411’s Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje Report 8.30.17

The Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje – EPISODE ONE
INTRODUCTION: The Ultimate Fighter 26 will see 16 women’s flyweights descend on the Las Vegas desert in hopes of becoming the first female 125-pound champion in UFC history (and of course they get a contract). Coaches Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje put the contestants through a grueling tryout prior to selecting their teams.

– We see the ladies (over 50 showed up) arriving at the tryouts, commenting on what this chance means to them. We also see footage of the fighters grappling and striking. They picked who they thought were the top 16 and brought them in to compete. Dana pulled Roxanne Modafferi aside, and said he was happy to see her come back for another chance.

– The top 16 arrive at the UFC training center, and coaches Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje welcome them. Dana delivers a video message, because he was away on the Mayweather/McGregor press tour. He introduces their coaches

– We now get the coach’s evaluations, as they put the ladies through their paces. We see then grappling and striking, while Gaethje has one of his coaches doing some interviews. Alvarez is more concerned with seeing them spar.

– Next up are the team picks, they will be seeded right off the bat…

Team Alvarez
* #2 Barb Honchak (10-2)
* #3. Lauren Murphy (9-3)
* #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3)
* #7. Melinda Fabian (4-3-1)
* #9. Christina Marks (8-8)
* #11. Ariel Beck (4-4)
* #12. Sijara Eubanks (2-2)
* #16. Shana Dobson (2-1)

Team Gaethje
* #1. Roxanne Modafferi (21-13)
* #5. Maia Stevenson (6-4)
* #6. Montana Stewart (7-4)
* #8. Emily Whitmire (2-1)
* #10. Rachael Ostovich (3-3)
* #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2)
* #14. Nicco Montano (3-2)
* #15. Gillian Robertson (3-2)

– Gaethje picks the first fight, which is Roxanne Modafferi (21-13) vs. 16. Shana Dobson (2-1).

– The ladies arrive at the house, and Emily Whitmire hits the pool right away. She’s currently homeless and is looking to make the best of the experience. We get clips of the ladies discussing how important this chance is for them.

– Roxanne Modafferi was hoping to not have to go through TUF again, but is motivated to show “I don’t suck” anymore. She lost her prelim fight on season 18. She was devastated, but learned from her loss and has been working to improve. She moved from Japan to Vegas and trains with Syndicate MMA. She loves it at Syndicate, and teaches a kid’s BJJ class there as well.

– We see highlights of Team Alvarez training, and Alvarez likes Dobson’s angles and footwork. He wants to keep the fight on the feet. Dobson has only had 3 fights and is 2-1. We see highlights from her MMA debut as well as her last fight, both wins by decision. Team Alvarez works with Dobson on avoiding takedowns, he knows the fight going to the ground would be bad news.

– Time for Team Gaethje to train, Miesha Tate is in to do some coaching. We get clips of Modafferi fighting in Invicta. She’s 3-1 in her last four fights, including a win over #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3).

– WEIGH-INS: Modafferi (125.5), Dobson (125.5).

– Dobson reveals that she’s gay; her father supports her, but her mother doesn’t. We get some home video, and meet her girlfriend, who helps her by fixing meals and by being very supportive.

– FIGHT DAY: The ladies arrive at the gym and go through their pre-fight warm-ups.

#1. Roxanne Modafferi (21-13) vs. #16. Shana Dobson (2-1): ROUND ONE: Modafferi has a huge experience advantage, and a 1.75-inch reach advantage. Dobson looks bigger as they enter the cage. Both come out looking to strike, they land a bit and then Dobson catches Modafferi with a good straight right. Dobson avoids the takedown attempts early, but Modafferi takes her to the cage and drags her down. Modafferi works from half guard, and then slowly starts working for the back. Modafferi lays in some elbows, Dobson scrambles but Modafferi gets mount. Elbows follow, Dobson tries to scramble out but Modafferi lays on more elbows and some ground and pound. Dobson has absolutely no answer on the ground, and Modafferi keeps raining down with strikes and the ref waves it off. OFFICIAL RESULT: Roxanne Modafferi via RD1 TKO

– Team Gaethje goes up 1-0.

– The ref gave Dobson a lot of time to fight back, but Modafferi simply dominated a very inexperienced fighter. Dobson is obviously disappointed that she lost and in the first round.

– NEXT WEEK: #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3) faces #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2). We get a video preview of the rest of the season, with plenty of shenanigans and weight-cutting issues coming.

Team Alvarez
* #2 Barb Honchak (10-2)
* #3. Lauren Murphy (9-3)
* #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3)
* #7. Melinda Fabian (4-3-1)
* #9. Christina Marks (8-8)
* #11. Ariel Beck (4-4)
* #12. Sijara Eubanks (2-2)
* #16. Shana Dobson (2-1 MMA, 0-1 TUF)

Team Gaethje
* #1. Roxanne Modafferi (21-13 MMA, 1-0 TUF)
* #5. Maia Stevenson (6-4)
* #6. Montana Stewart (7-4)
* #8. Emily Whitmire (2-1)
* #10. Rachael Ostovich (3-3)
* #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2)
* #14. Nicco Montano (3-2)
* #15. Gillian Robertson (3-2)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”