The Ultimate Fighter 22, Episode 8 Notes: First KO of the Season

The eighth episode of The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber featured two fights and the first knockout of the season.

Second Chances

Artem Lobov is a real life teammate of interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor.  He was defeated during the elimination round to gain access to the fighter house, but was brought back when each coach was given the opportunity to have a defeated fighter return.

“When Dana [White] said to me, ‘you’re going to get a second chance to go back into the house,’ I was very happy but I said to him right away, I said, I don’t think I deserve this but I’m sure as hell going to take it.”

“Artem is my teammate.  The team I’m with currently are not my teammates.  We don’t know each other.  Of course I’m going to have a stronger bond and more deeper connection with Artem.  I’m not going to fake it and say I don’t and it’s all equal because it’s not.  I was here for Artem,” said Coach McGregor.

In the second fight of the episode, American Johnny Nunez, who was brought back by American Coach Urijah Faber, got his chance to prove that he deserved to be on the show despite losing to Ryan Hall in the elimination round.

The Fight: Artem Lobov (11-10-1, 1 NC) vs. James Jenkins (8-1)

Lobov played a dangerous game of keeping his hands down and countering Jenkins as he moved forward.  Jenkins tried to press the pace, but was met with heavy left hands and combinations during the exchanges.  The European wobbled Jenkins with a right hand and opened up a cut over the American’s right eye.  The referee called for a doctor to check the cut and Jenkins was allowed to continue, but the fight wouldn’t last much longer.  Lobov dropped Jenkins with a right hand and finished with a series of strikes on the ground.

“Artem proved to me and everybody else that he deserves to be in this competition,” said UFC president Dana White following the finish.

The Fight: David Teymur (3-1) vs. Johnny Nunez (5-1)

The was delayed while the fighters waiting for Coach McGregor to show up.

“Every fight for TUF is scheduled for 4 o’clock.  It’s 4:15 and Conor’s not there yet,” explained White.  “The Nevada State Athletic Commission came in and said, ‘we’re not going to wait any longer’, so we had to start the fight without Conor.”

After a brief feeling out process, Nunez went on the attack.  He presses forward with punches and looked to get the fight to the ground.  Seymour gained top position during a scrambled and punished the American with punches.  The referee looked to be close to stopping the fight, but Nunez worked his way to to his feet.  Midway through the round, Nunez tripped Teymur to the canvas, but the European quickly got back to his feet.  Nunez secured a second takedown and spent the final 90 seconds of the frame in top position.  He mounted his opponent, and the round ended with Nunez delivering punches and elbows.

The second round saw a decrease in action.  Nunez got the fight to the ground in the early going and maintained top control throughout the majority of the round.  He mounted Teymur, but the European got to his feet and they slugged it out in the closing moments.

After ten minutes of fighting, the judges were unable to determine a winner and a “Sudden Victory” round was needed.

Teymur defended a takedown attempt and gained top position.  He battered Nunez with punches and elbows .  Nunez worked his way back to his feet and the two battled inside the clinch position.  Teymur landed hard knees to the body.  Nunez secured a late takedown and mounted Teymur, but it was too little too late.  The judges scored the fight for the European by unanimous decision.

Coach McGregor showed up between the second and third frames.  “For the first two rounds of this fight I was running a little bit late and unfortunately somebody messed up and didn’t hold the fight for me.  I was instantly upset, but I got in there and enjoyed the final round and it was what I thought it would be,” said McGregor.

Fight Announcement

With back-to-back wins for Team McGregor, they maintained matchmaking control and matched up the only two fighters remaining, Europe’s Abner LLoveras and America’s Jason Gonzalez.

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