The Ultimate Fighter 22, Episode 11 Notes: Semifinal Matches Set

The eleventh episode of The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber featured the last two quarterfinal matches and the announcement of the semifinal pairings.

There Will Be No Favoritism

With only one American left in the competition, the Europeans are having to face their teammates. Coach Conor McGregor envisioned the season playing out this way and ensured his fighters that there will be no favoritism played.

“I have no strategy for teammate vs. teammate.  There will be no favoritism.  These are two men on individual journeys,” said McGregor.  “It’s like we said in the beginning, there’s no Team Europe or Team USA.  You are here for your own benefit.  It’s you vs. you.  Go and handle your business.”

The Fight: Marcin Wrzosek (10-2) vs. David Teymur (3-1)

Neither of the two had a specific game plan for their teammate, but both predicted victories.

Poland’s Wrzosek pressed forward and they two wasted little time before engaging in exchanges of leather.  Sweden’s Teymur landed leg kicks while Wrzosek countered with straight right hands.  Midway through the opening round Teymur fired off a high kick.  Wrzosek blocked it and returned a right hand that knocked Teymur down.  Teymur worked his way back to his feet and secured a takedown but didn’t do enough to overcome the knockdown.

The second frame began with a spirited exchange.  Teymur quickly changed levels and put Wrzosek on his back.  Wrzosek reversed the position and mounted his Team McGregor teammate.  Teymur scrambled and briefly gained top position before the referee stood the fighters up.  Wrzosek immediately took Teymur down.  Teymur battled to get back to his feet only to be take down again in the closing seconds.  The judges scored the fight for Wrzosek by majority decision.

The Fight: Julian Erosa (14-2) vs. Abner Lloveras (19-7-1)

Lloveras came out aggressive in the opening round, taking the fight to the last remaining American in the competition.  Erosa circled on the outside looking to time the Spaniard as he moved forward.  Halfway through the round the fighters round their range.  The pace picked up and they exchanged with Lloveras getting the better of Erosa.  A takedown in the closing seconds likely secured the round for the European.

Erosa pressured Loveras to start the second frame.  He inched forward behind his jab and closed the distance.  He delivered knees to the body while from the clinch position before Lloveras circled free.  Lloveras began to slow and Erosa took advantage.  He started beating the European to the punch.  He opened up a cut on Lloveras’ forehead with an uppercut.  Late in the round, Erosa dropped Lloveras with an uppercut but was unable to get the finish.  A third frame was needed to determine a winner.

Lloveras looked to get the fight to the ground in the “Sudden Victory Round,” but the American shook off the attempts.  Erosa pressed forward while Lloveras tried to counter strike.  It was a completive round with both fighters landing in the exchanges.  Neither gained a clear advantage and the fight could have gone either way.  After fifteen minutes of fighting, the judges scored it for Erosa by split decision.

Semifinal Bouts Announced

UFC president Dana White gathered the fighters in the gym to announce the semifinal bouts.  Poland’s Marcin Wrzosek faces England’s Saul Rogers while Ireland’s Artem Lobov takes on Julian Erosa to determine who’ll fight in the finale.

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