After beating Landon Quinones last week, Jason Knight tells him to be well-rounded, and gives him some advice. “Never take someone down if you know they have better jiu-jitsu then you,” he tells Quinones, who intends to go back and work on that aspect of his game.
It’s a pretty cool moment between opponents who just fought — being completely civil and supportive of each other. Not a side of fighting a lot of fans often get, and a reminder that The Ultimate Fighter still has something to offer fight fans.
We’re recapping every episode of TUF 31 this season — if you haven’t caught this week’s episode and are looking to stay spoiler-free, turn back now.
There’s one fight left in the opening round, and Conor McGregor’s team, comprised entirely of rookies, is 0-7 against Michael Chandler’s rookies. That sees McGregor bantamweight Rico DiSciullo paired up with Hunter Azure.
Conor works on the clinch game with DiSciullo early in the episode, then move to some striking drills. “Technique first, speed second, and power is in the back pocket,” McGregor tells his students.
We take a look at Azure’s home life, and his work at Fight Ready, where he coaches amateurs. “To win this show would mean the world to me. There’s no option but to win.” Azure came into the UFC by way of the Contender Series, and was splitting wins and losses, with the UFC opting not to renew his deal after a loss to Jack Shore in 2021.
Weigh-in day goes off without a hitch. “Rico is the last man standing for the prospects and the Team McGregor’s only hope to avoid a historic sweep, which would be the first time that has ever happened in Ultimate Fighter history,” observes UFC President Dana White.
Fight time. A quick start to DiSciullo versus Azure sees exchange after fiery exchange in the opening minute or two. When Azure takes the fight to the fence, DiSciullo batters him with hammer fists, but Azure completes the takedown. He nearly mounts, basically a three-quarter mount, which allows him to score some ground n’ pound. DiSciullo would get back up, only to be taken down again. This time, Azure goes to work on top with DiSciullo closing his guard at times. Azure moves to half-guard, but DiScuillo uses the fence to scramble out. Azure takes him right back down again, and piles on with more ground n’ pound finishing strong.
“Find that uppercut,” McGregor tells DiScuillo between rounds. “Phenomenal,” Chandler tells Azure.
DiSciullo stays well outside early in the second, staying long with his strikes to avoid the takeodwn. The opening minute sees DiSciullo land several nasty shots, but want happens next turns out to be one of the best finishes of the season. DiSciullo drops Azure with a right hand, then falls to his knees to deliver a smashing double-hammer fist! McGregor immediately erupts, running around the outside of the cage, while Azure looks completely out of it.
Roosevelt Roberts and McGregor then get into a bit of a shouting match, but it goes nowhere. After that, it’s time to look at the next round of match-ups, and Team McGregor is pulling for Rico to fight Timur Valiev. Dana White will set the final Ultimate Fighter 31 semifinal match-ups (we’ll get them next week); McGregor, meanwhile, lets DiSciullo drive his Lamborghini, a little celebration for a job well done.
