Tonight’s episode is titled “Young and Hungry.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to FOX Sports 1 last night (Weds., Sept. 21, 2016) for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 24 combat sports reality show, coached by top flyweight contenders and bitter rivals Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo.
If you missed last week’s episode click here.
Right off the bat we get into Yoni Sherbatov’s fight camp, where the No. 2 seed and soon-to-be father of three “feels pressure” to perform after being seeded so high. In addition to his Taekwondo background, we learn about his proficiencies in both boxing and Greco-Roman Wrestling.
Coach Cejudo wants the 5-0 Russian — who now operates out of Canada and owns his own gym — to use his speed and agility on fight night.
Back at the TUF house, the focus shifts to Eric Shelton (10-2), who dishes some dirt on his personal life. He’s 25 years old, has four kids and calls his decision to try for UFC superstardom a “leap of faith.” FOX rolls the tape of “Showtime” going to church and training in his hometown.
Shelton, ranked No. 15 in the flyweight tournament, is currently training out of Quad Cities, Illinois.
Typically, the end goal for any TUF season is to win a “six-figure contract” with UFC; however, the winner of TUF 24 also gets a shot at reigning flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. With that in mind, UFC President Dana White brings in both teams to watch tape of “Mighty Mouse” destroying both coaches.
Contestant Tim Elliott starts talking shit about Johnson and calls him a non-finisher, perhaps forgetting what just happened to both “Joe Jitsu” and “The Messenger.”
Moving on to the next elimination fight, both Sherbatov and Shelton make weight without incident. White predicts a “great fight” and downplays the disparity in seeds.
Let’s see if he’s right.
Yoni Sherbatov (Team Cejudo) vs. Eric Shelton (Team Benavidez):
Round 1: Quick touch of gloves and we’re off to the races. High kick by Yoni is answered by Shelton. Then a stinging low kick lands for the Russian. Shelton answers. They trade punches and reset. Not a lot of action early on, perhaps too much respect from both sides. Another exchange of fists and nothing significant lands. Low kick by Yoni. Shelton kicks high. Yoni warned for exposed fingers while pawing the jab. Fast shot from Yoni and he takes Shelton down with two minutes to work. Shelton has him wrapped up in guard then explodes out and reverses, right into a guillotine from Yoni. He can’t secure it and Shelton breaks free and now works from top. Yoni muscles his way to his feet and eats a knee on the break. They reset and Yoni once again scores a takedown but Shelton pops right up. Yoni looks tired and Shelton starts stalking. Yoni shoots but get denied at the horn. Close round.
Round 2: Gloves are touched and Shelton stalking. Yoni rushes in and gets popped, then fails on the takedown attempt. Yoni presses forward and eats a knee. High kick from Yoni grazes. Then a low kick followed by a takedown attempt that gets him pushed into the cage. He lifts and dumps Shelton to the floor. After about a minute of scrambling, Shelton works himself free and now has Yoni on his ass, pressed into the fence. Yoni gives up his back and gets choked into unconsciousness.
Final result: Eric Shelton def. Yoni Sherbatov by submission (rear-naked choke)
Here’s where we stand after episode four:
Bracket A
#1 Alexandre Pantoja vs.
#16 Brandon Moreno#8 Terrence Mitchellvs. #9 Kai Kara-France
#5 Hiromasa Ogikubo vs.#12 Nkazimulo Zulu#4 Damacio Pagevs. #13 Adam AntolinBracket B
#2 Yoni Sherbatovvs. #15 Eric Shelton
#7 Ronaldo Candido vs. #10 Jamie Alvarez
#6 Matt Schnel vs. #11 Matt Rizzo
#3 Tim Elliot vs. #14 Charlie Alaniz
Team Cejudo leads 3-2.
Stay tuned next week as No. 7-seed Ronaldo Candido (Team Benavidez) battles No. 10-seed Jamie Alvarez (Team Cejudo).
See you in seven!