The Ultimate Fighter
Episode 12 Recap | The Ultimate Fighter Season 31
Catch Up On Everything That Happened On The Ninth Episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Chandler.
After TUF | Episode 12: The Ultimate Fighter Season 31
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After TUF | Episode 12: The Ultimate Fighter Season 31
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PREVIOUSLY ON THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER
After his quarterfinal win, Cody Gibson learned the severity of his knee injury, but vowed to remain in the competition.
RECAP PREVIOUS EPISODES OF TUF: Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11
In the final quarterfinal bout, Rico DiSciullo made sure that Team McGregor didn’t get swept out of the competition, upsetting UFC alum Hunter Azure with a second-round stoppage win.
And in the first bantamweight semifinal matchup, TUF 27 winner Brad Katona continued his quest to become the first competitor to win the series twice, edging out Timur Valiev by split decision to punch his ticket to this weekend’s finale at UFC 292.
Now, it’s all come down to this: Gibson and DiSciullo go toe-to-toe to see who will face off with Katona on Saturday in Boston.
It’s the final episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler!
UFC APEX
DiSciullo goes through preparations for his fight with GIbson, getting in a practice session with McGregor, who speaks highly about the one and only member of his squad to register an opening round win. The former two-division UFC champion predicts another finish for DiSciullo, who he believes is better than Gibson in every facet.
RECAP EVERYTHING HAPPENING ON TUF
The Massachusetts native talks about the matchup with Gibson, detailing some of the elements he’s been working on with McGregor that he believes will be effective in this fight, citing activity and volume as the keys to his success.
He acknowledges Gibson’s experience and admits it’s going to be a difficult fight, but that’s exactly what he’s looking for in order to get to the finals.
TUF HOUSE
Chandler rolls into the house for a crawfish boil and some pickleball with all the fighters in the house, with Jason Knight, Carlos Vera, and Kurt Holobaugh looking to share the southern delicacy with all the athletes.
Everybody hangs out, dives into some crawfish, and has a good time hanging out as an entire unit.
OUT ON THE TOWN
McGregor takes his team to dinner at Green Valley Ranch.
Vera offers a toast to all the coaches and McGregor, thanking them for everything they’ve imparted on the hopefuls over these weeks together in Las Vegas. Everyone tucks into a steak, a sip of Proper No. 12, and McGregor hands out $1,000 worth of chips for everyone to use in the casino.
UFC APEX
Gibson rolls into the facility for his own fight prep, speaking with Chandler about the contest while acknowledging that he’s somewhat compromised by his knee injury.
In a solo sit down, Chandler says there is big pressure on Gibson to take out the last remaining Team McGregor original and make it an all-veteran finale, though he doesn’t share those thoughts with his charge.
The veteran talks about knowing how to use his range and working behind his jab, which is a simple, but under-utilized, piece in the game. The plan is to close the distance and make this a grind, but it’ll be interesting to see if Gibson can implement that strategy against the powerful DiSciullo.
TUF HOUSE
Chandler, Jason Strout, and Bob Cook come through, meeting with Gibson as he gets a shake-out in in the backyard.
Katona and Gibson get into a little back-and-forth in the kitchen, with the former feeling like he’s picked on and the latter suggesting no one likes the Canadian finalist. Gibson admits in a confessional interview that there is a little bit of mind games to it, believing he’ll face Katona in the finale, while the former TUF winner takes it all in stride, saying it’s all things he’s heard before, many times.
WEIGH-INS
The Team Chandler representative is first to the scale, coming in at 135.5 pounds. DiSciullo follows him, hitting 136 pounds, making the fight official.
Dana White lays out the broader points of the matchup, citing DiSciullo’s win over Azure as a potential confidence booster for the Team McGregor man, while referencing Gibson’s superior experience as something that can definitely work in his favor when the two men step into the Octagon.
RELATED: All TUF 31 Recaps, Coaches Interviews, And More
TUF HOUSE
Gibson calls home to his wife and kids, his face lighting up and tears filling his eyes. He admits being away has been harder than he anticipated, while his wife offers him tons of encouragement to keep pushing forward.
DiSciullo has his call with his family, calling it a “re-charge” to connect with them and get an update from home.
FIGHT DAY
It’s time for the final semifinal matchup.
Gibson rolls into the building in full wrestler style — sweats tucked into his socks, Team Chandler jersey tucked into his sweats, getting respect for the choice from his coach. DiSciullo strides in confidently, and both men get loose in the back with their teams.
They both make the walk and now it’s time to find out who is going forward to face Katona in the finale on Saturday at UFC 292.
Cody Gibson vs. Rico DiSciullo
Cody Gibson is through to the finals after a dominant finish of Rico DiSciullo.
The Team McGregor man looked sharp in the initial exchanges, but a slip 30 seconds in gave Gibson the opportunity to climb on his back, and the Team Chandler fighter took full advantage, pummeling DiSciullo while flowing from one dominant position to another before clamping onto an arm-triangle choke to secure the tap just before the opening round expired.
Cody Gibson Reacts To His Semi-Final Win | The Ultimate Fighter Season 31
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Cody Gibson Reacts To His Semi-Final Win | The Ultimate Fighter Season 31
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This was a one-sided mauling once it hit the canvas, and now Gibson and Katona will get the chance to settle their grievances inside the Octagon in Boston.
Official Result: Cody Gibson defeats Rico DiSciullo by submission (arm-triangle choke) in the first round
After eight years, the 35-year-old Gibson gets the opportunity to compete on the UFC stage again, with the chance to make good on his promise to his wife that he’ll win the whole thing.
He thanks Chandler and the coaches for all they’ve done throughout the season, and Chandler admits he’s got a soft spot for the bantamweight finalist.
DiSciullo laments the slip and the missed opportunity, with he and McGregor talking about how it could have gone if things didn’t play out the way they did.
The coaches and the finalists join White inside the cage for a pair of face-offs, with Austin Hubbard and Kurt Holobaugh smiling and shaking hands ahead of their lightweight finals’ matchup, while Gibson and Katona get a little closer to one another, with a lot more animosity and intensity showing through as Gibson gets up in Katona’s face.
McGregor and Chandler then face off, with White saying that the Irishman will be returning, and it’ll come against Chandler.
And with that, Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter is in the books!
