Episode No. 7 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians'

American Top Team (top) and the Blackzilians

Episode No. 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians” opens with the fallout from Episode No. 6.

Down 150-50 in the competition with just one win in six fights, ATT owner Dan Lambert is extremely upset with his team’s performance and tells them to “wake the f-ck up.”

At the halfway point of the season, ATT and Blackzilians are presented with an option. For the first time ever, both teams have the ability to drop up to two fighters from the team and bring in new athletes.

Blackzilians fighter Andrews Nakahara, who suffered a knockout loss to ATT’s Haydar Hassan in Episode No. 5, is under 30-day medical suspension from the Florida State Boxing Commission. Therefor, Nakahara will not have time to fight again this season and is replaced by Alexandre Pimentel.

ATT opts to make a substitution, as well. With the ability to switch up to two fighters, Lambert decided to make just one change. He pulls Steve Montgomery, who is also under medical suspension, and Cristiano Souza replaces him.

The ATT coaching staff decides on which fighter will represent the team in the upcoming bout. Veteran Nathan Coy is on deck for the opportunity. The 36-year-old is among the oldest and most experienced athletes on the team. Coy has fought for Strikeforce, MFC and Bellator MMA throughout his career, but has never stepped in the UFC octagon.

The Blackzilians expect that Coy will be ATT’s choice and debate on which member of the team will match up best against the savvy veteran. Coach Rashad Evans pushes for Vicente Luque and the rest of the decision-makers agree.

Back at the “TUF” house, the alternates arrive and move in. Nakahara and Montgomery are forced to leave house, which stirs some emotion in the fighters and coaches.

The official weigh-in follows, and Coy and Luque learn they’ll be fighting each other. Both fighters successfully make the welterweight limit. Some words are exchanged during the staredown, and the matchup is official.

The fighters attempt to cram as much physical and mental preparation as possible in the time between weigh-in and fight time. Blackzilians fighter Luque is determined to finish the fight inside the two-round limit while Coy is simply focused on implementing his game plan and getting a victory by any means necessary.

Fight day arrives, and the seventh tournament bout is underway.

Vicente Luque (7-4-1) vs. Nathan Coy (14-5)

Round 1 – Coy shoots for a takedown less than 10 seconds in. He fights for a single leg against the cage, but Luque avoids and breaks free. They exchange strikes and Luque lands a nice knee up the middle to Coy’s chin. Luque overextends on a punch and allows Coy to maneuver inside for a body lock. Coy controls the action against the cage and drops for a single leg takedown. Luque fights off the hands and lands a hard punch on Coy as he breaks free. Coy is bleeding over his right eye due to the strike. Luque loosens up with his strikes. He lands a number of hard body kicks and combinations with his hands. Coy again uses Luque’s aggression against him to close the distance. He goes back to the takedown against the cage, but Luque does everything right to defend. Coy keeps control against the cage and works knees to Luque’s legs and body while throwing punches and elbows to the head. Luque frees himself and lands an inside leg kick that causes Coy to stumble. He follows with a flying knee and right book that both connect. Coy initiates the clinch again but is unable to secure a takedown before the end of the round.

Round 2 – An exchange of punches opens the round. Coy is more aggressive with his strikes, but Luque counters with two hooks, one of which appears to hurt Coy. Coy fires back with a straight punch but it’s countered by Luque’s uppercut. Luque is quicker with his strikes and lands a two inside leg kicks and a body kick. Luque tried to kick again, but Coy catches it and lands his first takedown of the fight. Luque quickly works back to his feet, but Coy drags him to the ground again. Coy lands a few punches on the ground, but it doesn’t take long for Luque to create distance and use the cage to stand up. Coy has control of the clinch position against the cage. The referee warns him for inactivity. Coy works hard to secure a double leg takedown. Coy finally gets his takedown due to ankle pick, but Luque steps over and transitions to an armbar. Coy defends the submission and stays on top for the remainder of the round.

The judges declare the fight a draw after two rounds and a third sudden-victory round will decide the winner of the fight.

Round 3 – Coy shoots for a takedown off the first striking exchange, but Luque easily stuffs the attempt. They stand at range and strike. Luque lands an inside leg kick followed by a body punch. Luque lands another hard body kick that stuns Coy and forces him to take several steps back. Luque chases him down but Coy uses that aggression to control the body lock and once again control the fight on the cage. Coy briefly grounds Luque with a leg sweep, but can’t control the fight on the ground. Coy eats a hard knee to the body as the fighters’ scramble and falls to his back. He dives for Luque’s legs as they move to the feet, but Luque is aware and grasps his hands around Coy’s neck for a D’arce choke. Coy struggles to break free but is forced to submit.

Vicente Luque def. Nathan Coy via submission (D’arce choke) – Round 3, 2:26

Luque wins the fight with an impressive submission in the sudden-victory round. He earns 50 points for the Blackzilians. It’s the team’s second consecutive victory after its lone loss of the season and the Blackzilians now lead 200-50 with six wins overall to just one for ATT.

UFC President Dana White says the fight shouldn’t have reached a sudden-victory round because Luque won the first and second rounds on his scorecard. He berates ATT’s Lambert for not making major changes to his team strategy and hopes momentum will shift because ATT is getting “blown out” of the competition.

Also see:

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 21: ATT vs. Blackzilians” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FOX Sports 1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.

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