Episode two is titled “Eat some souls.”
Episode two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): “Redemption” was back on FOX Sports 1 last night (Weds., April 26, 2017), featuring a cast of ex-TUF guys trying to redeem themselves and earn another crack at UFC superstardom under the tutelage of head coaches Cody Garbrandt and TJ Dillashaw.
If you missed last week’s episode click here for our complete recap.
We kick things off with the fight announcement for Team Garbrandt’s Eddie “Truck” Gordon (TUF 19), who trains out of Serra-Longo, and Team Dillashaw’s Tom “Da Tank” Gallicchio (TUF 23), training out of Team Quest.
They’ll go head-to-head in welterweight elimination at the end of the episode.
And of course, we get some more slap fighting between Garbrandt and Dillashaw. Assistant coach Urijah Faber gets involved this time and there is lots of bleeping, which means a ton of profanity from both sides.
Matt Brown can be seen clomping around in the back just begging for this thing to erupt.
We get a closer look at the Jamaican-born Gordon, who actually won season 19, but failed to impress in follow-up fights and got cut from the roster. Now he’s back — which means leaving his four sons at home — feeling older and wiser and ready to prove there’s still some diesel in this “Truck.”
We shall see.
Team Dillashaw hits the town to celebrate Dhiego Lima’s birthday and he pigged out like it was his birthday or something. Tom Gallicchio had a big steak with rice even though he’s prepping to fight Gordon.
“Da Tank” is a talented grappler (and a candy machine vendor) who was bounced from season 22 by Marcin Wrzosek. Since that time, he’s been struggling to pay the bills and underwent two major surgeries on his shoulder and foot.
No where to go but up (or back to the candy store).
Even though it’s being billed as striker (Gordon) vs. grappler (Gallicchio), “Truck” reminds viewers he is a high-level wrestler. Coach Dillashaw is unimpressed and says Gordon has nothing but a big right hand. Both fighters make the welterweight limit without incident.
170 lbs.: Team Garbrandt’s Eddie Gordon (8-4) vs. Team Dillashaw’s Tom Gallicchio (19-9)
Round 1: Gallicchio sticks his mitt out but Gordon refuses to touch gloves. Fight is on. They meet in the center of the cage and exchange hands. Gordon lands cleaner and with more power. Gallicchio not afraid to return fire. Some bobbing and weaving and Gallicchio gets clipped. Then again. Coach Dillashaw calls for chain wrestling and all that does is get Gallicchio punched in the head. Then he swallows another. Coach Garbrandt tells Gordon to commit to the right. He doesn’t and eats a low kick. Gallicchio shoots in and gets a single leg takedown and Gordon is immediately in trouble. Gallicchio working from side control and Gordon gives up his back like it’s for sale in one of Gallicchio’s candy machines. The rear-named choke comes about a minute later.
Final result: Gallicchio def. Gordon via submission
Here’s where we stand after episode two:
Team Garbrandt
Seth Baczynski
Mehdi BaghdadEddie Gordon
Hayder Hassan
Julian Lane
Justin Edwards
Johnny Nunez
Team Dillashaw
James Krause
Jesse Taylor
Ramsey Nijem
Dhiego Lima
Joe Stevenson
Tom Gallicchio
Gilbert Smith
Team Dillashaw leads Team Garbrandt 2-0.
After the fight, Gordon mopes around the locker room and gets yelled at by assistant coach Danny Castillo for not fighting the hands during the submission. “Truck” vows to come back while Gallicchio plans an expensive night out with his girlfriend.
Stay tuned next week as Jesse Taylor (Team Dillashaw) fights Medhi Bagdad (Team Garbrandt).
See you in seven!