Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) returned for episode tonight (Tuesday 6 June 2023) on ESPN. 2 of the long-running martial arts reality show where head coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler lead respective teams of lightweight and bantamweight competitors. Remember, instant replays of TUF 31 are available now on ESPN+ (sign up here), or you can save yourself an hour and just read our full recap below.
missed episode. 1? No problem! The full results and summary videos can be found here.
Ep. 2 begins at the APEX facility where UFC hosts its TUF bouts. Timur Valiev looks ahead to his upcoming quarterfinal bout against Trevor Wells, who is undeterred by the mystique of the Dagestani fighter and insists that not every fighter hailing from Dagestan is the next Khabib Nurmagomedov. Out of nowhere, Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Jeff Mullen sticks his head in the gym and wants to speak to Coach Chandler.
I’m sure everything is fine (not really).
It looks like Wells has been declared unfit to compete on medical grounds, leaving him on the bench until next week (or longer) depending on how the situation unfolds. Wells claims he woke up with cold sores and it looked like a red map of Italy on his face. Trainer McGregor blames the rigor of the weight loss. Speaking of losing weight, Valiev wasn’t pleased when he learned he’d have to lose weight a second time in about seven days. UFC President Dana White is ready to hold the catchweight bout when Wells is cleared to compete next week.
So what’s happening this week?
The bantamweight fight between Mando Gutierrez and Cody Gibson has been moved up and will replace the fight between Valiev and Wells. Gutierrez was previously at the proving grounds of the promotion’s “Contender Series” but lost a competition decision. He expects to uncover Gibson’s “lazy jab” with his superior game plan. We catch a few feel-good moments as Gutierrez talks about his girlfriend and his “little girl,” who turns out to be… a dog. We get some shots of them hugging, kissing and traveling together. Look, I love animals, but people who portray their dogs as being on par with their own children are just plain weird. Gutierrez, who is also a hairdresser, switched to MMA after his wrestling ambitions fell through.
Coach McGregor tries to spice up his side but is completely drained from light sparring. All that muscle comes at a price, mate. Fast-forward, inside the house later tonight, and Landon Quinones spouting all sorts of rants as he confronts the experienced candidates. Roosevelt Roberts summons him to STFU and offers to work things out outside, which Quinones politely declines. McGregor shows up at the gym to get his hair cut by Gutierrez, who shames himself by hearing “Notorious” incessantly during the tedious trimming. After the haircut, Mac hops around the house to chat with his team.
Gibson, now 35, only managed 1-3 in four fights from 2014-15 and returned to the regional circuit for the next few years. A 7-2 record was enough to bring him back to the TUF tournament, and The Renegade believes it’s a “blessing” to be on Team Chandler, where he’s receiving intense one-on-one training. Turns out Gibson was adopted as a baby and Chandler adopted two sons, so they have a common bond. Gibson reveals he met his wife (and mother of his two little girls) by “snapping into her DMs on MySpace,” which isn’t often heard. He currently trains at The Pit and mentions working with Jake Shields… and now I have to speak out against him. After the weigh-in, White previews the next fight, claiming that 26-year-old Gutierrez could be the underdog against the wily veteran. There’s still a lot of time left in the episode, so we might make a decision — or maybe we just have a lot of commercials ahead of us.
Two five-minute rounds and a third Sudden Victory round if needed. Let’s fight!
135 pounds: Mando Gutierrez (Team McGregor) vs. Cody Gibson (Team Chandler)
round 1: No glove touch and Gibson opens with a front kick. Gutierrez returns fire and tries to tie him up, but Gibson ties him up and pushes him towards the cage. Both corners shout instructions. Gutierrez knocks out and hits a body kick. Gibson charges in with punches and kicks and they tie themselves to the cage. Gibson with the body lock but can’t get the shot. They break up and Gibson punches him in the face. Gutierrez fights his way out. Kick from Gutierrez. A running punch from Gibson and Chandler warns him not to rush. Gibson hits him hard with his right hand and then charges back with a jumping knee. Gutierrez falls to the mat. Gibson lunges at him with hammer fists and is cautioned for hitting him in the back of the head. Gutierrez tortoises. Gibson plays Donkey Kong bongos on his opponent’s head until the referee intervenes. Gutierrez sits up and wears a crimson mask. whoops
Bottom line: Gibson defeated. Gutierrez by technical knockout
After the fight, we take a closer look at Gutierrez’s eye and it’s awesome. Coach McGregor calls him a “great little fighter” which I think should be taken as a compliment.
Here we are after Episode 2:
Team McGregor:
135 pounds: Mando Gutierrez (No. 1)
135 pounds: Trevor Wells (No. 2)
135 pounds: Carlos Vera (No. 3)
135 pounds: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4)
155 pounds: Lee Hammond (No. 1)
155 pounds: Nate Jennerman (No. 2)
155 pounds: Aaron McKenzie (No. 3)
155 pounds: Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)
Team Chandler:
135 pounds: Hunter Azure (No. 1)
135 pounds: Brad Katona (No. 2)
135 pounds: Timur Valiev (No. 3)
135 pounds: Cody Gibson (No. 4)
155 pounds: Jason Knight (No. 1)
155 pounds: Austin Hubbard (No. 2)
155 pounds: Roosevelt Roberts (No. 3)
155 pounds: Kurt Holobaugh (No. 4)
Coach Chandler and his team of UFC veterans are in full swing.
Here are the remaining eliminators:
155 pounds: Austin Hubbard (No. 2) vs. Aaron McKenzie (No. 3)
135 pounds: Trevor Wells (No. 2) vs. Timur Valiev (No. 3)
135 pounds: Brad Katona (#2) vs. Carlos Vera (#3)
155 pounds: Lee Hammond (#1) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (#4)
155 pounds: Jason Knight (No. 1) vs. Landon Quinones Stewart (No. 4)
135 pounds: Rico DiSciullo (No. 4) vs. Hunter Azure (No. 1)
See you in seven days for Austin Hubbard vs. Aaron McKenzie and the rest of Episode 3!
For more information on TUF 31 and other current McGregor-related parts, click here Here.
Continue reading