Episode No. 6 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate'

Episode No. 6 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate” opens with Jessamyn Duke and Raquel Pennington in their respective locker rooms following the announcement they’ll be fighting each other in the third women’s quarterfinal bout.

The women share mutual excitement for the matchup and discuss how they were scheduled to face each other once before on a regional show, but the fight fell through at the last minute.

Back at the house, Pennington discusses her role as a gay athlete in the sport and how difficult it was to first come out to her family. She is now focused on living a happy life and has a solid support system around her.

At a Team Tate training session, Pennington and the coaching staff focus on defense from the clinch, as they expect the much taller Duke to attack from inside.

All the fighters and coaches from both teams have a day off to relax and are sent to the Green Valley Ranch, where they have a private area by the pool set up to enjoy food and drinks while watching a live UFC event.

Duke is the lone fighter who opts to not attend the pool party, explaining that she would never go out the night before a big fight.

When everyone gets back to the house, an intoxicated Anthony Gutierrez disrupts members of the house who are trying to sleep, and both Duke and Pennington are upset by his lack of respect the night before their fight.

Pennington promises to exact revenge, and the next morning the women visit Gutierrez’s bed with an unpleasant wakeup.

It’s now time for the third of four women’s bantamweight quarterfinal contests.

TEAM ROUSEY’S JESSAMYN DUKE (2-0-1) VS. TEAM TATE’S RAQUEL PENNINGTON (3-3)

Round 1 – Pennington opens with forward pressure, but the much taller Duke is able to keep her distance with the jab and front kicks to the body. Duke is the more active striker with a variety of kicks and punching combinations. Pennington catches a kick and is unsuccessful in turning it into a takedown. Duke throws knees from the clinch and attempts an arm-in standing guillotine choke. Pennington defends well and escapes from the choke and clinch. Pennington and Duke exchange heavy strikes from a distance and both women land significant shots. Pennington finds a home for her straight punches and has Duke on her heels as the round comes to an end.

Round 2 – The women continue at a high pace to start the round as Duke throws multiple kicks with the jab while Pennington mixes up straight punches and kicks. Duke briefly secures the clinch and lands a hard knee to the head. Pennington backs to the cage and Duke continues to assault with knees. Pennington returns fire with effective combinations, and now Duke is in trouble. Pennington lands two hard hooks, but a bloodied Duke manages to remains standing. Duke escapes to the center of the cage and lands a hard knee from the clinch. Pennington knocks Duke backward with a front kick to the body and the women finish the round attacking each other from the clinch.

The judges declare the fight a draw after two rounds and a third “sudden victory” round will take place to determine a winner.

Round 3 – Duke comes forward with a flying knee that’s nowhere close to landing. Pennington looks to counter off Duke’s punches and finds success. The fight looks very similar to the first two rounds with Duke attempting to use her length as an advantage while Pennington tries to find space inside to land power shots. Pennington connects with a hard straight left that briefly wobbles Duke. Duke nearly lands a head kick and Pennington scores off the counter again. Duke begins to throw wild attacks out of desperation while a composed Pennington picks her shots. Duke rushes forward to clinch Pennington against the cage but can’t keep her there long. Pennington is also bleeding as the final bell sounds with both women throwing strikes.

Raquel Pennington def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The fighters, coaches and UFC President Dana White applaud the efforts of both women after the back-and-forth fight, with some even saying it was the best female fight they’ve ever witnessed.

Pennington breaks the two-fight winning streak of Team Rousey and Team Tate now holds a three to two lead in the competition overall.

Team Tate retakes control of fight selection and with men up next; coach Miesha Tate selects her No. 3 pick, Josh Hill, to face Team Rousey’s No. 4 pick, Michael Wootten.

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.