Episode 9 of The Ultimate Fighter 34 brings you the coache’s challenge, not to mention the first semi-final of the show.
It’s the women’s strawweights going first, with Melissa Amaya working with Team Cormier (Michael Chiesa is in the forefront, with Cormier not available that day). Amaya, however, injures her lower back in training, telling the camera that it’s an issue she’s had before.
“No, no, no, no, no, this can’t be happening right now. This is the worst timing possible,” says Amaya, who reveals it took two weeks to recover last time her back reacted this way. She feels like her body is failing her. “I’m pissed. It feels like my dream’s being crushed.”
Gigi Canuto is representing Team Bisping, the lone strawweight from Michael Bisping’s team in the semifinal round. Bisping wants his fighter going forward in the bout, and notes that if it goes to the ground, she’s a multi-time BJJ champ.
Canuto is aware that Amaya may be injured, but she’s trying to just focus on herself, in case she gets to the fight and Amaya is 100%.
Then comes the coaches’ challenge, and Daniel Cormier’s knee pops walking into the studio. “Have we ever been more old? Cripple and one eye,” DC jokes. This season’s challenge is fencing, which honestly we already knew thanks to previews. Bisping is tickled pink, while Cormier is beside himself. Dana White points out that Cormier is undefeated in coaches challenges, while Bisping is 1-1.
The winning coach gets $10,000 and each of his fighters will earn $1,500.
Despite Cormier’s reaction, it turns out he’s fenced five times before, back in his Olympic team days. Bisping says he’s always wanted to try it, but never has. “I’m going right for the belly,” Bisping exclaims before they get started.
Cormier draws first blood, so to speak, and his team is elated. They have a double-touch next, so each earn a point. Cormier hits the mark again, and it’s 3-1. Then it’s 4-1. Then 5-1. Bisping, however, mounts a comeback and ties things up, then takes the lead himself. Bisping ends up winning the challenge 15-10, and says the challenge was the most fun he’d had since retiring. Cormier blames his knee. “If my knee was fine, I would have got him. I know I would have got him.”
Amaya’s back luckily loosens up, and we make it to weigh-ins, and the first semi-final of the season.
Melissa Amaya vs. Gigi Canuto
The semi-finals are a three-round format, with a sudden victory fourth round in case of a draw. Amaya comes out firing a high kick, and it seems like both ladies want to ensure a fourth round, or even a second or third, isn’t needed. They’re swinging hard, Amaya with another kick, Canuto with her hands. A third Amaya kick sees Canuto go after a takedown; she doesn’t land the initial attempt but stays on it, getting the fight down. Canuto locks up an arm bar and Amaya rolls with her, finally freeing herself only to be dragged back down once, then twice, then a third time. Amaya winds up on top, but Canuto is tricky off her back, threatening with an arm-bar again. Amaya fires punches but then has to contend with a triangle, then another arm-bar. Dana White questions whether Amaya is double-jointed. “These arm-bars are freaking me out.”
Amaya eventually scrambles free, and starts dropping elbows and punches. Canuto is in a bad spot, but the horn sounds to end the round before Amaya can put her away.
“Her arm’s broken,” Canuto tells her coaches between rounds. If it is, Amaya isn’t showing it. Instead, both ladies come out swinging again in round two. And Amaya has no issue firing with both. Eventually, Canuto has her leg kicked out from under her, and goes down. Amaya gets right on her, dropping punches and elbows. The ref warns Canuto to fight back once, then twice, then finally stops the fight. Melissa Amaya has the TKO finish!
Amaya reveals after the fight that her arm is injured, possibly broken, but she’ll have time off prior to the final.
Next up on TUF 34
Xavier Franklin and Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu face off in the first bantamweight semifinal. Amaya vs. Canuto is going to be a TUF, sorry tough, act to follow.
