411’s The Ultimate Fighter 23: Team Joanna vs. Team Claudia Report 6.15.16

The Ultimate Fighter 23: Episode Nine
Welcome to episode nine of the Ultimate Fighter 23. This season, we will see UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and No. 1 contender Claudia Gadelha as the coaches for the season. 16 fighters, 8 strawweight and 8 light heavyweight, will compete this season to earn a UFC contract. Last week, Team Joanna picked up their first victory as Josh Stansbury defeated Team Claudia’s Abdel Medjedoub. This week, Team Claudia’s Kate Jackson (7-2-1 MMA) battles Team Joanna’s Ashley Yoder (3-3 MMA).

* Team Claudia trains, as they have to comeback from their first loss of the season. They had dominated with six straight wins, so it will be interested to see if they rebound. As Kate Jackson trained for her fight, we discover that Cory Hendricks is having neck issues. He won his first fight, so he will have to fight again, so is not doing any contact right now. Hendricks tells Dana says they think it is a disc issue in his neck, they got him an MRI and they are waiting on results. Hendricks hopes he is good to go by the time he has to fight, but is even showing pain in the interviews. Urbina and Rountree discuss possibly getting back into the competition if Hendricks is too hurt.

* Ashley Yoder talks with teammates, discussing the day her brother died in a accident. MMA became a lifeline for her, at first it was therapy as she has no previous martial arts experience. Joanna discusses the upcoming fight, and some strategy with points with Yoder. Joanna feels her fighter has the better skill set and should win the fight. Yoder agrees on the talent aspect, and also believes she has more heart.

* We see Kate Jackson training. She actually fought Joanna a few years back, lost to her, but she believes it helped make her a better fighter. They’re working on movement, kicks and getting to the inside. Claudia feels Kate is very powerful, and wants her to take Ashley to the ground, where she feels she can keep the fight and win.

* Hendricks meets with the doctor, and it is revealed that he doesn’t have a major disc issue, but has something pushing on it. They want him to continue with therapy, and he can continue for now. They’ll know more in for or five days.

* Dana discusses the coaches fighting at the end of the season, and they are in camp during the show. We get highlights of both Claudia and Joanna training, and discussing why they think they will win. Claudia works out at Xtreme Couture while in Vegas. Her only loss is to Joanna, which she only feels she lost de to the judges, and wants to win and prove herself. Joanna has dinner with her coaches, she’s motivated for the rematch with Claudia and wants to make her pay for her disrespect. She feels she’s the best, and that she will not lose. She trains at Drysdale BJJ while in Vegas. Dana says the show has only made the rivalry more intense.

* WEIGH-INS: Ashley weighs in at 115.5. Kate is 115. Yoder trains with Dan Henderson, and Dana feels she is tough, but that Jackson has the experience advantage.

* FIGHT DAY: Ashley Yoder makes some pasta and chicken to prepare for her fight. Both ladies prepare to head to the gym, and discuss the importance of the fight.

Starwweight Bout – Team Claudia’s Kate Jackson (7-2-1 MMA) vs. Team Joanna’s Ashley Yoder (4-1 MMA): ROUND ONE: Jackson gets it to the ground almost immediately, and works from guard. Yoder tries to tie her up, but Jackson has her stacked. Jackson lands some solid strikes and then elbows on Yoder, keeping top position. They get warned to work, which they were but ok. Jackson postures up, lands more strikes and Yoder gets warned for up kicks as Jackson was still downed. Jackson stacks her again, Yoder is fishing from the bottom for an arm, but Jackson maintains top control. Lots of position fighting, but little else here. They get warned again to work, Jackson tries to improve position, but not much going here other than Jackson accumulating top time and taking the round. We get a few strikes from both as the round ends. SCORECARD: Jackson 10-9

ROUND TWO: Round two begins as they strike along the cage. Yoder is looking to keep it standing, and is landing well. They clinch and go to the cage, but quickly separate. They again go to the cage, Jackson presses and pulls Yoder down, and Yoder again fishes for the arm bar as Jackson is in guard. Jackson has Yoder stacked again, but that seems to be the only thing that she can do. Yoder again is looking for a possible arm bar. Jackson finally stops the stack, but they get stood up for lack of work. Back to the feet, Jackson rushes Yoder and takes her to the cage. She connects with some knees as they separate, Yoder has nothing going here as Jackson rushes her and stops any momentum. Yoder did stop the shot, they trade a bit but it is really lethargic. Jackson again with knees as they go to the cage, leading to a weak kick by Yoder as time expires.

SCORECARD: Jackson 20-18

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kate Jackson via decision (20-18 across the cards)

* Team Claudia goes 7-1 in the first round of competition. Josh Stansbury is the lone Team Joanna fighter left standing. Claudia explains that her winners will have to fight each other, it hurts her as their coach, but it is about one man and one woman winning a contract.

* The match ups are…

– Andrew Sanchez LHW (7-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Eric Spicely LHW (8-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
– Amanda Cooper SW (1-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Lanchana Green SW (2-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
– Tatiana Suarez SW (3-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Kate Jackson SW (7-2-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
– Josh Stansbury LHW (7-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Cory Hendricks LHW (3-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)

NEXT WEEK: The semifinals begin as Andrew Sanchez LHW (7-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) faces Eric Spicely LHW (8-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF); there is doubt that Corey Hendricks will be able to fight. We also get the coaches challenge.

TEAM CLAUDIA
* Kate Jackson SW (7-2-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Amanda Cooper SW (1-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Eric Spicely LHW (8-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Lanchana Green SW (2-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Andrew Sanchez LHW (7-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Tatiana Suarez SW (3-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Cory Hendricks LHW (3-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Abdel Medjedoub LHW (3-0 MMA, 0-1 TUF)

TEAM JOANNA
* Josh Stansbury LHW (7-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* Ashley Yoder SW (4-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* Jamie Moyle SW (3-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* Elias Urbina LHW (3-0 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* Helen Harper SW (4-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* Myron Dennis LHW (12-4 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* JJ Aldrich SW (2-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
* Khalil Rountree LHW (4-0 MMA, 0-1 TUF)