'TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians' blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 11

Michael Graves

I waited all season for last night, which featured the 11th episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 21.”

I’ve actually waited a lot longer than a few weeks to have my hand raised in the octagon – my whole career up to this point, ever since I was introduced to the sport almost 10 years ago – but last night was sweet.

This latest episode won’t erase the memory of dropping my UFC debut, and it won’t nullify my teammates’ losses this season. But, man, was it sweet.

If you missed it, I advise you find a way to watch the episode. But in the meantime, I’ll give you a quick recap.

As has been the case all season, American Top Team’s back was against the wall. With a loss, we would’ve lost the show.

I wanted to fight every week – and in a perfect world I would’ve – but thankfully I got the call last night.

It was truly an honor to be chosen by my coaches. Like some of my teammates, I didn’t put my best foot forward when I first stepped into the octagon. So to get the call, despite that and despite a mental lapse after fight night, was very special and obviously meant a lot to me. I don’t think the show effectively captured how happy I was to get the nod, but I couldn’t have been happier. Really.

It also wasn’t shown, but all of my teammates were as supportive as could be. American Top Team truly is a team, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so a part of a team as I did before that fight.

The coaches’ challenge was a somewhat welcome distraction – with a totally unsurprising result – but I was ready to get after it was soon as I knew I was going to fight. It was great to see my team win the competition, and the money is always welcome, but if it were up to me, I would’ve skipped all that and got right down to business.

Back at the house, tensions ran high, especially in the kitchen, strangely enough. That’s a major potential distraction of the task at hand. But thankfully I was able to isolate myself from that and focus on my fight.

My weight-cut was a breeze. And when I was standing in front of Jason Jackson, I knew nothing could stop me – not even a shin to the groin, a couple shots to the back of my head, and an opponent holding the fence. Nothing.

Some say the fight should’ve been stopped, but I absolutely disagree. I was taking a lot of shots, but none of them could’ve put me away, and I don’t think I was in any real danger. It took a minute to recover from the illegal shots, but when I found the opening, I took it.

Finally, I had won in the UFC, something I had dreamed of ever since I took up the sport. But, more importantly, my team was still alive in the competition.

After the fight ended, it was absolute anarchy. That’s been a constant of the season after fights, but given the stakes, the outcome and the amount of American Top Team fighters there to take in the whole experience, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

I didn’t notice Glenn Robinson arguing the outcome, and, really, I couldn’t care less because I got the win and my team was still in the running.

I’ve had some great days as a fighter, but nothing beat that.

American Top Team, baby.

Also see:

• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 10
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 9
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 8
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 7
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 6
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 5
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 4
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 3
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 2
• ‘TUF 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians’ blog: Michael Graves on episode No. 1

Michael Graves (4-0), an American Top Team fighter on “The Ultimate Fighter 21,” blogs about the season each week exclusively for MMAjunkie. Follow him on Twitter at @gravesmma.

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ATT and Blackzilian fighters discuss their rivalry:

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