Another new week, another new episode for Season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) tonight (Tues., June 15, 2021) on ESPN+, beginning promptly at 9 p.m. ET, coached by UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and top 145-pound contender Brian Ortega.
Who clearly don’t like one another.
Last week saw Team Ortega extend its lead to 2-0 thanks to Liudvik Sholinian, who out-grinded first-overall-pick Mitch Raposo. It falls to Ryder Newman to get his team on the board against striking specialist Tresean Gore.
The current lineups:
TEAM VOLKANOVSKI
Bantamweights: Mitch Raposo, Dustin Lapros, Ricky Turcios, Brady Hiestand
Middleweights: Ryder Newman, Gilbert Urbina, Aaron Phillips, Bryan Battle
TEAM ORTEGA
Bantamweights: Dan Argueta, Liudvik Sholinian, Josh Rettinghouse, Vince Murdock,
Middleweights: Andre Pretoski, Tresean Gore, Miles Hunsinger, Kemran Lachinov
We start in the house, where Raposo’s not taking his loss terribly well. On the other side, Team Ortega crashes Sholinian’s interview to shower him in compliments. Coach Ortega is confident they can keep the momentum going.
Over to Newman’s fight prep. He explains how he chose to fight Gore on account of Gore being Team Ortega’s best, claiming that his own wrestling prowess is the best way to beat him. He also describes the origin of his nickname, “Rhino.”
Volkanovski agrees that Newman has the right style to win, and Newman makes his gameplan here.
Back to the house, where Gore and teammate Miles Hunsinger open their hearts to one another. We get to see his home video, which features his wife, son, and adorable dog, while he talks about his life story and introduction to MMA as a teenager. He currently trains at ATT Dhiego Lima, and looking at his dominant performances in his fight tape, they seem to be a good fit.
In the present day, Gore’s coaches and teammates dismiss Newman’s abilities but urge him to be patient. Ortega wants him to lead the dance, including takedowns if the situation arises. The training footage focuses heavily on his low kicks, which feels like heavy-handed foreshadowing from where I’m sitting.
Gore and Newman have a chat in the house, wherein Gore assures Newman that Hunsinger, Newman’s professional teammate, hasn’t shared any private information. The pair have a respectful discussion and shake hands, showing there’s zero bad blood.
Time for Newman’s home video. He shows off his cleaning business in Vegas, which his assistants help run while he trains at Xtreme Couture. He’s got some considerable wrestling accolades, which fits in with his undisguised gameplan.
Weigh-in day. Gore has to strip to make 186, while Newman hits 185.5 with his shorts on.
The “Ultimate Fighter Flashback” fills some space with Uriah Hall’s annihilation of Adam Cella. Once that’s done, Gore and Newman have some good-natured back-and-forth the night before fight day.
Time for violence.
Middleweight Quarterfinal: Ryder Newman (Team Volkanovski) vs. Tresean Gore (Team Ortega)
Round one: Exchanging kicks to start. Gore steadily advancing, lands a cracking leg kick. Counter right from Newman. Gore tries a head kick a minute in. More pressure, nasty leg kicks. Two minutes in. Newman fakes a shot. Gore continuing to chew up the lead leg. Newman tries a double jab. Two minutes to go.
Newman content to keep circling and try to potshot, which isn’t working out for him. Another Gore leg kick met by a right hand. One minute to go. Gore shoots, denied, eats a left on the break. Newman answers with a shot of his own and puts him on the fence. He re-shoots and gets in deep, but still can’t complete it. 10-9 Gore.
Round two: Back to the same situation as before, Gore advancing and Newman circling. Newman lands a counter right, eats a leg kick. One minute in. Hard low kick from Gore. Newman makes a good entry on a blast double and takes him to the fence. Gore denies it and separates. Two minutes in. Both try right crosses. Sneaky head kick from Gore. Gore answers a low kick with a right hand down the pipe that knocks Newman back. Two minutes to go.
Good combo by Gore and he stuffs a shot near the fence. Head kick attempt, leg kicks land. One minute to go. Stiff jabs from Gore. Newman goes hard for a reactive shot and comes up well short. 10-9 Gore.
Final result: Gore def. Newman by unanimous decision
That’s 3-0 for Team Ortega. Gore vows to put his next opponent away, while Newman explains how he overestimated Gore and came out overly hesitant as a result.
Volkanovski still has fight control, so he elects to send corny Bantamweight Dustin Lampros against Contender Series veteran Vince Murdock.
The next episode promises some strife between the judges, which the first few episodes have been rather light on. We’ll see how that goes.
Same time next week!