Welcome, everybody, to the third version of The TUF Stuff!
Every week, I’ll be guiding you thru a recap of this season’s version of The Final Fighter, offering updates on what occurs in every episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the appears into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down contained in the cage.
This season celebrates the twentieth anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to affect many future MMA followers, media members, and fighters (yours actually included). And now, two extra fighters this summer time will get the chance to name themselves TUF champions when it’s all stated and executed.
Final week noticed the primary welterweight matchup of the season, as Crew Cormier’s Danill Donchenko placed on a dominant efficiency towards Crew Sonnen’s Richard Martins, not permitting Martins into the struggle a lot. Crew Cormier drew first blood at 170 after Crew Sonnen took the primary flyweight bout within the first episode.
Recap of The Final Fighter Season 33 – Episode 3
Tonight, it’s again to the 125-pound weight division, as Crew Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez takes on Crew Sonnen’s Arshiyan Memon.
Let’s get into episode three of The Final Fighter!
Crew Sonnen Coaching Session
Colby Covington talks with Diego Bianchini about combating in Brazil, praising the Brazilian followers and fighters like Demian Maia. In fact, that struggle introduced quite a lot of controversy and notoriety for Covington. Covington says he’s utilizing the chance to speak to fighters like Bianchini — a coaching associate of Maia’s — in regards to the significance of promoting oneself as a fighter. Bianchini was very receptive to Covington’s recommendation.
TUF Home
Danill Donchenko says that Bianchini is attempting to stay as much as his title of “The Brazilian Dangerous Boy” in the home, however he’s not shopping for it. Bianchini, a member of the Preventing Nerds, says he’s not right here to make pals. Extra dangerous blood brews between Bianchini and Brazilian rival Rodrigo Sezinado. Sezinado insinuates Bianchini is all hype. Mehman says Bianchini is attempting to intimidate the entire Crew Cormier fighters, however he’s not right here for it.
Crew Cormier Coaching Session
Cormier mixes in fight-based workout routines with working the bike, attempting to simulate the tempo of a struggle.
“A struggle shouldn’t be 25 minutes of a burst,” Cormier explains. “Burst, peel again some. Burst, peel again some.
Cormier’s fighters say this type of coaching is troublesome, however they’re reaping the advantages. Crew Cormier’s coaches yell proper in entrance of the fighters on the bikes, and Cormier laughs, saying it appears like one thing out of a film.
Crew Sonnen Coaching Session 2 – Carla Esparza joins
Sonnen brings in former TUF winner and strawweight champion Carla Esparza as this week’s visitor coach. Esparza ran via the competitors on season 20 of the present to grow to be the inaugural UFC girls’s strawweight champion — defeating Rose Namajunas within the last.
Esparza tells the fighters they’re in a once-in-a-lifetime alternative and to place in all of the laborious work in each coaching and their fights.
Esparza explains to the group how she fakes out fighters to place throw up a knee earlier than altering her angles to make the most of her expert-level wrestling.
Esparza displays on the entire highs and lows of her profession and says on the finish of the day, she desires to have the ability to look again on her time on TUF and within the UFC — and admire every part that they had been.
Imanol Rodriguez Backstory
Rodriguez appears at a photograph of him from when he was little and will get emotional, not desirous to waste the chance in entrance of him. Rodriguez says he wasn’t certain he’d get so far when he was little — and says the youthful model of him can be pleased with him.
Rodriguez displays on rising up in Mexico, exhibiting his household, which runs a taqueria. Rodriguez started in judo when he was youthful and at present trains on the Blackxicans and the Brazilian Warriors, the latter of which is led by UFC fighter Diego Lopes.
Arshiyan Memon Combat Prep
Again on the TUF Home, everybody appears to be very amused by Memon and his antics, from how he remembers fighters names, and calling one fighter Mr. Bean, to purposely speaking loud to spoil plans.
Memon mentions his kickboxing expertise that provides him a placing edge — then provides that he’s improved his floor recreation via choosing up wrestling strikes to assist with takedown protection.
Sonnen tells Memon to not waste time on the bottom if on the underside and attempt to rise up immediately. If on prime, nonetheless, Sonnen tells Memon to do harm there, as Rodriguez shouldn’t be a submission risk.
Sonnen says his phrases and recommendation appeared to gentle extra of a hearth below him: “He strikes me as a man as somebody who hasn’t had anybody consider in him.”
Sonnen highlights Memon’s placing velocity and says that boxing velocity and dealing his combos would be the key to success towards Rodriguez.
“This man is a powerhouse at 125,” Sonnen stated. “He has the bodily power, I’ve seen him in dangerous positions…and I’ve seen him energy out of the spots. I believe it’s going to make an enormous distinction.
“That is going to be a protracted, drawn-out battle, however Arshion will win this.”
Arshiyan Memon Backstory
Memon, the primary Indian fighter in TUF historical past, explains the monetary struggles of a lot of the frequent individuals who lives in Mumbai. Memon explains the ups and downs of dwelling in such a closely populated space together with his small household. Memon helps his dad together with his small grocery store.
