Episode No. 5 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions'

Episode five of “The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions” opens with UFC President Dana White praising the quality of the fights so far this season, noting all five bouts so far have ended in a stoppage.

Team Cejudo holds a 3-2 lead over Team Benavidez through five fights in the competition, but #7 Ronaldo Candido will have the chance to even the score for his team in the next fight against #10 Jaime Alvarez of Team Cejudo.

Candido is the Shooto South America flyweight champion and hails from Brazil. His video package shows clips of him in his home country, where he explains how he grew up in poverty with a troubled family. He comes to tears when discussing his father’s alcoholism but also says he is proud of his entire family and is fighting for them.

Back at the “TUF” house, the athletes are allowed to spend a night watching July’s historic UFC 200 fight card. Candido is a training partner of Jose Aldo, who won the interim UFC featherweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Frankie Edgar.

Alvarez also has a vested interest in the card. He trains at American Top Team in Florida, home of Amanada Nunes, who captured the UFC women’s bantamweight championship from Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC 200.

At the next Team Cejudo training session, Alvarez works on his technique and refines a strategy for the fight. He is the 125-pound titleholder of the Florida-based Absolute Fighting Championship organization, and while he believes in he has a well-rounded game, coach Henry Cejudo implores him to avoid takedowns and keep his fight with Candido standing.

Team Benavidez, however, is confident in Candido’s skillset wherever the fight goes. He might have the superior grappling credentials, but he is confident the fight can be won on the feet, as well.

At the official weigh-in, Candido and Alvarez come in under the 126-pound flyweight limit, and the sixth tournament matchup of the season is official. An intense staredown follows.

Following the weigh-in, the athletes and coaches return to the “TUF” house, where UFC heavyweight Travis Browne is there to greet them on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Along with a UFC flyweight title shot, the winner of “TUF 24” will receive a custom motorcycle as well as a second motorcycle to gift to “someone who inspires” them.

Fight day arrives and the fighters head to the training center to finalize preparations before they step in the octagon for competition.

#7 Ronaldo Candido (6-0) vs. #10 Jaime Alvarez (6-1)

Round 1 – They touch gloves and Alvarez is light on his feet, bouncing around the octagon. Candido stalks him and throws a body kick that is blocked. Alvarez fires back with a head kick that’s also blocked. Candido has the center of the cage and is being the aggressor. Alvarez throws a front kick to keep his opponent at bay then follows with a right hand to the chin that knocks Candido to the floor. Alvarez jumps on him and tries to finish with ground strikes. Candido hangs on and recovers before rolling for a leg lock, which forces Alvarez to get up and try to retreat. Candido chases him, though, and jumps on Alvarez back, dragging him to the floor. Candido is on Alvarez’s back with a body lock in place. Alvarez slowly begins to stand up. He gets to his feet, but Candido is still handing off his back working for the submission. He finds an opening to slide his forearm under Alvarez’s neck and applies the rear-naked choke. Alvarez tries to survive and wiggle free, but the choke is too deep and he is forced to tap out.

Ronaldo Candido def. Jaime Alvarez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1

Candido is very emotional after the fight and bursts into tears when trying to explain the feeling after his performance.

“I’m really, really happy about that,” he says. “I’m a good MMA fighter. Everyone is going to see that.”

Team Benavidez earns its second consecutive victory to complete the comeback on Team Cejudo and tie the competition at 3-3. Candido advances to the quarterfinal round, where he’s slated to fight Team Benavidez teammate #15 Eric Shelton.

With two elimination fights remaining, the next episode will see the third matchup of Bracket B between #6 Matt Schnell of Team Cejudo and #11 Matt Rizzo of Team Benavidez.

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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.