411’s Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Report 9.30.15 – Episode Four

WELCOME: Welcome back to 411 and our coverage of the Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber. Last week, we saw Team Faber’s Chris Gruetzemacher (12-1) defeat Team McGregor’s Sascha Sharma (8-2). Gruetzemacher won via decision, and needed a third round to walk away with the victory. McGregor lost his shit during the fight because his fighter refused to listen and continually tried to work the fight on the ground, trying to pull guard, and that cost him the bout. Also on the show, Faber and McGregor continued to trade barbs; Faber mocking McGregor’s training methods, while McGregor was trying to stir shit between Faber and his one time protégé TJ Dillashaw. Team Faber leads the show two fights to zero, and this week it will be Team Faber’s Tom Gallicchio (19-8) vs. Team McGregor’s Marcin Wrzosek (10-2).

* We see Conor running down Sharma for the way he lost, noting that he didn’t lose to skill, but because he didn’t listen and gave up. Dana basically felt the same way. In the later interview, when he is by himself, Conor says Sharma was a pussy and just gave up and didn’t want to be there. In a way he’s not wrong, Sharma was doing well on the feet but kept pulling guard and allowing weak ass takedowns attempts to get him down. He basically gave it away and never listened to his corner.

* Faber and Conor do some faux sparring in the hallway, and Faber tells Conor he needs to be at morning practices if he wants to act all pissed off when they lose. Faber says he is always there and teaching his guys to be champions, while Conor says you either are a champion or you aren’t. Lots of back and forth here, and Conor says Faber’s guy was given the fight, that he didn’t win. Conor says he can’t baby the guys and that is why his coaches are here, he is a champion and on his own journey and has to take care of business and keep dominating the game.

* Team Faber is not impressed with Conor for the way that he has treated his fighters. They note that they tried to make Sharma feel better after the loss while his own team didn’t say anything to him and let Conor rip into him. They’ve set the dynamic that Faber is hands on and cares about his guys, while Conor isn’t. This leads to footage of Team Conor discussing that they have to be mentally strong and get back in the game with a win by Wrzosek.

* We get background info on Tom Gallicchio, who notes that he wanted this fight because he feels he can submit Wrzosek. Gallicchio respects Wrzosek, but feels he can out work him to get the submission. They heavily worked striking to transition into the takedown game to utilize his advantage. Faber knows that Gallicchio is at a speed disadvantage, but feels that his reach, power and experience will be the determining factor.

* Wrzosek and Gallicchio speak about how awkward it can be living in the same house and sitting at the same table. We see them spending time together and talking about their backgrounds and similarities.

* Conor speaks about being upset about the last fight, and notes that he made errors in his career, and regrets how he reacted. We see Conor at evening practice working with the guys, preaching that Gallicchio is a good BJJ guys and will want to take the fight to the ground and is trying to prepare Wrzosek to counter the takedowns to land in a dominant position. Wrzosek feels great after practice, and feels that he has learned a lot going into the fight. Conor says his mind and body needs to be fresh for him to succeed.

* Johnny Nunez stayed at the house to help Gallicchio cut weight. The rest of the team jokes about it, and then informs Faber of the decision. Faber isn’t happy because they brought Nunez back and feels he should be at least watching practice. Gallicchio decides to go skinny-dipping while Nunuez watched. Yup. Dana speaks about the differences in training, and says that Faber’s way is obviously working so far. Once Gallicchio and Nunez arrives, Faber gives him some shit for not coming to practice, noting that it doesn’t send a good message.

* Weigh-in time. Gallicchio weighs in at 155.5. Wrzosek weighs in at 156. Faber has confidence in Gallicchio, but feels that it will be a tough fight.

* It’s fight day now, Dana says that Conor needs a win here to avoid the team melting down. We see the fighters arriving and doing the usual warm up stuff prior to the fight.

FIGHT THREE – Team Faber’s Tom Gallicchio (19-8) vs. Team McGregor’s Marcin Wrzosek (10-2) – ROUND ONE: And here we go with the third fight of the season. Both looking to trade right away, and both are landing decent strikes early. They circle a bit; Gallicchio catches the leg and then gets the back of Marcin as Marcin is still on his feet. Marcin leans forward to try and shake him off; Gallicchio has the body locked in a figure four body lock. Marcin with good strikes as Gallicchio hangs off of him, and Gallicchio finally gets Marcin down for a moment. To the mat they go as Marcin continues to try and shake him off and lands some strikes. Gallicchio keeps the lock and they get warned to improve position and Marcin escapes and lands on top. They separate and stand, work along the cage a bit and then Marcin lands a good combo and stuffs a shot. Gallicchio finally drags him down, and works from half guard. Short strikes from Gallicchio, who then gets the mount and ties up the right arm of Marcin, but Marcin scrambles and lands on top and connects with some strikes as the round ends. Close round. SCORECARD: Marcin 10-9

ROUND TWO: Round two begins and Conor yells for Marcin to work his jab. Marcin starts to put some strikes together, lands a body kick and then Gallicchio slams him down. Gallicchio works from the half guard, landing the short strikes and working for side control. He then gets mount like last round, he works some strikes as Marcin tries to scramble. Gallicchio looks for elbows, but Marcin rolls and gets guard on Gallicchio. He stacks him up along the cage and lands some good rights, and Gallicchio looks to work a rubber guard. Marcin pops out and stands, landing some leg kicks but Gallicchio looks gassed. Gallicchio shoots and gets stuffed, Marcin pushes off and works the jabs. No real sense of urgency from either man, Gallicchio shoots and gets stuffed again. Marcin keeps landing the jab, and stuffs another takedown. Gallicchio is really slowed here, almost stationary at times as Marcin keeps landing jabs. Marcin gets a late takedown and lands some strikes as the round ends. SCORECARD: Marcin 20-18.

* Faber was certain that there would be a third round, he was wrong.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Marcin Wrzosek via unanimous decision

* Marcin called out Gruetzemacher after the fight.

* Post fight, Gallicchio says he felt a big energy dump, but makes no excuses, Marcin beat him. Conor praises Marcin, saying that he broke Gallicchio.

* Team McGregor takes control and picks Team Faber’s Billy Quarantillo (6-1) to fight Team McGregor’s Saul Rogers (10-1).

* We get highlights from next week’s show.

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

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

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”