The Final Fighter (TUF): Season 31 returned with its second episode on Tuesday evening, which took one other step ahead to shifting alongside the rising feud between UFC light-weight stars Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
This week’s episode is a double struggle episode – two for the value of 1! We’ll see the bantamweights take their flip within the highlight, with Staff McGregor’s Trevor Wells taking over Staff Chandler’s Timur Valiev as veteran and prospect solid members struggle to advance within the event.
These with a subscription to ESPN+ can stream TUF 31 on demand.
TUF 31 Episode 2 Recap
The present opens with a recap of the previous episode. For what its price, my recap of the season’s first episode may be discovered right here.
To my shock, we’re shifting proper alongside into the subsequent struggle, which seems to be to be going down on the high of the episode. Valiev and his workforce arrive to the Apex to weigh in in opposition to his opponent, Wells. Valiev reveals the 2 are roommates in his confessional, however simply because it appears we’re about to get profiles on each fighters, Nevada State Athletic Fee (NSAC) govt director Jeff Mullen requested to talk with Coach Chandler forward of the struggle. Mullen reveals that Wells has not been cleared to compete.
Something can occur on the Final Fighter, episode 2 has our first shake up of the season #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/eJJVcKpDQb
— The Final Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 7, 2023
As Chandler and his teaching employees brazenly surprise what this may imply for his or her fighter, Valiev, Wells particulars his frustration with the scenario. He reiterates that he confirmed up, made weight, educated exhausting, and did his job as anticipated, however that chilly sore on his face is what’s finally stopping him from getting into the cage. As chilly sores are extremely contagious viral infections, the docs couldn’t clear him to compete.
For the document, I had Valiev pegged to go far within the event, as there may be however one matchup that I feel might give him critical issues as he seems to be to make his method again to the UFC. I’d even argue he shouldn’t have been lower anyway. Much like when the UFC parted methods with Saidyokub Kakhramonov, there are occasions when this firm makes you go, “WTF!”
As Chandler breaks the information to his fighter, McGregor consoles his fighter, telling him that this stuff simply occur generally and it’s a part of the job. UFC President Dana White enters the fray and explains the scenario to each groups, noting that the plan is for Valiev and Wells to struggle the next week if Wells is cleared to compete. If Wells isn’t cleared to compete, Valiev will get a walk-over into the semifinals.
Chandler’s coaches increase the difficulty of each fighters, however Valiev particularly, having to make weight two weeks in a row. White admits that was one thing he hadn’t thought-about, however that he could be open to a catchweight and so they might cross that bridge once they get to it.
With Valiev vs. Wells formally on ice, the event’s subsequent matchup is revealed to be Staff McGregor’s Mando Gutierrez taking over Staff Chandler’s Cody Gibson within the 135-pound division. White talks up Gutierrez, mentioning he has been on the UFC’s radar for a short while now. Gutierrez is a veteran of LFA and XFC, and really appeared on Dana White’s Contender Sequence however obtained schooled on the bottom by Raul Rosas Jr., who was 17-years-old on the time. Whereas the veterans are literally getting a second crack at a run within the UFC, The Final Fighter is a second probability for Gutierrez as nicely, in a method.
We then get a take a look at Staff McGregor’s coaching periods as Gutierrez prepares to struggle Gibson. Although he could not have been current on the weigh-ins for Roosevelt Roberts vs. Nate Jennerman, McGregor appears to have taken a hands-on strategy to coaching his fighters and is totally within the trenches together with his fighters which needs to be a cool expertise for the prospects. After Gutierrez particulars the gameplan, which is to shut the space and log some high management time in opposition to Gibson, he asks McGregor concerning the feelings he confronts within the locker room earlier than making the stroll to the cage for his fights.
The Infamous mentality 😤
Coach @TheNotoriousMMA breaking it down for his #TUF31 workforce pic.twitter.com/uFYAFKtvzG
— The Final Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 7, 2023
As motion shifts to the TUF Home, Roberts talks about Landon Quinones of Staff McGregor and the way he isn’t a fan of his “huge mouth” and the way dismissive he’s in direction of the veterans. Quinones offers his facet, saying he is aware of he has the abilities to compete within the UFC whereas the veterans, having been lower as soon as earlier than, don’t. Clearly, the UFC has proven itself to not at all times be the meritocracy Quinones thinks it’s, and that’s additionally to say not one of the veterans have improved since leaving the promotion. Issues start to get heated between the 2 within the kitchen as poor Jason Knight is simply attempting to cook dinner his dinner in peace. Roberts tells Quinones he doesn’t like him and isn’t prepared to waste time speaking to him anymore. The 2 conform to disagree and go their separate methods.
Now it’s time to be taught somewhat bit extra about bantamweight veteran Gibson. Because it seems, Gibson’s first struggle within the UFC got here in opposition to Aljamain Sterling, the person who would go on to grow to be the UFC bantamweight champion and a person who’s slowly however constructing an all-time divisional resume for himself in probably the most talent-laden division within the sport. Gibson’s final look within the UFC got here in 2015 when he dropped a choice to Douglas Silva de Andrade, one other fighter who continues to be going sturdy into his late 30s.
