Welcome, everybody, to the fourth 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 seems 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 finished.
Final week noticed the second flyweight matchup of the season, as Crew Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez defeated Crew Sonnen’s Arshiyan Memon in a extremely entertaining encounter.
Recap of The Final Fighter Season 33 – Episode 4
Tonight, it’s again to the 170-pound weight division, as Crew Cormier’s Jeff Creighton takes on Crew Sonnen’s Andreeas Binder…or will it? (primarily based on the preview proven)
Let’s get into episode 4 of The Final Fighter!
Crew Sonnen Coaching Session – Matt Serra Joins
This week’s TUF alumnus visitor is Matt Serra, who gained the fourth season of the present (The Comeback) — and used that TUF win to get momentum and upset Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 to seize the UFC welterweight championship.
Serra says even immediately, he nonetheless considers the championship victory “surreal,” albeit one thing he’s very pleased with.
Serra tells the group to grab the chance — and to neglect about residence life for some time. Serra then leads the group by drills, specifically with Serra’s grappling potential, whereas Sonnen praises Serra for his potential to speak successfully as a coach.
Matt Dixon provides his personal reward, saying he makes the information and strategies simple to retain.
TUF Home
Jeff Creighton, whereas getting his hair lower, displays on how he met his spouse at a bonfire and the way a lot he misses her — and her personal sacrifices.
Creighton provides he hopes to have the ability to deal with his dad and mom at some point for all that they did for him.
Jeff Creighton Backstory
We go to Valley Heart, California, the place Creighton lives along with his spouse in a trailer on her dad and mom’ property. Creighton’s spouse, Halley, says you wouldn’t anticipate Creighton to be a fighter primarily based on his persona outdoors of the cage.
Creighton trains at The Enviornment in San Diego below the tutelage of Vince Salvador.
Creighton says he’s aggressive in his combating fashion, placing strain on his opponents — no matter hanging or grappling.
Andreeas Binder Combat Prep
Sonnen tells Binder that there’s nothing that breaks a wrestler greater than when his opponent will get up from the underside. Sonnen displays on Creighton being the perfect wrestler — and that Binder is the least efficient along with his wrestling. Sonnen notes that Eire, the place Binder is from, “sucks” at wrestling and hasn’t made an actual try at an Olympic medal shortly.
Sonnen, nonetheless, says that Binder is a “canine” and a scrappy fighter. Binder, in a video package deal, promotes his judo potential — in addition to his knockout energy.
Colby Covington helps lead Binder by wrestling coaching. Binder says he doesn’t deal with something about Creighton; he’s centered on himself bettering.
Sonnen says Binder advised him that he’s not placing his power within the coaching, however within the weight lower. Sonnen says he trusts Binder will do issues proper and get issues finished…
Jeff Creighton Combat Prep
Cormier says that Binder has made a press release about successful the competitors, however Cormier has been impressed with what he sees from Creighton.
Creighton says he sometimes works on his boxing, and he desires to get his palms on Binder and make it a “soiled” combat.
Creighton says his nickname is “Jazzy Jeff” as a result of his coach noticed pep in his step. Creighton says he’ll do what he has to do to win.
Cormier provides he desires Creighton to strain Binder and rating takedowns the place he will get the probabilities and grind out a win.
Andreeas Binder Backstory
We discover out about Binder’s personal relationship. Binder’s spouse, who he proposed to in 2018, modified jobs to assist accommodate Binder pursuing his combating goals, in response to Binder.
Binder describes himself as an obese child who was bullied so much. On the encouragement of his coach,
Binder trains at SBG Charlestown below NAME. Binder says he’s doing this for himself and to make a residing and supply for his household. “It’s time to point out the world…nobody works as onerous as me.”
Binder additionally reveals off a WWE championship along with his identify on it, needing gold of his personal at some point.
Weight Lower — And The Points
Binder says that chopping weight is the toughest a part of the game, however “each fighter” has to do it.
About 18 hours until weigh-in, Binder was at 184.5. We see Binder do some workouts, be within the sauna, and wrap himself in “the burrito” as he tries to sweat off the load.
With 14 hours until weigh-in, he’s eight kilos away from making the restrict. Binder says he’s wanting ahead to the combat.
Two hours into chopping weight within the morning, nonetheless, and it seems Binder has stopped sweating.
Binder is at 176 kilos with solely a few hours to go till the weigh-in. Matt Dixon displays that one thing appeared incorrect, with Binder uneasy on the steps. His teammates inform him to cease chopping weight, and that he must prioritize his well being.
Sonnen comes by the TUF Home to test on the scenario. Sonnen displays on how Dana White doesn’t forgive fighters who miss weight on TUF.
Sonnen presents $1,000 for each pound Binder is over ($5,000). Creighton asks for $2,500 per pound due to the chance that’s at stake and Binder’s irresponsibility.
Sonnen accepts the request, with Creighton including “I’m going to kick his a** anyway.” Sonnen says he’s prepared to go to the financial institution and guarantee Creighton receives the cash. Binder feels upset and desires to pay Sonnen again.
