411’s Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje Report 9.27.17

The Ultimate Fighter 26: Alvarez vs. Gaethje – EPISODE FIVE (FEELINGS MEAN NOTHING)
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, #14. Nicco Montano (3-2) scored the big upset, owning and defeating #3. Laurenda Murphy (9-3) via decision. THIS WEEK After a devastating loss in her preliminary fight, one of the flyweights struggles to come to terms with her uncertain future in the sport. The next morning, still bruised from her loss, she decides to skip practice, much to the dismay of her coach. At the next training session the coach and fighter discuss the tense situation, hoping to put the issue to rest. However, in the end the rift between the two may have escalated even more. In preparation for her upcoming fight one of the fighters is frustrated with her low seed, using it as motivation in training. At the other team practice, her opponent struggles with some doubt and the pressures of making a name for herself in the UFC; #5. Maia Stevenson (6-4) faces #12. Sijara Eubanks (2-2).

– We see Lauren Murphy essentially having a breakdown after her loss. She started to doubt herself before the fight, and is obviously very emotional. What makes things even worse is that she misses her family and can’t talk to them right now. What makes things even worse for her is that she was 1-3 in the UFC, and was hoping that the drop to 125 would be the answer for her. She’s also 34 and doesn’t have a ton of time left; it’s just all hitting her at once. She knows her family won’t be disappointed in her, but she feels she let them down.

– Murphy opts to skip out on practice and felt she needed the morning to herself. Alvarez tells the team that maybe Murphy isn’t cut out for this, discussing her missing practice. He says the others that lost still trained and helped the team. He starts prepping Eubanks for her fight and feels she was seeded too low. She came in at 150 and he’s concerned about her weight cut. Eubanks is a BJJ black belt, has won numerous tournaments and formerly fought muay thai.

– Murphy arrives at night practice, and Alvarez is glad she’s here now. He says he needs to keep morale up, and can’t allow Murphy’s selfishness to hurt the team. He tells her to regroup, and Murphy says she needed two hours to process losing her shot. She doesn’t appreciate him getting on her ass.

– We now see Maia Stevenson heading to the gym. She’s the wife of former TUF winner Joe Stevenson, and is here to prove herself as a fighter. Stevenson lost 4 of her first 5 fights, but has now won 4 in a row.

– Back at the house, Eubanks discusses having a daughter, thatisonlu11-weeks old. She got into fighting due to being overweight, getting into BJJ. She’s been heavily working her boxing to become a more well rounded fighter. She wants to be great, and the baddest bitch walking the planet.

– Gaethje says this will be a tough fight, and knows Eubanks has to cut a ton of fight, and feels Stevenson needs to keep it standing, make it dirty and take it into deep waters.

– We see home video of Stevenson, discussing juggling home life and fighting. Joe got her into grappling, which led to her transitioning from boxing to MMA.

– Eubanks is trying to cut weight, and feels everyone else is too worried about her weight. Alvarez feels if she’s on weight that she can run through the tournament. Eubanks feels that she’s superior to Stevenson everywhere.

– Alvarez and his team arrive at the house to support Eubanks in her weight cut. She’s at 127 the morning of the fight, but at 126.5 she has issues sweating it off. They head to the gym, and she’s stuck at 126.5 and not sweating anymore. Alvarez tells her to cut her hair, and they clip off her dreads. She says her girlfriend won’t be happy.

– WEIGH-INS: Stevenson (124.75), Eubanks (126)

– Stevenson makes breakfast the day of the fight. Eubanks says she feels good despite the rough weight cut.

– FIGHT DAY: The ladies go through the usual fight prep and warm ups.

#5. Maia Stevenson (6-4) faces #12. Sijara Eubanks (2-2): ROUND ONE: Stevenson has more MMA experience, while Eubanks will enjoy a 4-inch reach advantage. They come out, no touch of the gloves. They trade right away, with Stevenson getting the better of things to begin. Eubanks works leg kicks and looks to drag Stevenson to the ground. She has the back, lands knees to the thighs and jumps on Stevenson’s back. Stevenson tries to scramble, gets it back to the feet and to the cage. Eubanks works strikes along the cage, keeps pressing Stevenson and landing knees. Eubanks now mixes in body shots, keeping great control along the cage as she works over Stevenson. Eubanks drags Stevenson down with a single leg, works from half guard as she continues to land strikes. She takes the back, but the round ends. SCORECARD: Eubanks 10-9

ROUND TWO: Round two begins, Stevenson looks to keep things on the feet, but Eubanks quickly takes it to the mat. She works from half guard, laying in more strikes. Eubanks transitions to side control, starts working for the arm and Stevenson taps to a kimura.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sijara Eubanks (via RD2) submission

– Eubanks fought a great fight, Stevenson had nothing to offer her on the ground. Stevenson is upset because she says she knew what Eubanks was going to do, but couldn’t stop it.

– It’s 3-2 Gaethje after five fights.

– NEXT WEEK: #2 Barb Honchak (10-2) faces #15. Gillian Robertson (3-2). Dana White praises Honchak as a favorite to win, praises her record and skills, but notes that she’s 37 and hasn’t fought in 2-years.

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, 1-0 TUF)
* #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, 1-0 TUF)
* #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.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”