A pair of Team Bisping bantamweights were set to face off in Episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter 34 – and that gives Team Cormier some time to have fun.
Illimbek Akylbek Uulu and Xavier Franklin are set for semifinal action, so with the week off, Cormier takes his team mini-golfing. That’s also a primo spread (with most of the team already done, the bulk of the team can eat). The team splits into two, Team Chiesa (with coach Michael Chiesa) and Team DC. Cormier’s team has the low score, but overall, the group has a blast. “This competition is about more than just fighting. It’s about the relationships that you build and you foster over these moments, that will last a lifetime,” notes Cormier.
Blue team coach Michael Bisping, meanwhile, takes both of his fighters aside and gives it to them straight: he’s not running specific game plans, just doing general coaching, to keep it fair. But Illimbek Akylbek Uulu is going to wrestle, he notes. Franklin, meanwhile, is capable of knocking his teammate out. Neither man’s game plan is expected to be much of a surprise.
After a phone call home, we get to weigh-ins. No issues there. We get a face-off, and a hug, and then it’s off to the fight.
Illimbek Akylbek Uulu vs. Xavier Franklin
Round one has some feeling out, with Franklin switching stances once or twice early on, and working his jab. Despite being part of Team Cormier, Artem Belakh, who has trained with Illimbek in the past, is in his corner. Two minutes in, he lands his first takedown. He’s heavy on top, but not the most active, leading his corner to call for damage. With Illimbek in half-guard, Franklin fires punches from the bottom. With under a minute, Franklin finally creates some space and gets to his feet, but he’s carrying his opponent when he does. Illimbek has a body triangle locked in, but they finish the round before he can do much with it.
A quick leg kick by Illimbek opens round two, followed by a takedown attempt. Franklin makes it to the fence, but has Illimbek on his back again. He doesn’t stay there, and winds up slapping Franklin on the back repeatedly, then firing a knee and adding a foot stomp. Illimbek does get the fight down, but he practically drags Franklin down on top of him. Franklin scrambles back up, preferring to fight on the feet. Franklin stuffs the next takedown attempt, but can’t defend as thoroughly against the one that follows. Soon enough, the pair clinch alongside the fence, with ref Herb Dean eventually breaking them up and resetting at center – just moments before the horn.
Heading into the third, Xavier Franklin likely needs a stoppage. His corner tells him as much. Franklin stuffs the first takedown of round three, but Illimbek does not let up. Franklin is able to reverse and break free quicker this time, and starts getting his hands going. Illimbek is beginning to show some damage around his face. Franklin lands several decent shots, though none are finishing blows. He stuffs a takedown, but coming into the final minute his corner is clear: “you need a finish!”
As if on command, Franklin gets one a moment later. He rips the body, and stays on Illimbek. Franklin then throws, and Illimbek bends over, pawing at his eye, motioning that there was an eye poke. Action still going, Franklin hits him again before the ref calls it. It seems like the fight is done, but ref Dean then calls for a video review. They restart the fight, ruling there was an eye poke. Talk about a momentum shift. Franklin rips the body again. Illimbek grabs a leg and lands one final takedown. Bisping and Cormier agree, the fight shouldn’t have been restarted, since the general rule is “protect yourself at all times.” Still, it was, and it’s Illimbek Akylbek Uulu with the decision win.
“I don’t feel like I lost. It’s weird to say. Even though I didn’t get my hand raised, I don’t feel like I lost,” Franklin says following the result.
Next Up on TUF 34
Delphine Benouaich faces Tina Black in the second women’s strawweight semifinal.
