaps slightly bit on the coaches’ problem you’re going to see developing on subsequent week’s episode and likewise on the finish of the present. Proper earlier than we had been going dwelling, Dana talked to everyone and hyped us up about being the UFC and preventing and all this and that. That was it.”
Excited for the world to see your semifinal vs. Jason Knight subsequent week?
“Types make matchups, proper? I most likely didn’t have the very best matchup for my model in Lee Hammond. He’s large and robust and an excellent grappler. He needed to place me down. In fact, I prefer to standup more often than not. That’s what I’m going to get with Jason Knight. As you hear on the finish of this episode, Dana is already calling me and Jason the battle of the season. If he’s calling us the battle of the season over Timur and Brad, you understand that battle has acquired to be thrilling.”
Be sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.
