411’s Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Report 11.25.15 – Episode Ten

WELCOME: Welcome back to 411 and our coverage of the Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber. Last week, Team McGregor’s Abner Lloveras (19-7-1) defeated Team Faber’s Jason Gonzalez (9-2) via unanimous decision in the final opening round fight. Chris Gruetzemacher, who had an opening round victory, was eliminated due to having the worst performance. He was assured that he is the first alternate in case someone cannot fight as we move forward. Today we start the quarterfinal round, with the following fights made last week…

THE QUATERFINAL FIGHTS ARE:
– Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 1-0 TUF) vs. Martin Svensson (14-5 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
– Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Ryan Hall (4-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
– Marcin Wrzosek (10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. David Teymur (3-1, 1-0 TUF)
– Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Abner Lloveras (19-7-1, 1-0 TUF)

* Following the quarterfinal fight announcements, Gruetzemacher is devastated that he did not get to move on and feels like something was taken from him since he won his fight.

* Martin Svensson is having arm issues, and felt that his arm was “cracking” during his last fight. He shows up to practice in a sling after getting it checked out. Dana arrives for an announcement, and explains the situation; Martin Svensson has a broken elbow and is out; Gruetzemacher is back in the game. Conor felt that Martin would be ok, but he’s out and says that Lobov will finish him in a round. Lobov says that this changes nothing for him, and he will prepare as he always does. Martin is upset that 10-years of work has been ruined by this injury. Dana says that Gruetzemacher needs to make the most of this second chance.

* We are back at the house for a party, which includes booze and women. Dana says he has never done this before, but since they have fought so hard, they get a reward. Faber says that getting a day like this is important, while Conor says he is not a babysitter and that it’s not his job to take them out. Conor then kicks the cameras out so that they can have a good time with the “friendly ladies Dana brought”.

* We see the guys doing the usual pre-fight warm ups.

Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 1-0 TUF) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (12-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) – ROUND ONE: Lobov comes out and has no respect for the striding of Gruetzemacher, leaving himself open and daring Gruetzemacher to strike with him. Gruetzemacher works some leg kicks, but then starts to eat jabs. They work to the cage; Lobov starts to land more as they separate. Gruetzemacher back to the leg kicks, chases and eats more jabs. Lobov is landing the better strikes, but a lot of single shots instead of volume strikes. Gruetzemacher hit Lobov low so we get a break in the action. Back to action, jabs by Lobov again as Gruetzemacher lands leg kicks. Gruetzemacher looks to back off Lobov, but Lobov’s counter striking is good and he continues to land quality strikes. They work along the cage; Gruetzemacher is busted open and bleeding from the nose. Some dirty boxing along the cage, they separate and Gruetzemacher finally starts to land good knee strikes. Some nice inside striking from both, and Gruetzemacher works the leg kicks again. Gruetzemacher is getting more aggressive and landing the better strikes as the round goes on. Nice recovery from Gruetzemacher, who started to really put his strikes together and also control the distance. Close round overall. SCORECARD: Gruetzemacher 10-9

ROUND TWO: Here we go with the second round, Gruetzemacher with the leg and body kicks to begin. Gruetzemacher is controlling distance much better, and making Lobov miss more than land. They work to the cage, as Lobov looks to be really tired here. They trade leg kicks, but Gruetzemacher starts to land along the cage. Lobov has become really sloppy here, missing a lot and not countering well at all. Gruetzemacher isn’t doing a ton, but he’s efficient and landing what he has to offer cleanly. They trade center cage, Gruetzemacher on his horse and backing away. Gruetzemacher with a body kick, but Lobov connects with a straight jab and drops him. Lobov can’t follow up, and Gruetzemacher gets to his feet. It didn’t last long, as Lobov dropped him again and followed up, slowly, and that was it for Gruetzemacher, who was done and out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Artem Lobov via RD2 KO

* Connor was thrilled for his teammate’s victory. Gruetzemacher has never been knocked out before, which makes the loss even more difficult to deal with.

