Episode No. 3 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate'

Episode No. 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate” opens with the Team Tate coaching staff visiting the “TUF” house and interacting with the cast of fighters.

Miesha Tate talks about last week’s fight between Julianna Pena and Shayna Baszler and how difficult it was to coach against Baszler, a fighter she looked up to after first turning professional.

Baszler discusses the emotions surrounding her upset loss to Pena and how she appreciates the support shown by her coach, Ronda Rousey.

At a Team Rousey training session, the women’s bantamweight champion addresses Baszler’s loss. She gives the team advice to always stay in the moment and never get emotional when entering the cage to compete.

Team Rousey’s Chris Beal, who fights Team Tate’s Chris Holdsworth later in the episode, admits to having an injured hand, but he claims it is nothing compared to other hardships in his life, such as being diagnosed with fibrosarcoma cancer in 2009.

As Holdsworth prepares for his matchup, he talks about his path into fighting and refers to the death of his older brother as a child as one of his motivations in the sport.

In the locker room, Team Tate’s Cody Bollinger tells Tate that somehow the women’s matchups for the rest of the tournament have been leaked to members of Team Rousey. Bollinger believes Pena was the one to share the matchups with the other team, and on the van ride back to the house, he accuses his teammate of doing just that.

Pena adamantly denies the accusations and points to Roxanne Modafferi, who shares a bedroom in the house with members of Team Rousey, as someone who would potentially share the valued information.

At the house, Holdsworth and Pena enjoy some one-on-one tanning time by the pool. Pena later apologizes to Modafferi for pointing the finger about the leaked matchups and admits to being upset over the situation.

The fighters get some time out of the house to visit a Las Vegas casino, where a private room is set up for both teams and the coaches to relax and watch a live UFC event.

A heated confrontation occurs between Rousey, Tate and assistant coaches Bryan Caraway and Edmond Tarverdyan. The argument primarily revolves around a Tate comment about Rousey’s punching technique, as well as a controversial Twitter post by Caraway directed at Rousey.

With the drama over, it’s time for weigh-ins where, Holdsworth and Beal successfully make the 136-pound bantamweight limit.

TEAM TATE’S CHRIS HOLDSWORTH (4-0) VS. TEAM ROUSEY’S CHRIS BEAL (7-0)

Round 1 – Each fighter feels out the other on the feet with jabs, and less than 30 seconds in, Holdsworth hits Beal with a low blow. He recovers, and the action resumes. Holdsworth is finding a home for the jab, but Beal throws flurries of counter punches. Both fighters land some significant strikes, and Holdsworth completes a takedown. Beal quickly gets back to his feet and reverses a Holdsworth takedown to establish top position. Holdsworth attempts an armbar but can’t secure the submission. Holdsworth gets back to his feet and stands in front of Beal exchanging punches. Beal easily shrugs off two more takedown attempts, but Holdsworth is controlling the center of the cage. Holdsworth scores a knockdown with a straight right and jumps into half guard. Holdsworth grabs Beal’s neck for an arm-in guillotine, and shortly after, the Team Rousey fighter is forced to tap out.

Chris Holdsworth def. Chris Beal via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1

Team Tate celebrates Holdsworth’s victory and improve to 2-0 against Team Rousey in the competition. Holdsworth expresses joy in getting the first fight out of the way but refuses to lose focus going forward.

Beal apologizes to Team Rousey in the locker room, and the fighter talks about the disappointment involved with his first-ever defeat in MMA competition.

Team Tate maintains control of fight selection, and with a women’s bout up next, Tate elects for her No. 4 pick, Modafferi, to go against Team Rousey’s No. 4 pick, Jessica Rakoczy.

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FOX Sports 1. MMAjunkie.com recaps each episode of the reality series.