411’s Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje Report 9.06.17

The Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje – EPISODE TWO
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. LAST WEEK the coaches picked teams, and #1. Roxanne Modafferi (21-13) defeated #16. Shana Dobson (2-1) in the first fight of the season. THIS WEEK, #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3) faces #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2).

– You can read last week’s report here.

– Justin Gaethje arrives at the house with a big old bounty of sushi to celebrate Roxanne Modafferi’s episode one victory. Gaethje has to use a translator to talk with Karine Gevorgyan, it didn’t go well so he uses his phone and Goggle translate but she didn’t really understand. This leads to the girls doing some dancing and climbing trees. We also saw DeAnna Bennett pelvic thrusting in Barb Honchak’s face.

– The women on Alvarez’s team look at the brackets and realize that they may have to fight teammates early in the competition. Alvarez won’t coach opponent specific against teammates, and wants to focus on basic training.

– We get highlights of DeAnna Bennett’s Invicta run, where she went 4-3 including a loss to Roxanne Modafferi. Alvarez game plans with Bennett; Bennett plans to dominate the 10-minutes or get a finish.

– We see Roxanne Modafferi putting in time to try and teach Karine Gevorgyan English. We get home video of Gevorgyan, who says she’s the only female MMA fighter in Armenia. She helps train kids back home, and seems like a very nice person. She misses her boyfriend, who is a fighter and they train together regularly.

– Time for team Gaethje training, and during training, someone gets hurt. Emily Whitmire suffered a rib injury during grappling, and she’s off to get it checked out. We see Whitmire getting examined, she’s in tears fearing the worst. The doctor says there are no fractures, it’s either a muscle or cartilage injury and she should be ok. She returns to the house, and Miesha Tate arrives to check in on her. Whitmire fears she won’t be ready in two weeks to fight.

– Back to team Gaethje training, and Dana White feels Gevorgyan could be a dark horse in the competition. Gaethje feels Gevorgyan has great power, and wants to work takedown defense so that they cam keep things on the feet. This is Gaethje’s first time training someone that doesn’t speak English and has to heavily rely on the translator. Gevorgyan in confident, and plans to win. Gaethje is confident in her abilities.

– DeAnna Bennett talks about losing her father in the last year and how devastating it was. We get home footage of Bennett, who lives with her mother in Utah. She has a focused life, based on her training. She also trains with MMA vet Jeremy Horn. She grew up a Mormon, but didn’t really fit into the life style. Her father’s last words to her were “fight.”

– WEIGH-INS: Bennett (126), Gevorgyan (126).

– FIGHT DAY: The ladies arrive at the gym and go through their pre-fight warm-ups. Dana White arrives to wish the ladies luck.

#4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3) faces #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2): ROUND ONE: Bennett has the experience advantage, and has also fought at a higher level. Bennett will also enjoy a four-inch reach advantage, and while she is older, everything else is even. They touch gloves and Bennett works leg kicks to begin. Gevorgyan starts to look to find her range, walking Bennett down. Thy circle and trade, Bennett starts to land, backing Gevorgyan off. Bennett lands an overhand right, chases and takes Gevorgyan down along the cage. Bennett works body shots, Gevorgyan has no answer to escape, as she eats body strikes and then Bennett rains down strikes to the head. Bennett slowly mauls Gevorgyan, Gevorgyan has no answer and the fight is stopped. OFFICIAL RESULT: DeAnna Bennett via RD1 TKO

– It’s 1-1 after 2 fights.

– Two fights, two finishes. I like this.

– Bennett is thrilled with the win and to get it done so quickly. Gevorgyan is obviously devastated that she got dominated so badly. Gaethje tries to rally the team with a pep talk, while Tate consoles Gevorgyan.

– NEXT WEEK: #6. Montana Stewart (7-4) faces #11. Ariel Beck (4-4).

Team Alvarez
* #2 Barb Honchak (10-2)
* #3. Lauren Murphy (9-3)
* #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3, 1-0 TUF)
* #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, 0-1 TUF)
* #14. Nicco Montano (3-2)
* #15. Gillian Robertson (3-2)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”