Memon all the time liked sports activities and took up kickboxing on the finish of his education earlier than his kickboxing coach pushed him to MMA. Memon now runs his personal academy.
“Due to me, MMA is rising in my hometown,” he stated. “In India, everybody now desires to grow to be an expert MMA fighter.”
Memon mentioned his sturdy sense of religion and the way it retains him humble. Memon guarantees to take his nation proud within the competitors.
Imanol Rodriguez Combat Prep
Cprmier tells Rodriguez to maintain strain and to maintain his head transferring. Cormier tells Rodriguez he’s the higher fighter — making word of how Memon’s stance typically leaves his head uncovered.
Cormier provides that Rodriguez’s coaching is “loopy” and like a “psychopath.”
“He can wrestle, he’s acquired that nice placing, and he can grapple. He can do all of it.”
Cormier provides that Rodriguez ought to deal with physique strikes, noting that’s the place Rodriguez can do heavy harm to Memon.
We then get a little bit of a montage of Rodriguez’s time on the regional circuit.
Rodriguez re-affirms he’ll deal with head motion and look to make Memon crumble with physique blows.
The Combat: Imanol Rodriguez vs. Arshiyan Memon
—–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———
Rodriguez weighs in at 125. Memon weighs in at 126. Combat is on!
Jeff Creighton calls Rodriguez a “savage” and “one of the explosive flyweights I’ve ever seen.” Andreeas Binder compares Memon to a bull, specializing in his power, calling him the “Mumbai Monster.” UFC CEO Dana White says he’s been actually wanting ahead to this struggle between undefeated fighters on the most important stage the pair has ever had.
Rodriguez tells Memon he doesn’t perceive how a lot of a canine he’s. The 2 commerce some phrases earlier than being led off by their coaches.
Memon says it’s a dream to get on a serious world stage like this and can use this to achieve confidence in future fights. He says he desires to fly the Indian flag excessive on this stage. Rodriguez, in the meantime, notes the significance of technique on this first struggle and that this is step one towards changing into a UFC champion.
Imanol Rodriguez vs. Arshiyan Memon
Spherical 1
Memon on the entrance foot to begin. He throws a low kick. One other low kick. Rodriguez tries to return ahead. Spherical kick will get blocked by Rodriguez and he connects on a number of punches. One other spherical kick from Memon. Memon misses a few left hooks. A tough kick lands low on Rodriguez, hitting him proper within the cup.
The struggle quickly resumes. One-two from Rodriguez. A few extra kicks from Memon. Rodriguez urgent the motion. Rodriguez rushes in, and Memon goes for a clinch, however Rodriguez fets away. A low kick is caught by Roidriguez. Rodriguez lands on the physique and Memon is harm. Rodriguez brings them to the bottom and begins to throw ground-and-pound. Memon warned a number of occasions for grabbing the cage. Rodriguez goes into aspect management. Memon will get away.
Memon is quickly compelled again to the toes. Memon works a mix on Rodriguez now. A proper hand by Memon. Memon clinches up. Rodriguez presses him into the fence earlier than separating. Memon goes for a takedown however Rodriguez stuffs in. Rodriguez then will get to Memon’s again on the bottom. Rodriguez searches for the neck. Rodriguez flattens him and lands a few punches. He goes again to looking for the choke. Memon turns over and is mounted immediately. Cormier yells for ground-and-pound, however Rodriguez doesn’t ship.
Memon will get again to his toes and presses. Low kick from every man. Memon blocks a kick and comes ahead together with his assaults. Rodriguez stuns Memon with a mix. He’s flurrying him! Memon is towards the fence and consuming these pictures! The ref steps in!
Imanol Rodriguez will get the win in a struggle that Dana White calls “the most effective fights I’ve seen in a minute.”
Conclusion
Sonnen says Rodriguez “fought like he was Nate Diaz.” He notes that Memon tried to fireplace again and left his chin open within the course of — and Rodriguez took benefit of that.
Cormier says Rodriguez initially struggled with vary, however as soon as he discovered it, he poured on the pictures.
White provides credit score to Memon for his chin and his incapability to give up. White says Rodriguez “is the type of fighter we wish within the flyweight division.”
Rodriguez takes in White’s phrases and is humbled by them however isn’t executed.
White provides credit score to an emotional Memon and assures him he’ll be struggle. Memon stated he appreciated White’s motivation however feels dissatisfied. Cormier comforts Memon backstage as properly, complimenting him and telling him to maintain his head up. Memon guarantees to enhance from the loss.
With Crew Cormier’s victory, he names the subsequent welterweight struggle: Crew Cormier’s Jeff Creighton vs. Crew Sonnen’s Andreeas Binder. The 2 appear to vow one another the struggle of the season.
Matt Serra will probably be subsequent week’s visitor, sharing his expertise and methods with Crew Sonnen.
However, uh oh! Appears like Binder has had weight slicing points prior to now — they usually’re going to return again to hang-out him?!?
What’s going to occur subsequent week? Be part of alongside us then!
Thanks for becoming a member of me for one more version of The TUF Stuff!
