Team Rousey blog: Jessica Rakoczy on ‘The Ultimate Fighter 18,’ episode No. 12

To be honest, Anthony Gutierrez would eat just about anything in the house. He would eat other people’s food. He was just always eating, and it seemed he was always eating bad. He never seemed to be watching his diet. Everyone tried to warn him, but he would snap at them like, “I can make weight. I know how to make weight. I know what I’m doing.” He would just snap at you, so you don’t want to keep saying it to him and have him keep snapping at you.

As our team was preparing for Anthony and Davey Grant to fight, the coaches felt it was fair to back away and not choose sides. We all thought that was fine, and I was happy to be working with Davey. The guys thought the decision was fine, too. It was the only fair thing. I was just happy Davey wanted me to help because we were all definitely like family. I was actually scheduled to fight just before him, but I was going to corner him after I was done.

The coaches challenge was an interesting time. Ronda Rousey was not going to lose to Miesha Tate in anything. She’s super, super competitive. I know Ronda’s actions seem a little over the top. I think if I was just randomly watching, I might think about it a little different, but they just had so much heat between them the whole season, so it just felt normal. We didn’t think anything of it because Ronda just does not like Miesha, so we were kind of just laughing. That’s Ronda.

On the bright side, I got $1,500 for Ronda winning the challenge! We got our money after the taping was done. I wish I had an exciting story for you about what I spent it on, but I was just responsible and used it for groceries and bills.

We didn’t really know how much Anthony was struggling with his weight. But him and Cody Bollinger were always up late at night and were always eating, so we just kind of assumed he was going to have a rough cut and sit in the sauna until he lost the weight. Still, I never expected him to just give up.

When we were all talking during the season, Anthony admitted he was kind of a mama’s boy. I think he just got his own place, too, so he was really used to his mom taking care of him. I think that maybe had something to do with it, too. I think he was used to having more help. With everybody in the house, he was asking for help, but we’re all taking care of ourselves, too. Like I’ve said before, I don’t need another kid, so I’m not going to help him go through his everyday routine and cook his meals. We all had to take care of ourselves, so I think everybody got a little tired of him.

Manny Gamburyan was kind of tough on Anthony, but that’s because Manny loved him. Manny probably was the most disappointed out of everybody on the whole team.

Davey was obviously very emotional when this all happened. He was so disappointed, and I felt bad for him. He knows Dana White wouldn’t want that either. I think Davey was just feeling the pressure of the moment, and he really wanted to fight and get there on his own. Plus, you don’t have that release from the fight, and that sucks as a fighter. You’re amped up, ready to fight, and then it doesn’t happen. It’s so disappointing. You build, build, build, build all through camp, and then you need that release. You enjoy that part. As they say, the training is the tough part, and the fight is the fun part.

I don’t think Anthony has any discipline, honestly. Being in the house, that’s where you mentally have to be the strongest. It either makes you or breaks you. I guess this showed how it can break people. But I think Anthony just needs to grow up a little. He’s got a lot of talent. He can still fight. He just needs to grow up a little.

Finally, next week will be my fight. My shoulder was still hurting a little, but all the training and everything that you’re doing, you just want to hurry up and fight. That’s all I was thinking about. And of course, I wanted to see my family. That’s the reward. You fight, and then you know you’re going home to see them.

“The Ultimate Fighter 18? cast member Jessica Rakoczy blogs each Thursday exclusively for MMAjunkie.com. The women’s bantamweight prospect takes readers behind the scenes of the FOX Sports 1-broadcast series, which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.