Season 31 of The Final Fighter (TUF) returned earlier tonight (Tues., June 6, 2023) on ESPN for Ep. 2 of the long-running fight sports activities actuality present, that includes head coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler main respective squads of light-weight and bantamweight contestants. Bear in mind, rapid replays of TUF 31 can be found on ESPN+ (enroll right here) proper now, or it can save you your self an hour and simply learn our full recap under.
Missed Ep. 1? No drawback! Get full outcomes and recap movies proper right here.
Ep. 2 will get underway on the APEX facility the place UFC phases its TUF fights. Timur Valiev is previewing his upcoming quarterfinal bout towards Trevor Wells, who received’t be intimidated by the mystique of the Dagestani fighter, insisting not each fighter who comes out of Dagestan is the subsequent Khabib Nurmagomedov. Out of nowhere, Jeff Mullen from Nevada State Athletic Fee (NSAC) pops his head into the fitness center and desires to have a phrase with Coach Chandler.
I’m positive every part is ok (probably not).
Appears to be like like Wells has been dominated medically unfit to compete so he’s benched till subsequent week (or longer), relying on how issues shake out. Wells claims he wakened with a chilly sore and it seems to be like a purple map of Italy on his face. Coach McGregor blames the trials of weight reducing. Talking of reducing weight, Valiev didn’t admire studying the information that he must reduce weight a second time in roughly seven days. UFC President Dana White is open to staging the bout at catchweight if Wells is cleared to compete subsequent week.
So what occurs this week?
The bantamweight struggle between Mando Gutierrez and Cody Gibson has been moved up and can take the place of Valiev vs. Wells. Gutierrez was beforehand on the promotion’s “Contender Collection” proving floor however misplaced a aggressive resolution. He expects to reveal Gibson’s “lazy jab” together with his superior gameplan. We get a few feel-good moments with Gutierrez speaking about his girlfriend and his “little child lady” which seems to be … a canine. We get some footage of them hugging and kissing and touring collectively. Look, I like animals however individuals who current their canines as being on the identical degree as their very own kids are simply bizarre. Gutierrez, who can be a barber, transitioned to MMA after his wrestling aspirations didn’t materialize.
Coach McGregor is making an attempt to hype up his squad however he’s fully gassed from mild sparring. All that muscle comes at a worth, homie. We fast-forward to later that evening on the home and Landon Quinones is speaking all types of smack, operating down the veteran contestants. Roosevelt Roberts tells him to STFU and presents to settle it exterior, to which Quinones politely declines. McGregor exhibits up on the fitness center to get a haircut from Gutierrez, who shames himself by ceaselessly sucking as much as “Infamous” in the course of the protracted trim. After the haircut, Mac bounces round the home to talk together with his workforce.
Gibson, now 35, was simply 1-3 in 4 fights from 2014-15 and went again to the regional circuit for the subsequent a number of years. A 7-2 document was adequate to get him known as again to compete on TUF and “The Renegade” believes it’s a “blessing” to be on Staff Chandler the place he’s getting intensive one-on-one teaching. Seems Gibson was adopted as a child and Chandler adopted two sons, in order that they have that widespread bond. Gibson reveals he met his spouse (and mom of his two younger women) by “sliding into her DMs on MySpace,” which you don’t hear fairly often. He presently trains at “The Pit” and mentions working with Jake Shields … and now I’ve to root towards him. After the weigh ins, White previews the subsequent struggle and claims the 26 year-old Gutierrez might be the underdog towards the artful veteran. Nonetheless numerous time left within the episode so we may be going to a call — or perhaps we simply have a variety of commercials but to return.
Two 5 minute rounds, plus a 3rd “sudden victory” spherical if obligatory. Let’s struggle!
135 lbs.: Mando Gutierrez (Staff McGregor) vs. Cody Gibson (Staff Chandler)
Spherical 1: No contact of gloves and Gibson opens with a entrance kick. Gutierrez returns fireplace and tries to tie up however Gibson tangles him up and pushes him to the cage. Each corners screaming directions. Gutierrez powers out and eats a physique kick. Gibson expenses in with punches and kicks and so they tie up towards the cage. Gibson with the physique lock however can’t get the throw. They separate and Gibson staying in his face with punches. Gutierrez slugs his method out. Kick by Gutierrez. Working punch by Gibson and Chandler warns him to not rush. Gibson eats a tough proper hand then storms again with a leaping knee. Gutierrez crumbles to the mat. Gibson pounces with hammer fists and will get warned for hanging to the again of the pinnacle. Gutierrez turtles. Gibson performs Donkey Kong Bongos on his opponent’s head till the referee intervenes. Gutierrez sits up and he’s carrying a crimson masks. Yikes.
Remaining outcome: Gibson def. Gutierrez by technical knockout
After the struggle we get a better take a look at the attention of Gutierrez and it’s f—ked the f—ok up. Coach McGregor calls him a “nice little fighter” which I feel is meant to be a praise.
Right here’s the place we stand after Episode 2:
Staff McGregor:
135 lbs.: Mando Gutierrez (No. 1)135 lbs.: Trevor Wells (No. 2)135 lbs.: Carlos Vera (No. 3)135 lbs.: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4)
155 lbs.: Lee Hammond (No. 1)155 lbs.: Nate Jennerman (No. 2)155 lbs.: Aaron McKenzie (No. 3)155 lbs.: Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)
Staff Chandler:
135 lbs.: Hunter Azure (No. 1)135 lbs.: Brad Katona (No. 2)135 lbs.: Timur Valiev (No. 3)135 lbs.: Cody Gibson (No. 4)
155 lbs.: Jason Knight (No. 1)155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard (No. 2)155 lbs.: Roosevelt Roberts (No. 3)155 lbs.: Kurt Holobaugh (No. 4)
Coach Chandler and his workforce of UFC veterans are up two-zip.
Listed here are the remaining elimination fights:
155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard (No. 2) vs. Aaron McKenzie (No. 3)135 lbs.: Trevor Wells (No. 2) vs. Timur Valiev (No. 3)135 lbs.: Brad Katona (No. 2) vs. Carlos Vera (No. 3)155 lbs.: Lee Hammond (No. 1) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (No. 4)155 lbs.: Jason Knight (No. 1) vs. Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)135 lbs.: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4) vs. Hunter Azure (No. 1)
See you in seven days for Austin Hubbard vs. Aaron McKenzie and the remainder of Episode 3!
For extra on TUF 31 and different current McGregor-related bits, click on right here.
