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411’s Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje Report 9.20.17

September 20, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Ultimate Fighter 26 92017

The Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje – EPISODE FOUR (The Truth in Me)
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, #6. Montana Stewart (7-4) defeated #11. Ariel Beck (4-4) via RD1 submission. THIS WEEK, #3. Lauren Murphy (9-3) faces #14. Nicco Montano (3-2); Two top-seeded teammates discuss the possibility of having to face each other later in the tournament. A fighter shares the story of her lifelong battle with addiction.

– Barb Honchak and Lauren Murphy talk about being in the same side of the bracket and the possibility that they will be facing each other. Murphy says she’s honored to be on the show, but warns that the others better be worried about her.

– We head to Murphy training as Dana breaks down her fight history and path to the show. She went 8-0 in Invicta, wining the bantamweight championship. She’s gone 1-3 in UFC, and flyweight could be her saving grace. Alvarez loves working with such an experienced fighter, because it makes his job easy. Murphy plans to whoop some ass, and if it goes to the ground, it will be a bad day for Montano.

– We see Montano hanging out back at the house; she grew up on the Navajo reservation. She loves running and hanging out in nature, because she has to rely on herself, like when she fights. Her dad was a boxer, and it spiraled into BJJ, tournaments and then into full-blown MMA.

– Murphy talks about her family, losing her father at age 11, and how she fell into addiction, drug and alcohol abuse. She overdosed, and it cost her nursing school, which she was in her final year of. She hit rock bottom and relapsed. She met her husband Joe, who turned her life around. She has 16-year old son, and trains out of the MMA Lab in Arizona. MMA started by accident, she started to go to classes to support her son, 6-months later she had her debut fight and KO’d the chick in17-seconds.

– We get some video on Montano, who has a lot of power and potential. Gaethje wants Montano to make the fight a dogfight, and to use her wrestling defense to keep things on the feet to start.

WEIGH-INS: Murphy (124.75), Montano had to strip down all the way to make 126.

FIGHT DAY: It’s Murphy’s birthday and her 4-year wedding anniversary. We see some final prep at the house, and Murphy says she’s taking Montano very seriously.

#3. Lauren Murphy (9-3) vs. #14. Nicco Montano (3-2): ROUND ONE: Murphy has the experience advantage, and will enjoy a 2.25-inch reach advantage. Montano is 6-years younger and an inch taller. Murphy takes center cage immediately, but Montano backs her up with leg kicks. Montano is doing well with the kicks early; they clinch and work to the cage. Murphy lands knees and separates, but Montano continues to land kicks. She’s working much better angles here, keeping good control and landing more strikes and more importantly, effective strikes. Murphy manages to clinch and take her to the cage, working some knees. She tries for a takedown, but Montano plays good defense. Murphy continues to work for a takedown, but can’t get it. They separate, but Murphy is having difficulty connecting with anything. Montano lands kicks to end the round. SCORECARD: Montano 10-9

ROUND TWO: Murphy takes center cage right away, but Montano stars looking for the kicks right away. They clinch and work along the cage, Murphy pulls her down, but Montano is landing strikes to fight her off. She’s back to her feet; Murphy keeps clinching but can’t get her down. Montano is showing great takedown defense here. Montano keeps landing short strikes as she fights off the takedowns. Murphy has nothing to offer here. Montano now pressures along the cage, they separate and trade leg kicks. Montano pressures again, Murphy turns her and digs for a takedown but the round ends.SCORECARD: 20-18 Montano

Murphy had nothing to offer, fighting like she was the rookie, while Montano fought a smart fight and pulled the big upset.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Nicco Montano via unanimous decision

– It’s 3-1 Gaethje after four fights.

– Murphy is very emotional after the loss, but takes the time to congratulate Montano.

NEXT WEEK: #5. Maia Stevenson (6-4) faces #12. Sijara Eubanks (2-2). Maia is Joe Stevenson’s wife and has KO power; Eubanks is a 7-time BJJ champion. They tease weight-cutting issues for Eubanks.

Team Alvarez
* #2 Barb Honchak (10-2)
* #3. Lauren Murphy (9-3, 0-1 TUF)
* #4. DeAnna Bennett (8-3, 1-0 TUF)
* #7. Melinda Fabian (4-3-1)
* #9. Christina Marks (8-8)
* #11. Ariel Beck (4-4, 0-1 TUF)
* #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, 1-0 TUF)
* #8. Emily Whitmire (2-1)
* #10. Rachael Ostovich (3-3)
* #13. Karine Gevorgyan (3-2, 0-1 TUF)
* #14. Nicco Montano (3-2, 1-0 TUF)
* #15. Gillian Robertson (3-2)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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