Episode No. 7 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption'

Episode No. 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption” opens with the focus on Team Dillashaw’s Joe Stevenson, who meets Team Garbrandt’s Justin Edwards later in the episode in the seventh tournament bout.

Stevenson was on “TUF 2,” and as the top overall pick, he ran the table to the tournament final. There, he defeated Luke Cummo by unanimous decision to become just the third winner of the reality series, marking the start of a long and successful UFC career.

Over the course of his 16-fight tenure with the organization, Stevenson defeated the likes of Nate Diaz, Gleison Tibau, Melvin Guillard and Yves Edwards. His most high profile moment, however, came at UFC 80 in January 2008, when he faced UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn for the lightweight title.

The fight with Penn didn’t go according to plan for Stevenson. He suffered one of the most gruesome cuts in UFC history and covered the octagon with blood before eventually succumbing to a second-round submission. “Daddy” was never quite the same after that fight.

Although Stevenson earned some notable wins in the following years, he eventually dropped four consecutive UFC bouts from 2010-2011. That spelled the end of his nearly six-year run with the promotion, but life didn’t get any easier once he parted ways.

Stevenson lost his next two fights outside of the UFC, bringing his losing skid to six overall. Moreover, Stevenson was battling alcohol abuse but said he’s now been sober for more than four years and wants to see what he’s capable of with his new lease on life.

“To me the redemption (season of ‘TUF’) is showing what I can do sober,” Stevenson says. “I’m here to do this for myself, to help my boys see no matter what happens in life, that chance can still be there and you can still work hard and still obtain your goals. People get one opportunity. I’m getting two. It’s breathtaking.”

Stevenson has an opportunity to become the first two-time “TUF” winner and says the key to beating Edwards is simply using his veteran experience and imposing his will on his opponent.

Edwards didn’t have quite the same level of success in the UFC as Stevenson, but after eventual “TUF 13” winner Tony Ferguson eliminated from his season, he spent seven fights with the promotion.

He lost five of those fights, though, with his most notable win being a 45-second submission of Josh Neer at UFC on FX 5 in October 2012. After that, though, he dropped three consecutive bouts and was released.

“The UFC’s just tough, and it’s cutthroat,” Edwards says. “If you’re not winning, you’re gone, and that’s the cold, hard truth about it. I know the competition is tough, and I know a lot of guys that want it. I don’t think there’s anyone that wants it more than me.

Weigh-ins for the fight take place, and both Stevenson and Edwards come in under the required 171-pound welterweight limit, making the seventh tournament fight official. A friendly staredown between the fighters takes place.

Fight day arrives, and the athletes are ready for the bout. With Team Dillashaw holding a monstrous 6-0 lead in the competition, Stevenson looks to complete the sweep. Edwards will hope to get a win on the board for Team Garbrandt. Both fighter finalize preparations with their coaches backstage at the “TUF” gym, and finally, the competition continues.

Team Dillashaw’s Joe Stevenson (33-16) vs. Team Garbrandt’s Justin Edwards (9-5)

Round 1 – Stevenson lands a pair of jabs to open the fight. Edwards is firing back with multi-strike combinations but walks into the clinch. They break, and Edwards lands an uppercut that backs up Stevenson. Edwards is landing combinations, and Stevenson chooses to close the distance and clinch. Edwards breaks away, though, and continues to tag Stevenson with short hooks. Stevenson goes back to the jab and sticks a few to Edwards’ face. Edwards controls the center of the octagon and tees off with a number of strikes that land. Stevenson looks to clinch again but eats a pair of knees to the face for his trouble. He pushes Edwards against the fence, and Edwards grabs his neck to drop down for a guillotine. He can’t finish, and Stevenson escapes into top position. Edwards quickly uses the fence to stand back up and get free. Edwards is now landing his jab, but Stevenson is moving forward. Stevenson lands two leg kicks, but Edwards is attacking with much more volume and landing the better blows. Stevenson shoots in for another takedown and briefly grounds Edwards. The fighters return to their feet, though, and the striking exchanges resume until the end of the round.

Round 2 – Stevenson opens with leg kicks, but Edwards tags him with the counter-jab coming in. Stevenson attempts to change levels for a takedown, but Edwards defends well as he’s back into the cage. Stevenson holds the position and throws inside knees before Edwards spins and breaks free into open space. Edwards lands a wild flurry of strikes, which includes punches, knees and a kick. Stevenson absorbs it all and grins at his opponent before coming back with a combination of his own. Stevenson takes over as the aggressor, but Edwards is still landing the better blows on the counter. Edwards changes strategy and changes levels into a takedown, and this time Stevenson grabs the neck and drops down for a guillotine choke. Edwards attempts to establish top control, but Stevenson kicks him off and stands back up. Stevenson shoots for his takedown and gets ahold of a leg. Edwards grabs the neck for another guillotine with just over one minute remaining. Stevenson fights off the grip and pops his head free. Edwards stands up and lands a pair of kicks on an exhausted and retreating Stevenson. Stevenson shoots in for another takedown, but it’s thwarted by Edwards.

Justin Edwards def. Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision

After dropping six consecutive fights to open the season, Team Garbrandt finally registers its first win courtesy of Edwards.

“It’s been a long season; it was our first win,” Coach Cody Garbrandt says. “I was able to pick it up with our last pick, and I’m excited for my team, and I’m excited for Justin.”

With the initial seven opening-round fights complete, one spot in the quarterfinal round remains. It will be filled by the winner of a “wild card” fight, which will pit two eliminated fighters against each other to determine who returns to the competition.

UFC President Dana White, along with coaches Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw, gather to discuss which two fighters will fill the slot. Both sides lay out their arguments, but with the final decision, White determines Team Dillashaw’s Stevenson will fight Team Garbrandt’s Hayder Hassan.

Although Hassan is thrilled about receiving another opportunity, the remainder of Team Garbrandt is frustrated by the decision to give Stevenson another chance after he just lost.

Nevertheless, the matchup is made official as Stevenson and Hayder have a staredown before the episode comes to a close.

Also see:

• Episode No. 1 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’
• Episode No. 2 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’
• Episode No. 3 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’
• Episode No. 4 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’
• Episode No. 5 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’
• Episode No. 6 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption’

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FS1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.