It’s fairly common for mixed martial artists to develop bad blood towards one another as they prepare for a fight, but that certainly wasn’t the case on episode four of The Ultimate Fighter 18.
Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy and Team Tate’s Roxanne Modafferi are two of the most likeable competitors on TUF 18, have already become fan favourites, and had mutual respect for one another heading into their fight.
Rakoczy, originally from Hamilton, Ont., but now living and training in Las Vegas, is a former world boxing champion. At 36, she is the oldest competitor on this season of TUF yet she is one of the least experienced in terms of MMA competition.
Meanwhile, the unassuming Modafferi is considered a pioneer in the world of women’s MMA with wins over former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen and former multiple-organization champ Tara LaRosa.
Watch The Ultimate Fighter 18 every Wednesday on Sportsnet 360 and get weekly episode recaps on sportsnet.ca
As a single mother, Rakoczy has taken on the matriarchal role in the house much to delight of her fellow contestants.
“We all love Jessica. She takes care of us. We have to love her or we’d all fall apart,” Shayna Baszler said of her teammate.
Modafferi has become a source of inspiration for every fighter on the show with her infectious personality.
“My nickname is the Happy Warrior because I always try to be positive and look on the bright side of things,” said Modafferi, who has lived in Japan for eight years teaching English.
Despite the mutual admiration, Modafferi and Rakoczy put on a show in their attempt to reach the semi-finals of the women’s tournament.
THE FIGHT
In a classic striker versus grappler matchup, Rakoczy, who hurt her shoulder in her win to get into the house, started out by looking to strike but Modafferi timed a takedown perfectly.
Despite being relatively new to the ground game, Rakoczy was active off her back and eventually reversed the position. She quickly found herself in an arm bar, but managed to fight out of it.
The two got back to their feet for a short time before Modafferi took Rakoczy down again and finished the round on top.
As the second round began, Rakoczy dropped her opponent with a counter left hook while moving backwards and it put Modafferi in survival mode. Rakoczy rocked her again with a second left hook and then landed several big knees to Modaferri’s head.
“My movement in boxing has helped me get out of the way of kicks or takedowns,” Rakoczy told sportsnet.ca before the show aired. “Being able to move on my feet is definitely an asset to me.”
While inside Modafferi’s guard, Rakoczy picked her up and slammed her down to the ground hard. Rakoczy then landed several solid punches to a rocked Modafferi before the referee stepped in.
The big slam was very reminiscent of when Modafferi was knocked out by Canadian Sarah Kaufman in Strikeforce.
“I feel relieved to finally have my fight, but it’s bittersweet because she’s my roommate and she’s my friend now, but she was trying to break my arm and break my face, so I had to do what I had to do,” Racoszky said.
Modafferi let out a huge scream in disappointment as she was on her back being looked at by the cageside physician.
“It wasn’t my day. She’s very good, very strong … and I’ll just have to keep working hard to perfect my technique,” Modafferi said.
Following the stoppage, Racoszky displayed her motherly tendencies by comforting her opponent.
“You’ve got to be strong from this,” Racoszky told Modafferi. “The hard stuff is what makes you a champion.”
UFC president Dana White was impressed with Racoszky’s performance.
“Jessica stayed out of her submissions and was hitting her with big shots,” White said.
Ronda Rousey added: “I’m super proud of Jessica and now we’re more motivated.”
OUTSIDE THE OCTAGON
The episode began with the two teams confronting one another in the hallways of the TUF Gym. Rousey’s assistant coach Edmond Tarverdyan and Dennis Hallman – a former UFC lightweight and welterweight that was a guest coach with Miesha Tate’s squad – looked as if they were about to fight but the two were separated.
“Our team we’re not just talk,” Rousey said.
Team Tate pits men vs. women
In order to switch things up in their training session, Tate had her fighters spar with teammates of the opposite sex.
“I have sparred in the past with a couple girls and do I like it? Not really because I don’t want to hit a girl hard like I can a guy, but at the same time they’re professionals, they’re fighters so they’ll take it and get right back to you too,” Canadian Josh Hill said.
Canadians Louis Fisette and sportsnet.ca’s TUF 18 blogger Sarah Moras were paired off and things got a bit intense.
“I took her down once and I laid a good beating on her,” Winnipeg’s Fisette said.
Moras seemed to enjoy the experience, adding, “It definitely opens up your eyes a bit and brings us closer as a team.”
Fight Selection
With Racoszky’s win, Team Rousey regained control of fight selection and chose for England’s David Grant to take on Fisette in the second men’s bout of the season.
On the next episode
In order to generate some extra inspiration for her team, Rousey invites her mother, a former world judo champion, to be a guest coach at practice; several fighters struggle with keeping their weight down as the tournament progresses; and Fisette faces Grant.