Cormier looks like he wished Creighton simply took the forfeit.
The Combat: Jeff Creighton vs. Andreeas Binder
—–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———
Creighton weighs in at 171. Binder weighs in at 175.5. Combat is on regardless of the load miss!
Dana White says whereas he’s despatched individuals residence previously for lacking weight, Sonnen’s actions — a primary in TUF historical past — permits him to let the combat go on. And it appears White has taken up a tender spot for Creighton primarily based on his actions.
Cormier receives the envelope for Sonnen. Cormier tells Creighton to “look into the eyes of a determined man” through the staredown. Creighton tells Binder “You gave up on your self. Now you’re going to surrender tomorrow.”
Creighton says he feels assured in regards to the combat after the load miss, feeling Binder doesn’t need it and can come out sluggish. Binder, nonetheless, says he desires it greater than Creighton.
Jeff Creighton vs. Andreeas Binder
Spherical 1
Creighton goes for a excessive kick early. Spherical kick to the physique by Creighton. Creighton comes ahead. Jab from Binder. Low kick by Binder. Mixture from Creighton. Creighton rushes ahead, however Binder will get away from the grappling try. Binder grabs a leg and lands a proper hand. Creighton assaults the physique once more as Cormier yells “Assault that stomach!” Binder blocks one other low kick. Proper hand from Creighton. Spherical kick by Creighton as Binder throws a left.
Cracking one-two from Binder! Creighton recovers and finally ends up grabbing a leg. Binder escapes, and Cormier tells Creighton to get again on it. Binder blocks a kick and lands a hook. Binder dumps Creighton, and he seems to land from up high. Binder drops into Creighton’s guard. Creighton goes for a leg — after which an armbar try! However Binder escapes!
Creighton throws upkicks at a standing Binder. Binder with a spherical kick to Creighton’s legs. One other upkick and one other spherical kick to the legs earlier than Creighton will get up. Binder instantly presses him into the fence. Creighton makes his manner off with a minute left within the spherical. Creighton presses now, however Binder will get out of his grasp with some ease. Small mixture from Creighton. Binder misses an enormous proper hand however lands a low kick. Jab lands for Creighton as he presses Binder into the fence and lands a cross. One other physique kick from Creighton. Binder pins Creighton towards the fence earlier than the horn.
Cormier notes that Creighton busted Binder open badly round his elbow.
Spherical 2
One-two from Creighton. Left hand from every man. Creighton throws the left jab. Physique kick from Creighton, adopted by a knee. Low kick from Creighton. Left hand from Binder, who’s bleeding above his proper eyebrow. Creighton presses Binder into the fence. Binder offers up his again. Creighton lands a collection of proper palms earlier than taking Binder down. Creighton flattens Binder out and goes into ground-and-pound mode. Creighton seems for a choke however settles for taking Binder’s again, locking in a physique triangle.
Creighton continues to do injury, bloodying up Binder (and the canvas) much more. Creighton continues to seek for the choke along with his floor strain. Creighton lands a robust elbow. Creighton will get an arm across the neck for the choke. Binder tries to combat and works out of it. Creighton continues to carry the place as Binder continues to combat off the choke try. Creighton fires off some extra floor strikes. Binder tries to land elbows to Creighton’s leg. The blood is POURING. It’s SPEWING out of Binder. Creighton continues to land floor strikes. Creighton lands once more and focuses on touchdown strong elbows to the top because the spherical ends.
One of many bloodiest rounds in TUF historical past — possibly even one of many bloodiest fights in TUF historical past.
To the shock of the coaches, and Binder, the combat is known as after two rounds — the judges have seen sufficient to render a choice after 10 minutes.
Winner: Jeff Creighton by way of unanimous determination after two rounds
Conclusion
Sonnen felt that Binder gained the primary spherical, noting Creighton’s response on the finish of the spherical and the very fact Binder was standing and buying and selling numerous the time. However all was wanted was Creighton to take Binder down within the second spherical, the place Creighton dominated, bloodying up Binder BADLY. Sonnen stated he was okay with Binder defending and conceding the spherical as a result of he was assured Binder gained the primary. Sonnen speculates the judges awarded Creighton a 10-8 spherical two. Sonnen blames himself for that miscalculation.
Creighton says he needed a nasty, bloody combat, and he received that. Creighton says he is without doubt one of the finest welterweights on this planet and can proceed to show that.
The coaches inform Binder he stayed within the combat and so they do really feel jipped. Binder says Creighton was who he anticipated and that the loss is simply “a part of the sport.”
Midway by the primary spherical now, Cormier declares that Crew Cormier’s Alibi Idiris will tackle Crew Sonnen’s Furkatbek Yokubov within the subsequent flyweight matchup — a combat Cormier says is likely to be probably the most evenly-matched pairing in spherical one.
Season 24 competitor and former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will be part of Crew Cormier subsequent week. Ryan Clark, former NFL participant and present ESPN persona, can even be current to hype up Idiris earlier than his combat.
What’s going to occur subsequent week? Be part of alongside us then!
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