411’s The Ultimate Fighter 24: Team Benavidez vs. Team Cejudo Report 11.09.16

The Ultimate Fighter 24: Episode Nine
The Ultimate Fighter 24: Team Benavidez vs. Team Cejudo is a flyweight spectacular. The coaches are top flyweights, the 16 competitors are top flyweight champions from outside of the UFC, and the winner will receive a title shot against Demetrious Johnson, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle of their choosing, and the six-figure UFC contract. Basically, Demetrious Johnson is a very bad man and has cleaned shit out. LAST WEEK Alexandre Pantoja (Resurrection Fighting Alliance, 16-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) defeated Kai Kara-France (Bragging Rights Australia, 12-5-1nc MMA, 1-0 TUF) via unanimous decision. This week’s fight is Adam Antolin (Tachi Palace Fights, 11-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (Shooto (Japan) 15-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF).

– The Coaches arrived, everyone ate steaks and we got a lot of drinking. Eric Shelton drank too much and started to talk too much shit, annoying everyone. Tim Elliot tried to explain to him that making it in the UFC doesn’t solve your problems. Shelton said that everything happens for a reason and that money is everything. He then says he has a family and kids to support, like 90% of the house… enough arguing ladies.

– Dana hyped today’s Adam Antolin (11-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (15-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF) fight.

– Cejudo was not impressed with Ogikubo’s first fight and feels Antolin. Antolin is nursing a back injury, and doesn’t feel he can train as hard as he needs to. Antolin says he’ll be fine by fight time.

– Benavidez feels that Ogikubo is a very smart fighter and was impressive in his win. Ogikubo loves training in Las Vegas, mainly due to the beautiful weather. He issues his family, while other fighters ask him if he collects Dragon Ball statues. Ogikubo is still struggling to understand the others due to the language barrier, but he’s slowly learning. Benavidez does a good job of communicating with Ogikubo in training. Benavidez says they don’t fear Antolin’s striking game and feels Ogikubo doesn’t have to take it to the ground right away.

– We see Antolin doing some very light training, trying to not make his back worse than it already is. Cejudo wants him to keep he fight standing and thinks that is where Antolin wins the fight. Antolin is worried about his back, but says he is willing to wrestle Ogikubo.

– Back at the house, the fighters play Charades. Ogikubo was great during the game and felt as if he bonded with the guys. Ogikubo is a very likable dude.

– WEIGH-INS: Ogikubo weighed in at 125.5, while Antolin was 124.75.

– FIGHT DAY: Antolin gets pointers from Zulu, who lost to Ogikubo. At the gym, both guys go through the usual warm ups. Antolin thinks he can run the rest of the table to get to the finals.

Adam Antolin (Tachi Palace Fights, 11-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (Shooto (Japan) 15-3 MMA, 1-0 TUF): ROUND ONE: They come out slowly, Ogikubo backs off Antolin early. Ogikubo is flashing a lot of single shots, and Antolin shoots on Ogikubo and they go to the ground. Ogikubo works from the guard, controls well and looks to pass. Solid defense by Antolin as Ogikubo lands short strikes from the top; this is Ogikubo’s game here, especially with Antolin having a bad back. Ogikubo looks for a head and arm choke, Antolin offering little defense here as Ogikubo keeps dominating. Ogikubo is all over him here, great control. Ogikubo works for mount, almost gets the back and is still landing solid shrikes. Ogikubo gets mount, lands good ground and pound and Antolin finally escapes and lands strikes as the round ends. SCORECARD: Ogikubo 10-9

ROUND TWO: Antolin throws kicks right away, Ogikubo circles away and lands body kicks. No aggression from Antolin here, as Ogikubo scores a takedown. Ogikubo works from top, Antolin works to his feet and lands a good body kick. Ogikubo clips Antolin and gets another takedown. He gets the back, hooks in and Antolin gets to his feet but Ogikubo drags him back down. Ogikubo keeps the pressure on, lands a body kick as Antolin gets to his feet. Antolin shoots, takes Ogikubo down along the cage but Ogikubo avoids trouble and gets to his feet. Antolin has no answer on the ground for Ogikubo. Ogikubo keeps pressure on as Antolin works to the feet, Ogikubo drags him back down. Final seconds and Antolin lands a knee to the body as the round ends. SCORECARD: Ogikubo 20-18

OFFICIAL RESULT: Hiromasa Ogikubo via unanimous decision

– Ogikubo wanted a finish but was happy to win and to get out without injury.

– Antolin was emotional in loss.

– Next week’s fights are Ronaldo Candido de Oliveira (Shooto South America, 6-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Eric Shelton (Caged Aggression Iowa, 10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF) and Tim Elliott (Titan FC, 16-6 MMA, 1-0 TUF) vs. Matt Schnell (Legacy FC, 9-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF).

– We get a video preview for next week.

Team Joseph Benavidez
#5. Hiromasa Ogikubo (Shooto (Japan) 15-3 MMA, 2-0 TUF)
#15. Eric Shelton (Caged Aggression Iowa, 10-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
#7. Ronaldo Candido de Oliveira (Shooto South America, 6-0 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
#3. Tim Elliott (Titan FC, 16-6 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
#11. Matt Rizzo (Ring of Combat, 9-2 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#4. Damacio Page (Legacy FC, 19-10 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#8. Terrence Mitchell (Alaska FC, 11-2 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#16. Brandon Moreno (World Fighting Federation, 11-3 MMA, 0-1 TUF)

Team Henry Cejudo
#1.Alexandre Pantoja (Resurrection Fighting Alliance, 16-2 MMA, 2-0 TUF)
#13. Adam Antolin (Tachi Palace Fights, 11-3 MMA, 1-1 TUF)
#6. Matt Schnell (Legacy FC, 9-2 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
#9. Kai Kara-France (Bragging Rights Australia, 12-5-1nc MMA, 1-1 TUF)
#14. Charlie Alaniz (Hex Fight Series Australia, 6-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#10. Jaime Alvarez (Absolute Fighting Championship, 6-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#2. Yoni Sherbatov (XFFC Canada, 5-0-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)
#12. Nkazimulo Zulu (EFC Africa, 7-2 MMA, 0-1 TUF)