Gibson is spending what appears to be ample time on the mats with grappling coach Robert Drysdale. Chandler says the purpose with Gibson is to ensure he believes he can do it, citing his construct for the burden class and skillset. Gibson and Chandler additionally share a touching dialog about adoption. Whereas Chandler has notably adopted two youngsters of his personal, Gibson reveals he’s a toddler of adoption himself in addition to the actual fact he lately related together with his delivery household for the primary time.
This proves to be segue right into a deeper profile on Gibson, exploring his life at dwelling. He has a spouse and two daughters, and lives in Templeton, Calif. He trains out of The Pit in San Luis Obispo alongside WEC and UFC alum Antonio Banuelos, and is proven hitting the pads.
Again on the TUF Home, Gutierrez is sharing photos of his personal family and friends together with his housemates. We now get a glimpse into the lifetime of Gutierrez. The 26-year-old represents Mexico, however lives up north in East Lansing, Mich. the place he relocated to complement his preventing profession. He trains out of Murcielago MMA and lives at dwelling together with his two youthful brothers, his girlfriend and his canine, a uncommon Husky-Pitbull designer breed. He additionally works as a barber on the facet to assist pay his payments.
Gutierrez obtained into blended martial arts by way of newbie wrestling, and whereas he admits his newbie profession didn’t work out fairly the way in which he envisioned it could, he didn’t actually go into an excessive amount of element about it. He trains alongside fellow UFC welterweights Khaos Williams and Joaquin Buckley below Head Coach Joaquin Murcielago, and all three are nice sources of data and inspiration for the bantamweight hopeful.
Talking of haircuts, the final clip earlier than weigh-in day exhibits Gutierrez giving a haircut to Coach McGregor within the TUF Home, who appears glad with the brand new look (which is admittedly not too totally different than the one he was already sporting). McGregor shares a beer with some the fighters, who credit score him for his vitality and enthusiasm.
The weigh-ins come subsequent for each fighters, and it’s price noting that Gutierrez is Staff McGregor’s top-seeded bantamweight, making Gibson the fourth-seeded bantamweight on Staff Chandler, so it is going to be telling to see if the struggle performs out as such. UFC President Dana White additionally notes the scale distinction between the 2. Whereas each fighters weighed in below the 136-pound allowance, Gibson stands at 5-foot-10 and is an enormous fighter for the burden class who wears his weight nicely. Fighters from each groups are choosing their respective teammates, however are all in acknowledgement of how robust of a struggle this will likely be for each rivals.
The Combat
Gutierrez involves the cage in a cowboy hat, which quickly finds its method onto the pinnacle of his coach. McGregor appears to be doing his greatest Champ Sort impression, and has the look of a person who simply offered his oil refinery enterprise and is now seeking to purchase a basketball workforce.
Jason Herzog is the referee. As promised, Gutierrez appears intent on closing the space early and nullifying Gibson’s size, although the bigger Gibson solely got here in with a one-inch attain benefit. Nevertheless, Gibson does nicely to cease his opponent, as a substitute pummeling for below hooks and tying him up on the cage. They quickly separate and find yourself again within the clinch after buying and selling a handful of strikes. This time, Gutierrez sustains a lower on his nostril earlier than the 2 fighters break once more.
Gutierrez hits a giant leg kick, however appears to be rising impatient with Gibson dictating the tempo of the struggle within the early going together with his takedown protection on cage work. As Gutierrez goals to reset, Gibson surprises him with an enormous swap knee up the center that lands flush and knocks Gutierrez to the mat. It nearly regarded like a bicycle kick, however Gibson is ready to tuck his leg in and end with the knee as a substitute of the door.
WHAT A FINISH🤯
Cody Gibson will get the end in spherical 1️⃣ #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/5gCx4VKOIs
— The Final Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 7, 2023
Gibson lands a number of finishes photographs on the bottom earlier than Herzog waves the struggle off in favor of “The Renegade.
Staff Chandler strikes to 2-0 whereas taking out Staff McGregor’s high bantamweight contender.
Official End result: Cody Gibson def. Mando Gutierrez through Knockout (Change Knee) at 3:24 of Spherical 1
Aftermath
All events acknowledge how aggressive the struggle was up till the knockout, whereas Chandler credit his fighter for his means to take instruction mid-fight and discover the end. McGregor, dejected and defeated as soon as once more, calls the consequence “unfortunate” however it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what number of setbacks he’ll must face earlier than he snaps.
Gibson credit his coaches for instilling the arrogance in him he wanted to recover from the end line. He believes confidence was the lacking piece for him in his first UFC run. If that’s the case, the 35-year-old might have an opportunity to shock as soon as once more within the semifinals.
Gutierrez, visibly upset in himself, is consoled by the veterans on Staff Chandler as he heads again to the locker room having now absorbed defeats on each DWCS and TUF.
Staff Chandler will look to make an ideal 3-for-3 subsequent week when veteran Austin Hubbard fights prospect Aaron McKenzie.
