Episode No. 12 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions'

Episode No. 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions” opens with the Team Benavidez and Team Cejudo coaching staffs crashing the “TUF” house with food to celebrate the season with the athletes.

Just one fight remains, and its a matchup between Team Benavidez teammates No. 3 Tim Elliott and No. 5 Hiromasa Ogikubo. Coach Joseph Benavidez is thrilled that the 16-man, single-elimination tournament came down to two members of his team because it reflects well on him as a coach.

UFC President Dana White reminds the audience that not only is a UFC contract and immediate title shot against UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson on the line for the winner, but there’s also two custom Harley Davidson motorcycles at stake, one for the winner and another for a person of their choosing.

In a rare instance, the athletes are allowed a FaceTime call home to their loved ones before finalizing preparation. Elliott chooses his father and during their conversation also gets a brief interaction with his young daughter, which causes Elliott to get emotional.

Ogikubo gets the same opportunity to speak with his family over FaceTime. He has a conversation with his wife and two children, a moment which the Japanese fighter said provided him with a boost of motivation ahead of his final bout.

At the official weigh-in, Elliott and Ogikubo come in under the 126-pound flyweight limit, making the final fight of the “TUF 24” tournament official. They hug after the staredown.

Following the weigh-in, coach Benavidez and his assistant coaching staff take the members of his team out for a special dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Benavidez thanks his team for allowing him to participate in such a meaningful and successful season. The two finalists, Elliott and Ogikubo, give speeches in front of the team ahead of their season-closing matchup.

Fight day arrives, and UFC champ Johnson is in attendance at the “TUF” gym to get a first-hand look at the person who will next challenge for his belt. “Mighty Mouse” predicts Elliott to win the fight due to his experience level.

No. 3 Tim Elliott (13-6-1) vs. No. 5 Hiromasa Ogikubo (15-3-2)

Round 1 – Elliott comes out in his classic awkward stance and throws a jab to the body. He moves in and out throwing kicks and short punches before Ogikubo changes levels for the first time and gets a takedown. He very briefly grounds Elliott before they scramble, and the fight returns to its feet. Elliott is peppering Ogikubo with his left hand, but the Japanese fighter is responding with leg and body kicks. Elliott goes for a takedown of his own but can’t get it. Elliott is dancing around the octagon as Ogikubo comes forward with wild kicks. Elliott goes for another takedown, and this time he gets it. Ogikubo waits for an opening to kick off and gets back up. They’re only upright for a moment, though, before Elliott lands his second takedown. Ogikubo pops up again, though, and breaks into free space. Ogikubo starts to let his hands go and is tagging Elliott with punches and kicks. Elliott continues to come forward but walks right into another takedown. Ogikubo starts to work from on top but can’t cause much damage or advance position before Elliott stands up. They meet in the center of the octagon and throw punches from inside the pocket. Elliott dives into a takedown and Ogikubo tries to catch him in a guillotine choke before the end of the round. He can’t finish it, and Elliott pops his head out as time expires.

Round 2 – After a brief striking exchange, Elliott catches one of Ogikubo’s kicks and turns it into a takedown. He can’t do much with it, though, and Ogikubo stands up. Ogikubo nearly lands a big head kick before getting a takedown back, but again, he can’t hold Elliott down. Elliott lands a hard straight left hand which causes Ogikubo to shoot for a wild takedown. Elliott stuffs it and tries to take the back of his opponent but Ogikubo scrambles out of danger. They stand back up and right away Elliott drags it back to the ground with another takedown. Ogikubo gives up his back in order to stand up but the same thing happens again and Elliott is right back on him. Elliott is working for the rear-naked choke as Ogikubo tries to fight off the hands. Ogikubo rolls over and steps into mount. He puts Elliott in a guillotine choke, which looks tight. Elliott keeps his composure and gets free, but then Ogikubo drops for another guillotine. Elliott gets free again and controls position during grappling exchanges for the remainder of the round.

Round 3 – They touch gloves for the final round of the season, then Elliott fires in a body kick that’s caught. Ogikubo turns it into a takedown but Elliott immediately reverses him and nearly takes the back. Ogikubo is holding on to Elliott’s leg but is eating punches and elbows for his troubles. Ogikubo finally gives up the spot and allows Elliott to climb into side control. Elliott is beginning to take over with harder strikes and positional control. Ogikubo doesn’t have the same ability to explode back to his feet as earlier in the fight, which affords Elliott with the opportunity to take the back and work for a fight-ending rear-naked choke. Ogikubo uses the final bit of his energy to scramble up, and now he’s on Elliott’s back. Elliott stands up and moves toward the fence with Ogikubo on his back. Elliott controls Ogikubo’s hands and prevents him from locking in a choke. Ogikubo gives up the spot with minimal time remaining and they brawl until just before the final bell, where Ogikubo jumps on a guillotine choke but doesn’t have enough time to finish it.

Tim Elliott def. Hiromasa Ogikubo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Elliott is victorious in the tournament final and earns the UFC flyweight title shot against Johnson. He’s mentally and emotionally run down after winning four fights in a matter of weeks but is eager for his chance to fight for UFC gold.

“To get this opportunity is everything; it’s what I’ve worked for this entire time,” Elliott says. “I feel like being in this house, where I didn’t want to be, and putting myself out there in a situation I didn’t want to be in, it paid huge dividends. I put my family through a lot, they stuck by me and I stuck with it. I get what I get and here I am.”

Elliott is awarded “TUF 24” trophy by UFC boss White and reminded he also gets the two Harley Davidson motorcycles. Most importantly, however, he earns the UFC title shot. He meets Johnson inside the octagon for a final staredown before they meet Dec. 3 at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

“Tim just feels like another opponent,” Johnson says. “I’ve been in this game for a very long time, and it’s just another body.”

And with that, “The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions” is a wrap.

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Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FS1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.