‘TUF 28’ Recap: Episode 12

In this final episode of “The Ultimate Fighter Season 28: Heavy Hitters,” we jump right into fight preparation for the final battle between Team Whittaker’s Leah Letson and Team Gastelum’s Macy Chiasson. We start off in the film room, with Letson and her coaches reviewing Chiasson’s fight earlier in the season against Larissa Pacheco. The team study Chiasson’s weaknesses and find avenues to exploit, and Letson is glad to be able to study her opponent.

Over on Team Gastelum, coach Kelvin Gastelum knows that his fighters have been working hard this season, so he treats them to a game of dodgeball. In the second week in a row, Gastelum shows off his athletic prowess as he gets drilled by the ball at least a bakers’ dozen times until he falls over. Meanwhile, teammate and finalist Pannie Kianzad leaves us with her self-described “fear of balls.”

Back with Letson, she remarks that her training experience has given her a lot of confidence and that if she can get through training and living in a house for weeks with many other fighters, she can handle anything. Much like her gameplan against vanquished foe Bea Malecki, she plans on pressuring her and using her grappling advantage, but warns everyone not to sleep on her striking.

In a very intriguing twist during film review, Chiasson decides to also watch her own fight with Pacheco instead of reviewing footage on her opponent. Surprised at several of the techniques she used, she explicitly states “I did a lot better than I thought I did.” Her coaches express to her that Letson will give her less issues than Pacheco did, and they celebrate her victory again.

Transitioning into training, Chiasson echoes her feelings that fighting Letson will be similar to her previous bout on the season, but easier. She gets a surprise when Gastelum brings in a guest coach: UFC light heavyweight contender Ilir Latifi, who will help with wrestling. This does not sit well with her, as she momentarily breaks down from all the stress and pressure. She may have a point, and is concerned that learning new moves two days before the fight will only cause issues. One of her coaches agrees with her, repeatedly saying, “I agree 1,000 percent,” giving this final episode its title.

The rough week for Chiasson continues, who is now experiencing some difficulty cutting weight. A brief brouhaha emerges while Chiasson is cutting weight, when Letson came in the room to check out the action and took her shirt off for some reason. Luckily, it resolves itself as Letson leaves and immediately expresses her embarrassment and regret about walking in the room. The fighters ask the correct question: Why did Letson take her shirt off after walking into that room? The world may never know.

For the first time this season, a fighter has trouble on the scales, as Chiasson initially missed weight at 146.25 pounds. Fortunately for her, she disrobed and made 146 pounds on the dot. The last fight on “TUF 28” is now official.

After the last weight cut is over and done with, Gastelum takes his team out for some Korean BBQ, which some of the fighters have never experienced. While feasting, the team is surprised by a special guest: new flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, whom they watched the episode prior dethrone Demetrious Johnson for the belt. Cejudo proudly speaks to the team and tells them that their losses can teach them as much as their successes, and that perseverance is key.

It is important to note that the bout between Chiasson and Letson will be the final one inside this “TUF” cage. This does not mean that “The Ultimate Fighter” is over and done with, but that they will be moving to a new facility, so this “TUF” gym will be seeing its final fight. This means a great deal to Letson, who appreciates its history and hopes to go out with a bang.

Tale of the Tape

Team Gastelum: Chiasson is 5’11” 146 pounds, has a 72” reach and a record of 2-0.
Team Whittaker: Letson is 5’7” 145 pounds, has a 71” reach and a record of 4-1.

Refereeing this final “TUF 28” bout will be Jason Herzog. Both women charge to the center of the cage, and in line with what she studied at the beginning of the episode, Letson takes control of the range. Both women feint and fake, throwing a few kicks and jabs to start the action. Letson lands a good right hand and gets her paws on Chiasson, who breaks away immediately. Letson again engages in the clinch and pushes her foe against the cage. Letson applies heavy pressure while searching for underhooks, and the action stalls as referee Herzog warns them twice.

Just on the second warning, Chiasson hip tosses Letson to the ground and takes half guard while throwing heavy leather. Jumping back to her feet, Letson eats a knee and gets pressed against the cage herself while tasting a few more knees for good measure. These knees are having a significant effect, as Letson falls to the ground briefly before popping back up. Relentlessly, Chiasson launches knees until one catches Letson in the liver and drops her, forcing Herzog to intervene and call a stop to the fight. Chiasson, a fighter with no knockout wins in her pro career, has advanced to the finals by winning both of her bouts by first round TKO.

A devastated Letson tearfully apologizes to anyone who can hear her, especially Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White, who assures her she did a great job and applauds her toughness. Whittaker also reassures her that “it’s not over,” and that she still has plenty of fighting to do moving forward. After drying her eyes, she takes a page out of Brandon Vera’s playbook, promising not only that she will be a champion, but that she will be a two-division champion.

White squares off the fighters for the finale, starting with the heavyweights. Justin Frazier and Juan Francisco Espino Dieppa stand face to face, and Frazier deadpans “Don’t make me [expletive] smile, Juan.” Then come the featherweights, where Kianzad and Chiasson can’t help but embrace and grin from ear-to-ear as they stand with their faces pressed together, while quoting famous lines from Mike Tyson.

The TUF 28 finals are now set. At featherweight, Team Gastelum teammates Kianzad and Chiasson will clash. At heavyweight, Team Gastelum’s Frazier will face off against Team Whittaker’s Espino. Both of these bouts will take place on “The Ultimate Fighter 28” Finale on Friday, Nov. 30 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Headlining the card will be Kamaru Usman, who is riding an eight-fight win streak, against former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.