After a week with no fights — instead opting to show an episode where Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and UFC president Dana White discussed memorable moments from the season so far — The Ultimate Fighter 18 returned Wednesday with what was supposed to be two exciting fights.
SPORTSNET.CA blogger Sarah Moras of Team Tate was set to take on Team Rousey’s Peggy Morgan on the women’s side, while Team’s Tate’s Cody Bollinger and Team Rousey’s Anthony Gutierrez were paired up.
However, fans only got to see one of those fights as Bollinger missed weight and was kicked off the show.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch The Ultimate Fighter 18 every Wednesday on Sportsnet 360 and get weekly episode recaps on sportsnet.ca
“I was given enough time, I was given what I needed, I could have made the weight, I just, I don’t know. There’s no excuse. Whatever. I quit,” an emotional Bollinger said.
Bollinger had been struggling with maintaining his weight and didn’t always stick to his diet while in the house.
“You took somebody’s (expletive) lottery ticket and ripped it up,” White told Bollinger in front of both teams at the TUF Gym. “See that door over there? That’s the door you go out right now. Have a good day.”
Bollinger, who typically competes at featherweight (145 pounds), couldn’t cut past 141 pounds and said he broke mentally.
“It’s really disappointing,” Tate said. “I’m not even pissed like if he didn’t make the weight, I’m pissed that he won’t try. So pissed. … It was really hard to see someone let their dreams slip through their fingers.”
Bollinger was the top pick among the male contestants and one of the favourites to win the show.
“I feel sorry for Cody and I feel sorry for his family because that’s what he’s doing it for,” Gutierrez said. “I wish he would have pushed harder and made the weight, but I hope he can learn from it.”
After consulting with the Nedvada State Athletic Commission, White gave Gutierrez the option of rehydrating, cutting the weight again several days later and fighting his teammate Chris Beal, or take the forfeit and move on to the semifinals. Gutierrez chose the latter.
“I’m not crazy about forfeits, but you know what it’s not Anthony’s fault,” White said.
Bollinger is the only fighter to miss weight so far this season.
Moras vs. Morgan
The six-foot-one Morgan, who’s a mother and college professor, used her length to land a stiff jab early, but Kelowna, B.C.’s Moras answered with a jab of her own that bloodied Morgan’s nose.
As the two feinted and gauged distance, Moras shot in for a takedown and pressed her opponent against the cage, looking to impose her will with her strong grappling game.
Moras got a takedown midway through the round and controlled Morgan for over a minute before advancing into mount, landing solid elbows before locking in an armbar and forcing the tap.
Fight selection
The semifinal bouts were announced and surprisingly Rousey and Tate, who have butted heads all season, agreed on the majority of the matchups.
On the women’s side, Sarah Moras will go up against her Team Tate teammate Julianna Pena, while Canadian Jessica Rakoczy of Team Rousey meets Team Tate’s Raquel Pennington.
On the men’s side, Team Rousey’s Michael Wootten meets Team Tate’s Chris Holdsworth, plus Rousey’s Davey Grant faces his teammate
On the next episode
The semifinals get underway as British brawler Wootten takes on jiu-jitsu specialist Holdsworth with the winner moving on to the live finale.
