Episode No. 9 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate'

Episode No. 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate” opens with coach Miesha Tate visiting the “TUF” house where she delivers hamburgers to Michael Wootten and Josh Hill as a congratulations for their fight.

Team Tate’s Cody Bollinger, who fights Anthony Gutierrez in the final men’s quarterfinal bout, is struggling with his weight cut down to 135 pounds, but feels confident he’ll be able to make it.

At a Team Rousey training session, Gutierrez prepares for the matchup and is aware he is viewed as an underdog to the No. 1 pick in the competition. He believes rising to the occasion will be a key factor in scoring a victory.

At Team Tate’s training session, Bollinger continues to battle with his weight cut and is several pounds over the bantamweight limit just four hours before weigh-ins.

The 22-year-old tells the Team Tate coaching staff he will be unable to make the limit. After some consultation from his teammates, Bollinger changes his mind and tries to cut the weight, but shortly thereafter gives up again.

UFC President Dana White calls for a meeting with both teams of fighters and the coaches. A furious White demands Bollinger apologize to everyone in the room, and then the fighter is kicked off the show for the remainder of the season.

White wants to replace Bollinger with the previously eliminated Chris Beal. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission disapproves of Gutierrez making two weight cuts in such a short period of time.

Gutierrez is given the option to rehydrate and fight Beal a few days later or take a forfeit and move on the semifinal round without a fight. He says a second weight cut in a few days would be unfair to his body and decides to move forward in the competition.

Team Rousey now takes a four to three lead in the competition with only one fight remaining; a women’s matchup between Team Rousey No. 3 pick Peggy Morgan and Team Tate No. 2 pick Sarah Moras.

Both women make weight with ease, and the battle for the final semifinal spot is official.

TEAM ROUSEY’S PEGGY MORGAN (2-0) VS. TEAM TATE’S SARAH MORAS (3-1)

Round 1 – Moras lands a left hand and both women take no time exchanging strikes. Morgan begins to find a home for her jab and tags Moras often as she comes in with punches and kicks. Moras shoots for a takedown that is stuffed by Morgan, but Moras presses her against the cage. Morgan breaks away briefly, but is taken down seconds later. Morgan scoots her back against the cage and Moras is still able to keep position. Moras advances to mount position where she quickly unleashes a flurry of elbows and punches. Morgan holds on but eats multiple heavy shots. Moras transitions to an armbar and Morgan is forced to tap out.

Sarah Moras def. Peggy Morgan via submission (armbar) – Round 1

Moras celebrates her victory, and at the conclusion of eight male and female quarterfinal matches, Team Rousey and Team Tate each have four fighters in the semifinal round.

White brings in both coaches and the fighters to deliberate the matchups for the next round. After some discussion, announcements for the semifinal contests are made.

MEN’S SEMIFINALS

• Chris Holdsworth (Team Tate) vs. Michael Wootten (Team Rousey)
• David Grant (Team Rousey) vs. Anthony Gutierrez (Team Rousey)

WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS

• Sarah Moras (Team Tate) vs. Julianna Pena (Team Tate)
• Raquel Pennington (Team Tate) vs. Jessica Rakozy (Team Rousey)

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.