411’s Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Report 12.02.15 – Episode Eleven

WELCOME: Welcome back to 411 and our coverage of the Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber. Last week, the quarterfinal round started as Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 1-0 TUF) DEFEATED Martin Svensson (14-5 MMA, 1-0 TUF) and then Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) DEFEATED Ryan Hall (4-1 MMA, 1-0 TUF) to advance to the semifinals. Team McGregor is dominating things, with Julian Erosa the lone Team Faber fighter left in the competition. Today we continue the quarterfinal round… THE QUATERFINAL FIGHTS TODAY ARE: 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).

* We shoot right to fight day, as Conor explains that he has no gameplans for his guys, because that would not be fair. He knew that it would come down to his guys fighting each other, and that this is all about the individual now, not the team.

Marcin Wrzosek (10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. David Teymur (3-1, 1-0 TUF) – ROUND ONE: We get the touch of the gloves and we’re off and running. They both look to work leg kicks early, lots of circling and the gym is SILENT for these guys, which is really odd as the fighters have been very vocal this season. There aren’t even coaches offering instructions. Wrzosek tries to work to the body and chases with a combo, Teymur catches a body kick but can’t do much with it. Wrzosek then clips Teymur as he threw a head kick, takes him down and tries to finish but he can’t. Teymur starts to recover and gets Wrzosek into his guard, and the silence here is eerie. Wrzosek works to aside control, but Teymur is able to get to his feet and we separate for a moment, and then Teymur shoots and gets a takedown. Teymur trying to land some big shots, one missed and it sounded like thunder when he punched the mat. Back to the feet, they work along the cage and then separate. Good push kick by Teymur, but Wrzosek catches a kick and takes him down. Didn’t last long as Teymur got right back up and they traded center cage. They get a bit wild as the round ends; it was a close, back and forth round. SCORECARD: Wrzosek 10-9

ROUND TWO: Wrzosek comes out with the body kick to begin round two. They trade wildly center cage, and then separate. Teymur misses a high kick, but then takes Wrzosek down. Teymur not doing much here, Wrzosek works to his feet but Teymur looks for the guillotine and pulls him down, but Wrzosek lands on top. Wrzosek works to half guard, lands some body strikes but Teymur switched position and ends up in Wrzosek’s guard. Conor tells the ref to keep them busy. Teymur looking to grind this out, and they get stood up. They get wild again, and then Wrzosek scores with the takedown. Elbows from bottom by Teymur, he gets to his feet and they work along the cage. Knees by Wrzosek and they separate. Both fighters tentative here, they both throw and land at the same time and then work to the cage. They trade knees and were into the final 20-seconds. Wrzosek scores with a takedown and that is that. Another close round with no one really doing anything, we could see a third round, but I think Wrzosek edged Teymur out. SCORECARD: Wrzosek 20-18

OFFICIAL RESULT: Marcin Wrzosek via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18)

* Conor thought it was a smart fight, but felt it needed to go to a third round. Teymur said that it was not his day, but is happy for Wrzosek.

* We see the warm-ups for the next fight, Conor feels Erosa is a single skipped fighter, and that Lloveras will use his experience to defeat him. Erosa says he trains “MMA” and feels he is good everywhere, and that Lloveras is slow.

Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Abner Lloveras (19-7-1, 1-0 TUF) – ROUND ONE: Lloveras looks to pressure early, both land early shots as they circle. Body kick by Lloveras, but a counter right by Erosa also connects. Both land rights, and then Erosa goes to the body. Leg kick by Lloveras, another and then presses forward with a body shot. Counter left by Erosa, Erosa circles away and lands a good right as well. Both land really solid strikes center cage, and Lloveras then goes back to the leg kick. Erosa with the body kick, almost caught, and Lloveras now attacks the body. Good combo by Lloveras, Erosa catches him with a left counter and then Lloveras flashes a high kick, which is checked. Lloveras keeps dipping n for the body strikes, and then lands a right hook on the exit. Lloveras shoots, to the cage they go and he is digging for a takedown. Good defense by Erosa, keeping the fight on the feet until Lloveras gets a takedown in the final seconds. SCORECARD: Lloveras 10-9

ROUND TWO: Second round here, first was pretty close so it will be interesting to see what happens here gameplan wise. Erosa lands a good body kick and combo after that, starting to put something together. Good body shot follows for Erosa, Lloveras is starting to slow and Erosa’s speed is allowing him to put some good exchanges together. Erosa is landing much better and also avoiding eating strikes here, and then blocks a takedown. Lloveras is still countering and landing, but Erosa is taking more control of the fight so far. Lloveras is cut open over the left eye, and is slowing, but still able to land his jab. Lloveras chases Erosa, they both throw and land and then Erosa avoids another takedown attempt. Lloveras lands a good straight right that backs off Erosa. Erosa then drops Lloveras, Lloveras back to his feet and fights back but Erosa is more aggressive and keeping the pace up. The round ends with then tied up, and we should see a third round. SCORECARD: 19-19

ROUND THREE: Final round now, and Erosa comes out quickly and stuffs a takedown right away. Lloveras shoots again, to the cage and lands some really good knees. They separate, and both land good lefts. Erosa catches Lloveras with a good right, and then they work to the cage. Lloveras pressuring and looking for that takedown, but Erosa is once again defending well here. Erosa escapes the position, throws some push kicks and putting more pressure on the tired Lloveras. They trade leg kicks, Lloveras shoots again but is stuffed. Erosa chasing, and limiting Lloveras to single shots for the most part, which is finny because that was his criticism on Erosa. Lloveras lands a body kick, but Erosa keeps coming forward and he shoots and takes Lloveras down. Lloveras back up right away, but the round ends. SCORECARD: Erosa 29-28

OFFICIAL RESULT: Julian Erosa via split decision(29-28 Lloveras, 29-28 Erosa, 29-28 Erosa)

* Julian Erosa keeps the hope alive for Team Faber. Conor felt that the decision was wrong and that Lloveras won. Lloveras is upset at the loss, and feels that maybe it is time that he steps away because this may have been his last chance.

* Dana White is happy with the semifinalists.

* Dana also says fuck the brackets, which we just saw on the screen, and mixes the up the bouts for the semis…

THE SEMIFINALS:
– Saul Rogers (10-1 MMA, 2-0 TUF) vs. Marcin Wrzosek (10-2 MMA, 2-0 TUF)
– Artem Lobov (11-10-1-1, 2-0 TUF) vs. Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 2-0 TUF)

* Lobov wanted to fight Erosa, because he thinks he won two gift decisions.

* Next week… the final episode of the season, and Faber brings in JOSE ALDO as a special guest to antagonize Conor.

Team Faber (United States)
–Julian Erosa (14-2 MMA, 2-0 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, 2-0 TUF)
–Abner Lloveras (19-7-1, 1-1 TUF)
–David Teymur (3-1, 1-1 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!”