Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez meet in this season’scoaches’ challenge. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com
This week’s episode focuses on the first quarterfinal fight of theseason between
FeliceHerrig and
RandaMarkos.
RoseNamajunas talks about the bittersweetness of being the onlymember of Team Melendez to make it through the opening round. Theteam celebrates Namajunas’ victory by drinking some alcohol,
AngelaMagana and
BecRawlings in particular. The shenanigans turn into a slumberparty, which upsets
TeciaTorres, who is trying to sleep. She officially moves intoanother room with
LisaEllis.
AnthonyPettis discusses how training is different now that seven ofhis team members have advanced and are still training with oneanother. Pettis has decided to step back and will not corner anyonebut
JoanneCalderwood.
Herrig looked at the bracket ahead of time and was aware that, ifshe advanced, she would end up fighting Markos. This is why shetried to avoid training with her during the leadup to thequarterfinals.
CarlaEsparza suggests to the coaches that the women who are fightingagainst each other should spar at different times of the day. Theteam votes and they decide on alternating between day and nightsessions, so that no advantages are gained.
This year’s coaches’ challenge will take place in a game showformat based on the two coaches’ knowledge of the UFC. The choiceto not do a physical challenge is because of Pettis’ injured knee.The winning coach takes home $10,000 and each of his team membersreceives $1,500.
After three rounds of trivia,
GilbertMelendez defeats Pettis by a score of 1,800-0 to win thisseason’s coaches challenge.
Markos discusses the toughness of Herrig. She is prepared for astandup battle, but she hopes to take the fight to the ground andnullify Herrig’s work inside the clinch.
After a couple training sessions in the new arrangement, Torres,Markos and Calderwood feel as if they are being cheated out ofpractice time. The coaches approach the topic again, but the girlsthat originally wanted to be separated take offense.
The situation explodes later in the evening at the house. Thehighlight of the argument is Herrig calling Markos a “coward.” Thenext day, Esparza confronts Markos in the van regarding attendingtheir training session, which breaks the agreement that was inplace.
Weigh-ins become heated when, during the staredown, Herrig blows abubble with her gum that Markos pops. It seems as if they both arein each other’s head a bit. The other girls in the house considerthe theatrics a sign of weakness on Herrig’s part.
The fight opens up slowly, with Markos doing as she said, closingthe distance and avoiding the clinch. The moment that she opens upa bit by throwing a flurry of punches, Herrig takes advantage andpresses the fight against the cage. Markos manages to turn thetides and presses Herrig against the cage, and Herrig throws kneesto the gut. The pair grapple around the fence before Herrig tripsMarkos and winds up on top. Markos manages to get back to her feet.After a moment of grappling, Markos takes Herrig to the ground withan explosive takedown. Markos immediately gets in position for anarmlock and forces the submission from Herrig.
After the fight, Esparza makes it known that she hopes to fightMarkos in the future. Herrig doesn’t say anything negative aboutMarkos in the post-fight interview, giving her opponent credit forwhat she accomplished.
Next week’s episode will revolve around
AislingDaly and
JessicaPenne.