* Faber praises Hall’s ground game, but feels that his striking will surprise many. Hall feels he does things that no one can stop. Conor feels that Hall is a very tricky fighter, and can cause opponents to panic in the 50-50 position. Rogers has been drilling leg lock escapes most of his time.

Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Ryan Hall (4-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF – ROUND ONE: Both come out cautiously, slowly pawing and looking for a way inside to get set up. Hall gets a leg kick and then throws a high kick, that was checked. Hall gets tripped up, Rogers lets him up as he wants no part of the ground game Hall has. Rogers rips Hall on a body kick, but doesn’t follow up. Rogers with a chasing combo, and then Hall lands a body kick. Hall chases with a combo, and then flashes the body kick. Good body shot by Rogers, and then more circling with not a lot being thrown or landed. Rogers with another good straight right, but he has no follow up. Body kick by Hall, Rogers in and looks for a takedown but abandons that. Body kick by Hall, Rogers with the body shot and then stuffs a takedown attempt. Lots of chasing by Rogers, but the final round was one where not much of anything happened. Lots of counter fighting, and not much really happening. SCORECARD: Rogers 10-9

ROUND TWO: Lets hope this round picks up. Rogers tries to work his distance, and Hall almost caught him with this crazy hook kick. Rogers is pressing forward a lot, but not connecting a lot. Hall shoots, and Rogers takes him down and lands in his guard. Hall gets warned for grabbing the cage, which he did badly to improve position. Rogers eventually backs off and allows Hall to stand. Hall shoots again, fails and Rogers with some good counter strikes. Rogers stops another shot, they scramble and Rogers back to his feet. Rogers catches a kick ad drags Hall down, Hall then rolls into good position and works for a possible arm bar. Rogers stacks him, and then gets to his feet and backs off. Hall is trying to get inside, dives for a possible heel hook, but Rogers avoids that. Rogers is countering Hall’s advantages well, and not allowing him to get the position he likes. Rogers stuff Hall again, works from guard and lands some body strikes as we enter the final minute. Short elbows now by Rogers, Hall also landing some shots but he can’t get Rogers off of him or escape. He tries for a triangle, but Rogers escapes and stands. They both connect as the round ends. The first round was boring, but Rogers fought smartly overall and never allowed Hall to use his game.

SCORECARD: Rogers 20-18

OFFICIAL RESULT: Saul Rogers via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18)

* Hall had a good time in the competition, is not happy he lost, but hopes he learns from this. Conor and Faber both agree that it was a great fight, but Connor is happy that his team is dominating.

* On the next episode, we get the final two quarterfinal fights; Marcin Wrzosek (10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. David Teymur (3-1, 1-0 TUF) and Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Abner Lloveras (19-7-1, 1-0 TUF). From there, we discover the two semifinal fights.

THE SEMIFINALS:
– Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 2-0 TUF) vs. TBD
– Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 2-0 TUF) vs. TBD

Team Faber (United States)
–Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
–Jason Gonzalez (9-2, 0-1 TUF)
–Johnny Nunez (5-1, 0-1 TUF)
–James Jenkins (8-1, 0-1 TUF)
–Thanh Le (4-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
–Billy Quarantillo (6-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
–Tom Gallicchio (19-8 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
–Ryan Hall (4-1 MMA, 1-1 TUF)
–Chris Gruetzemacher (12-1 MMA, 1-1 TUF)

Team McGregor (Europe)
–Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 2-0 TUF)
–Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 2-0 TUF)
–Marcin Wrzosek (10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
–David Teymur (3-1, 1-0 TUF)
–Abner Lloveras (19-7-1, 1-0 TUF)
–Mehdi Baghdad (11-3 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
–Sascha Sharma (8-2, 0-1 TUF)
–Frantz Frank Slioa (4-0 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
–Martin Svensson (14-5 MMA, 1-0 TUF) {medical elimination, broken elbow}

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”