‘TUF 25’ Recap: Episode 8
Wednesday’s episode will have not one but two fights: the
intriguing wild card bout between opening-round losers Joe Stevenson
and Hayder
Hassan. In keeping with the season’s theme, it’s one last
chance for both men to redeem themselves. The first bout of the
quarterfinals is also on tap, though the participants have yet to
be revealed.
Up first is Hassan working in the gym with coach Cody Garbrandt and doing some chaotic fight simulation. The coach is pumping his fighter up beyond belief and he appears to be doing a tremendous job of it. As it seems, Hassan is in excellent shape and is more than ready for his brawl with Stevenson.
Out of nowhere, “No Love” and rival coach T.J.
Dillashaw are in each other’s faces in the hallway because
Dillashaw apparently went on social media and said that Cody is a
different cat on the show than when he’s not. Garbrandt is ready to
throw figurative hammers at his adversary, but nothing untoward
unfolds.
From there, it’s time for “Daddy” to get ready for his fight just six days after his last one. Stevenson is well aware of Hassan’s killer punching power and Dillashaw is playing it safe by keeping his stamina up and doing drills that won’t add any damage to his head and body. Stevenson reveals that his upcoming fight will take place on his son’s birthday, who was actually born on a day when Stevenson had a mixed martial arts fight. Of course, Stevenson think it’s fate, that it was meant to be.
Both men weigh-in and explain to the audience how ready and fierce they are and now it’s time to fight. Jason Herzog is the referee for this one and the fighters meet near Stevenson’s corner. Hassan comes right after him with a kick to the arms but it’s blocked. Stevenson circles away but is levelled by a crushing right uppercut to the jaw. “Daddy” crumbles onto his back, out cold. Herzog immediately leaps in and prevents any further punishment and quickly, Garbrandt is yelling at Dillashaw that he told him that was going to happen, that he warned him not to let Stevenson fight. Stevenson comes to and he’s eventually OK, but Dillashaw is miffed at himself for allowing “Daddy” to fight and that “No Love” is calling him out for it.
Moving right along, it’s time for Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White to announce the quarterfinal matches. The first bout announced is Tom Gallicchio versus Justin Edwards; then Dhiego Lima against Gilbert Smith; followed by Jesse Taylor against Hassan; and then finally James Krause versus Ramsey Nijem.
After the footage of Gallicchio and Edwards’ fight prep footage, it’s time for the coaches’ challenge, which is a tetherball battle in the pool… and it’s cold outside. The winning coach gets $10K and each of his fighters will nab $1500. The two coaches climb up onto their balance beams but Dillashaw already loses his balance and falls into the pool. The game finally begins and Dillashaw falls off again. And then again. Garbrandt falls in next and then Dillashaw. “No Love” builds a big 5-1 lead but Dillashaw creeps back into it with a nice rally. Eventually, Garbrandt is up 8-4 but again, T.J. rallies back and makes it 8-8 and then takes the lead 9-8; whoever gets to 10 first is the winner. With one last desperate heave to take the lead back, “No Love” falls into the pool and loses. It’s a huge comeback for Dillashaw and his team rejoices.
Finally, the quarterfinals are underway. Chris Tognoni is the third man in the Octagon and Gallicchio opens with a nice leg kick, but Edwards counters with a few fists to the face in return. Gallicchio is stiff during the exchanges and a blistering left-right to the jaw drops him. It seems as though Gallicchio is out, but he recovers quickly. Edwards pounces and instead of finishing him off with punches from on top, he goes for a guillotine but can’t put him away. Almost immediately, Gallicchio escapes the choke and seizes his back in a scramble. From there, the lanky grappler latches on a textbook rear-naked choke, locks it in and forces the tap.
Next week will see the fighters allowed into the Las Vegas night for some fun but apparently Smith isn’t ready to party as he has a fight with Lima lined up. Garbrandt also defaces some of the Dillashaw-themed art decor in the gym.
Up first is Hassan working in the gym with coach Cody Garbrandt and doing some chaotic fight simulation. The coach is pumping his fighter up beyond belief and he appears to be doing a tremendous job of it. As it seems, Hassan is in excellent shape and is more than ready for his brawl with Stevenson.
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From there, it’s time for “Daddy” to get ready for his fight just six days after his last one. Stevenson is well aware of Hassan’s killer punching power and Dillashaw is playing it safe by keeping his stamina up and doing drills that won’t add any damage to his head and body. Stevenson reveals that his upcoming fight will take place on his son’s birthday, who was actually born on a day when Stevenson had a mixed martial arts fight. Of course, Stevenson think it’s fate, that it was meant to be.
Both men weigh-in and explain to the audience how ready and fierce they are and now it’s time to fight. Jason Herzog is the referee for this one and the fighters meet near Stevenson’s corner. Hassan comes right after him with a kick to the arms but it’s blocked. Stevenson circles away but is levelled by a crushing right uppercut to the jaw. “Daddy” crumbles onto his back, out cold. Herzog immediately leaps in and prevents any further punishment and quickly, Garbrandt is yelling at Dillashaw that he told him that was going to happen, that he warned him not to let Stevenson fight. Stevenson comes to and he’s eventually OK, but Dillashaw is miffed at himself for allowing “Daddy” to fight and that “No Love” is calling him out for it.
Moving right along, it’s time for Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White to announce the quarterfinal matches. The first bout announced is Tom Gallicchio versus Justin Edwards; then Dhiego Lima against Gilbert Smith; followed by Jesse Taylor against Hassan; and then finally James Krause versus Ramsey Nijem.
After the footage of Gallicchio and Edwards’ fight prep footage, it’s time for the coaches’ challenge, which is a tetherball battle in the pool… and it’s cold outside. The winning coach gets $10K and each of his fighters will nab $1500. The two coaches climb up onto their balance beams but Dillashaw already loses his balance and falls into the pool. The game finally begins and Dillashaw falls off again. And then again. Garbrandt falls in next and then Dillashaw. “No Love” builds a big 5-1 lead but Dillashaw creeps back into it with a nice rally. Eventually, Garbrandt is up 8-4 but again, T.J. rallies back and makes it 8-8 and then takes the lead 9-8; whoever gets to 10 first is the winner. With one last desperate heave to take the lead back, “No Love” falls into the pool and loses. It’s a huge comeback for Dillashaw and his team rejoices.
Finally, the quarterfinals are underway. Chris Tognoni is the third man in the Octagon and Gallicchio opens with a nice leg kick, but Edwards counters with a few fists to the face in return. Gallicchio is stiff during the exchanges and a blistering left-right to the jaw drops him. It seems as though Gallicchio is out, but he recovers quickly. Edwards pounces and instead of finishing him off with punches from on top, he goes for a guillotine but can’t put him away. Almost immediately, Gallicchio escapes the choke and seizes his back in a scramble. From there, the lanky grappler latches on a textbook rear-naked choke, locks it in and forces the tap.
Next week will see the fighters allowed into the Las Vegas night for some fun but apparently Smith isn’t ready to party as he has a fight with Lima lined up. Garbrandt also defaces some of the Dillashaw-themed art decor in the gym.
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