The Ultimate Fighter 22, Episode 9 Notes: Coaches Challenge and An Odd Man Out

The ninth episode of The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber featured the coaches challenge, the last preliminary round fight, and the elimination of a fighter based on performance.

The Coach’s Challenge

Opposing coaching Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber engaged in a challenge of watermelon drooping from a helicopter onto a target on the ground.

The competition, worth $10,000 to the winner and $1.500 for each of their team members, went down to the last watermelon drop. The more experienced Faber hit a bullseye in his last drop, clinching the win for the Americans.

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The Fight: Jason Gonzalez (9-2) vs. Abner Lloveras (19-7-1)

Both fighters came out aggressive with their striking.  Gonzalez was winning the exchanges, but Team McGregor’s Lloveras changed levels and took the fight to the ground.  He mounted the American and maintain top control for the second half of the opening frame.

In the second round, Lloveras picked up where he left off in the first.  He secured an early takedown and Gonzalez soon found himself mounted.  Lloveras delivered punches and elbows.  Gonzalez scrambled to his feet, only to be taken down again.  After ten minutes of fighting, the judges scored the fight for Lloveras by unanimous decision.

The Departure

When the coaches were able to bring back a defeated fighter, it created a situation where one fighter would have to be eliminated based on performance.  The coaches met with UFC president Dana White and debated who’d be the  odd man out.  After a heated argument, it was decided that Team Faber’s Chris Gruetzemacher would be eliminated.  If any quarterfinalist gets injured from either team, Gruetzemacher will be the replacement.

Quarterfinal Bouts Announced

The first quarterfinal bout announced was Ireland’s Artem Lobov against Sweden’s Marin Svensson.  The second quarterfinal match-up pits American Ryan Hall against England’s Saul Rogers.  Poland’s Marcin Wrzosek faces Sweden’s David Teymur in the third quarterfinal bout, while American Julian Erosa takes on Spain’s Abner Lloveras.

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