Miss the second episode of TUF 31? We got you covered.
Fight Fallout
Team Chandler’s Timur Valiev was supposed to take on Team McGregor’s Trevor Wells in the second bout of this ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season. However, that would soon change early into the episode as Wells was not medically cleared to compete. The 8-3 prospect did make weight but was forced to withdraw because of a cold sore on his cheek.
Michael Chandler had some tough news to share with Timur Valiev #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/9SkWq3hZyl
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 7, 2023
UFC President Dana White spoke to coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler about the unfortunate news and decided to postpone Valiev vs. Wells to another week instead of eliminating Wells.
The Show Must Go On
Taking their place as the first bantamweight bout of the season, former UFC fighter Cody Gibson would be meeting Contender Series alumni Mando Gutierrez.
In the lead-up to the fight, Gutierrez didn’t just cut weight, he also cut the hair of his coach McGregor.
Conor McGregor is really the life of the party 😂🔋 #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/SNPPrkWnrS
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 7, 2023
Gibson Outguns Gutierrez
After successfully making weight at the bantamweight limit, Gibson and Gutierrez would collide inside the Octagon. Both fighters kept it on the feet, slugging it out with strikes. Gibson got the better of Gutierrez in most of their scrappy exchanges and also pressed Gutierrez in the clinch against the cage.
Three minutes into the fight, Gibson executed a perfectly-timed flying knee on Gutierrez which sat him down. ‘The Renegade’ rained down punches and bunches on the grounded Gutierrez to end the fight.
Official result: Cody Gibson defeats Mando Gutierrez via R1 TKO (knee and punches)
Check out the highlights below:
Cody Gibson’s flying knee TKO had Conor speechless 🫢 #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/dywLnlEXCH
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 7, 2023
What a way to end it 👀
— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 7, 2023
Cody Gibson held nothing back in this one #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/NMKjsnusIZ
"It makes me believe in myself."
— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 7, 2023
Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) reacts to his quarterfinal victory on #TUF31 🔊🆙
Read the episode recap here ⬇️:
