The third episode of the season featured the first Team Rousey vs. Team Tate male fight: Chris Beal vs. Chris Holdsworth.
Holdsworth advanced to the next round of the tournament with a first-round guillotine finish after dropping Beal with a straight right.
The pair were two of the top fighters in the competition. Team Tate selected Holdsworth to go up against Beal due to his lingering hand injury. They felt that it was the opportune time to take out Rousey‘s top pick, and that proved to be the right call. There was a little more in-house focus this week prior to the fight as well.
- Beal said early on in the episode his gameplan was to stick and move. He did not follow that strategy.
- The Prestone Keys to Victory is a welcome addition to the show.
- Holdsworth did an excellent job on the feet. He got off first, established his distance and did not allow for Beal to utilize his biggest weapon. His striking improvement will make him one of the favorites to win it all this season.
- Beal’s movement was awkward at times. It could have been that he is not used to backing up, but it could be that he just needs to improve.
- “That’s what you get for eating biscuits for breakfast,” said Team Tate nutritionist Eric Triliegi following the result. I don’t know what that means, but it made me laugh.
| Team Rousey | Team Tate |
| Julianna Pena | |
| Jessamyn Duke | Sarah Moras |
| Peggy Morgan | Raquel Pennington |
| Jessica Rakoczy | Roxanne Modafferi |
| Cody Bollinger | |
| David Grant | Chris Holdsworth |
| Anthony Gutierrez | Josh Hill |
| Michael Wootten | Louis Fisette |
‘The Ultimate Fighter 18‘ episode three
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If a butterfat milkshake makes Julianna act like that I think everyone would support a ban on the product. Ms. Pena did not come off the best in this episode. Her housemates are not the only ones tiring of her so quickly in the competition.
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There has been quite a bit of negative reaction to Rousey thus far this season, but as B/R’s Riley Kontek has stated it is largely unjustified. The passion she has, and the care she puts into this as a coach is phenomenal. It’s awesome to watch.
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It is interesting how Team Tate has immediately gone after Julianna so early in the season. It has mostly been the males, but it isn’t great to have team friction so early on.
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There was a lot of speculation about Miesha Tate as a coach heading into the season, and thus far the early episodes have shown her as a really good coach. She has a very good supporting cast as well, but she comes off as the unquestioned leader.
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The two clips of the coaches training their respective fighters for this episode’s fight showed a distinct difference in athleticism. It gives a glimpse into one of the biggest differences between the two coaches.
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The confrontation of the coaches at Red Rock did not come off well for anyone besides Bryan Caraway. It could be how it was edited, but Caraway appeared to be minding his own business before being bombarded by the mess. Neither of the coaches came off well in the segment.
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The guys ridiculing and making fun of Julianna’s letter to Chris Holdsworth was mind-numbingly stupid.
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Miesha Tate selects Roxanne Modafferi to take on Jessica Rakoczy in a classic grappler vs. striker matchup for next week. Who will win? Vote in the poll.
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