Episode No. 11 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn’

Episode No. 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter 19: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn” opens with Team Edgar’s Corey Anderson and Pat Walsh discussing their upcoming light heavyweight fight. They are the only set of teammates fighting each other in the semifinal round, which makes interacting somewhat awkward.

Anderson says there are advantages to fighting a teammate. He believes Walsh is a mentally weak fighter because he has seen him break in the training room. That knowledge gives him added confidence going into the contest.

Walsh is disappointed with the Team Edgar training schedule for the week of his fight and flirts with the idea of training with Team Penn so he can get some extra time in the gym. Walsh moves forward with the plan, which causes a disturbance within Team Edgar.

The next day, Anderson and several Team Edgar fighters and coaches confront Walsh about his loyalty to the team. Frankie Edgar tells Walsh he must choose between the teams and Walsh becomes very emotional. Eventually the situation is resolved and Walsh opts to continue with Team Edgar.

With training complete, Anderson and Walsh hit the 206-pound light-heavyweight mark at the weigh-in, making the final semifinal matchup of the season official.

TEAM EDGAR’S COREY ANDERSON (3-0) VS. TEAM EDGAR’S PAT WALSH (4-1)??

Round 1 – Both men try to find their range early. Walsh lands first with a jab. Anderson responds with a right hook. Walsh moves in and out with big strikes, but his hands are down by his sides. Walsh lands a left hook followed by a right. Walsh throws a four-punch combination, all of which miss. Anderson lands a counter strike that rocks Walsh. Anderson lands a knee to the body from the clinch. Anderson completes a takedown and moves to mount. Walsh escapes the position and scrambles back to his feet. Walsh is cut below his right eye. Anderson continues to counterstrike Walsh’s wild combinations with straight punches. Walsh lands another right hook. Anderson scores with a double leg takedown. Walsh gives up his back and returns to his feet. Lots of striking in the middle of the octagon, but neither fighter lands anything significant. Walsh drops for a guillotine choke attempt as the round comes to an end.

Round 2 – Walsh pumps the jab early and is following with big hooks behind it. Walsh connects with a few shots and is luring Anderson into a firefight. Anderson responds with straight punches to the body and head. He follows with a hard leg kick. Anderson lands with a jab. Walsh fires back with an overhand right to the head. Anderson clinches and connects with a knee to the head. Anderson lands another huge knee from the clinch then shoots for a takedown. Walsh briefly goes to the ground but pops right back up after just a few seconds. Walsh shoots for a takedown of his own, but Anderson easily stuffs it. Walsh breaks and shoots for another takedown. The round ends with Walsh on Anderson’s legs but he can’t finish the takedown.

Round 3 – Walsh misses with a hook to start the round. He lands one just a moment later. Walsh lands a jab then an overhand. Anderson connects with a straight punches and hooks to the body. Walsh now swinging with reckless abandon and gets Anderson moving back. Walsh takes advantage by scoring with a takedown, but Anderson quickly scrambles back to his feet. Both men are exhausted but Walsh looks worse for ware. Anderson begins picking his shots as Walsh slows down. Anderson lands a hard body kick that echoes through the gym. Walsh is simply moving forward and winging overhand punches but he doesn’t have much on them. Anderson shoots for a takedown but Walsh denies it. Walsh scores with his own takedown as the round comes to an end.

??Corey Anderson def. Pat Walsh via unanimous decision??

Team Edgar’s Anderson becomes the first light heavyweight to advance to the tournament final at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale on July 6 in Las Vegas. He will face either Matt Van Buren (Team Edgar) or Dan Spohn (Team Penn), who fight on next week’s episode.

Team Edgar’s Eddie Gordon, who has already advanced to the middleweight finale, will fight either Dhiego Lima (Team Edgar) or Roger Zabata (Team Penn), who will also battle for a shot at the six-figure UFC contract on the next episode.

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 19: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FOX Sports 1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.