Episode No. 12 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber'

Urijah Faber and Conor McGregor

Episode 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber” opens with UFC President Dana White, Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber reflecting on the quarterfinal bouts that led to the upcoming semifinal pairings.

Team McGregor has three fighters in the semifinal round. Saul Rogers faces teammate Marcin Wrzosek while Artem Lobov takes on lone Team Faber representative, Julian Erosa.

Coach McGregor tells Rogers and Wrzosek “it’s all business” and that he expects them both to act in a professional manner through the finals days of training for the teammate vs. teammate affair.

Despite sharing a training room, Rogers and Wrzosek avoid any pre-fight issues. They finalize their preparation, make weight and fight day arrives.

With the end of the competition rapidly approaching, Rogers and Wrzosek walk to the octagon to face off in the first of two semifinal contests.

Team McGregor’s Saul Rogers (10-1) vs. Team McGregor’s Marcin Wrzosek (10-2)

Round 1 – A pair of combinations from both fighters opens the round, but neither connects with anything clean. Rogers lands an inside leg kick followed by another flurry of punches. Wrzosek looks to counter-strike and is landing his jab early in the fight. Rogers changes levels for a double-leg takedown and plants Wrzosek on the mat. Wrzosek begins to scoot his hips toward the fence and eventually works his way back to the feet. Rogers makes him pay, though, and dumps him right back on the canvas. Wrzosek eats a pair of knees to the body and works his way back to the feet again. This time, Wrzosek breaks free and is back in the center of the octagon. Rogers lands a kick to the body then just falls shorts with a winging overhand. Wrzosek keeps tight with his boxing and carries his hands high. He lands crisp shots on Rogers as he comes in but is still primary looking to counter. Wrzosek goes for a leg kick, but Rogers anticipates it and turns it into a takedown. Wrzosek scrambles but ends up in a headlock position. Rogers spins around and takes the back. Wrzosek stands up again just before the end of the round.

Round 2 – Rogers opts to strike to start the round and Wrzosek is noticeably hesitant due to the threat of the takedown. He continues to stay patient with his counters, and before long Rogers gets fed up with striking and again puts the fight on the floor with a big takedown. Rogers strikes from the top, but Wrzosek uses every opening to slowly advance back to his feet. He gets there, but Rogers drags him back into half guard. Rogers is inflicting minimal punishment from the top but is active enough to avoid a standup from the referee. Wrzosek uses the same tactics to advance back to a vertical position, but Rogers is privy to it and drags him down again. Rogers takes the back and slides his arm under the neck. He locks in a rear-naked choke and Wrzosek is left with no choice but to tap out.

Saul Rogers def. Marcin Wrzosek via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2

Rogers defeats Wrzosek by submission for his third victory of the competition and becomes the first fighter to advances to the tournament final. Wrzosek is disappointed but takes the loss in stride and said he’s grown as a fighter as a member of Team McGregor.

At the next Team Faber training session, a special guest arrives at the gym. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who fights McGregor in a title unification bout at UFC 194, is in Las Vegas and agrees to teach Team Faber some techniques.

Focus switches to Lobov, who is preparing at the final Team McGregor training session. Lobov has made the most of his second chance, because after being eliminated early in the competition, he was brought back and is now one victory away from the tournament final.

Lobov and Erosa walk to the octagon to face off in the second and final tournament semifinal matchup.

Team McGregor’s Artem Lobov (11-10-1) vs. Team Faber’s Julian Erosa (14-2)

Round 1 – Lobov opens with a right hook followed by a low kick. Erosa responds with a kick of his own and Lobov fires back with a combination. Lobov owns the center of the octagon and pressuring Erosa to his back foot. Erosa slides in a nice straight punch to the body. Lobov cracks Erosa with a huge left hook that drops him to the canvas. He follows with a pair of hard shots to Erosa’s chin as he falls down and referee Herb Dean jumps in to halt the action not long after it began.

Artem Lobov def. Julian Erosa via knockout (strikes) – Round 1

McGregor jumps into the octagon to celebrate with his good friend and training partner Lobov. He’s thrilled over the performance and admits that giving Lobov an opportunity to win the tournament and earn a spot on the UFC roster was one of his main incentives in agreeing to coach the show.

The season begins to wind down and White praises the coaching efforts of McGregor, who early in the season was unengaged and disinterested in the responsibility of heading a team of athletes.

The end result worked to McGregor’s benefit, though, because Team McGregor fighters Rogers and Lobov are set to square off against each other at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale on Friday in Las Vegas. A staredown between the two takes place in the octagon.

Shortly thereafter, McGregor and Aldo meet in the octagon for a staredown ahead of Saturday’s UFC 194 featherweight championship unification fight.

After the conclusion of the season, it’s revealed that Rogers have been removed from the tournament final due to a legal issue. White says Rogers provided inaccurate information on his U.S. visa application and is not allowed into the country.

The UFC was forced to select a replacement to face Lobov in the final, and Team Faber’s Ryan Hall was offered the opportunity. Hall says he was shocked but was more than happy to jump on the chance to win the tournament.

Hall now faces Lobov at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, which takes place Friday at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on the same channel and UFC Fight Pass.

Also see:

• Episode No. 1 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 2 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 3 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 4 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 5 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 6 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 7 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 8 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 9 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 10 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’
• Episode No. 11 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber’