411’s Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated Report 5.02.18

The Ultimate Fighter 27: Episode THREE
INTRODUCTION: Season 27 of the Ultimate Fighter is here. This season will feature undefeated featherweights and lightweights, with current UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic against current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier serving as the coaches ahead of their upcoming fight. There will be a lightweight and a featherweight winner. Last week, Brad Katona defeated Kyler Phillips via decision in lightweight action. This week, we get lightweights Luis Pena (4-0) vs. Jose Martinez Jr. (4-0).

– We stars off with Martinez’s training, Miocic feels that they will walk away with this one, because Martinez is way to powerful for Pena. We see some clips of his early fights outside of the house. Next is shit talking on the way back to the house as Dulani Perry acts like he’s some sort of superstar. The rest of the team doesn’t like him and feel he’s only here to be on TV.

– Luis Pena, who does sort of look like Bob Ross, talks about how people compare him to Ross all the time. He was born in Italy, and adopted by Americans and was taken to the US almost right away. He says being a 6’3 black man with a red afro, living in a conservative town has made life interesting. He lives on an animal sanctuary. His girlfriend is a burlesque dancer, who is very supportive of his career choice. He sees TUF as his road into the UFC.

– Martinez explains how his daughter is his everything, and his drive in life. We see him picking her up at her school prior to the show starting. She does judo & BJJ, and loves to hang at the gym with her dad. He then talks about watching WrestleMania 6, and during that show, his father died following an issue with his heart. Prior to his death, his father got him into boxing, which led to him getting into MMA. Martinez says he’s a well rounded technician.

– Pena trains, and after come complaining, Cormier takes time to work with him so that Pena can see all of the options he has at his disposal, due to his big reach advantage. We see clips of Pena’s fights outside of the house. He looked good and used his reach well to get to his submission game in the clips.

– Due to the weight cut, Martinez & Pena have words at the house, they aren’t in a great mood.

– WEIGH-INS: Martinez (155.25), Pena (153.75).

– We get the usual pre-fight warm-ups.

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT: Luis Pena (4-0) vs. Jose Martinez Jr. (4-0): ROUND ONE: Martinez has a slight weight advantage going in, while Pena will enjoy 5-inch reach advantage. Martinez is aggressive to begin, taking Pena to the cage and landing strikes. Pena starts to use his reach, landing strikes and body kicks. He lands knee strikes and combos as he backs off Martinez. Martinez keeps pressing to get inside, they work along the cage and Pena gets separation. He lands kicks and knees, and stuffs a takedown. More knees follow. They work along the cage, Pena separates and works push kicks and jabs. He starts opening up with his strikes, Martinez pushes the action, but Pena is getting the better of the striking as the round ends. SCORE: 10-9 Pena.

ROUND TWO: Pena takes control right away, working his distance and landing clean strikes. Martinez, to his credit, keeps pushing in and landing solid strikes, but can’t do it consistently. Martinez trips over his own feet trying to rush in, allowing Pena to start dominating with strikes again. Martinez now switches to leg kicks, but Pena starts using push kicks again to keep distance. He then follows with knee strikes, and works over Martinez along the cage. Martinez becomes largely stationary, allowing Pena to continue to land as the round ends. SCORE: Pena 10-9.20-18 overall. OFFICIAL RESULT: Luis Pena via decision (20-18 across the cards)

– Martinez put up a really good fight, but just couldn’t overcome Pena’s distance.

– Cormier is up 3-0 so far.

– Cormier on Pena’s win: “Luis is very confident and he showed today why he is a favorite in this competition. It’s a tough situation going up against a friend, but he went out there and acted like a professional. He’s long and mean and he got it done. He showed why he has the confidence that he does. I’m excited to see what he does for our team moving forward in the competition.”

– Pena on his win: “I saw the fight going the way it did, with me dominating. I’m sad I didn’t get the finish, but I am happy that I dominated everywhere that the fight went. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. We are one cohesive unit and we’re hoping to all be fighting in the semi finals.”

– Next week: featherweights Bryce Mitchell (9-0) vs. Jay Cucciniello (8-0) compete. Miocic is confident in this paring. Luis Pena deals with a foot injury, which may take him out of the competition.

– Where we stand…

TEAM MIOCIC
* FW: Suman Mokhtarian (8-0)
* LW: Mike Trizano (6-0)
* FW: Jay Cucciniello (8-0)
* LW: Allan Zuniga (13-0)
* FW: Dulani Perry (4-0)
* LW: Jose Martinez Jr. (4-0, 0-1 TUF)
* FW: Kyler Phillips (5-0, 0-1 TUF)
* LW: John Gunther (6-0, 0-1 TUF)

TEAM CORMIER
* LW: Joe Giannetti (6-0, 1-0 TUF)
* FW: Brad Katona (6-0, 1-0 TUF)
* LW: Luis Pena (4-0, 1-0 TUF)
* FW: Tyler Diamond (9-0)
* FW: Bryce Mitchell (9-0)
* LW: Richie Smullen (3-0-1)
* LW: Thailand Clark (7-0)
* FW: Ricky Steele (5-0)

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”