The Ultimate Fighter returned for the most hyped fight of the season to date.
The promos leading to this week’s episode were everywhere, and Fox and the UFC were adamant that this was the can’t miss fight of the season. The fight certainly delivered quality action. Raquel Pennington defeated Jessamyn Duke via decision to advance to the next round of the tournament.
The fight took up the majority of the episode, so there was not much else going on, but there was still enough to fill out the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good:
- Pennington got to talk more about coming out and how it affected her family. It is important to showcase these things in the current state of athletics, and Pennington deserves a lot of credit for talking about it in such a setting.
- There has been some tension between the coaches at previous outings, but this time they minded their own business. Everyone thanks them.
- Jessamyn stayed home from the party, and that level of dedication deserves a tip of the cap. There is nothing wrong with going, as Rocky did, but the control to deny going out on the eve of a fight is certainly good to see from high-level athletes.
- Also good? The fact that with such a good fight, nearly the entire episode was built around it. The Hooters party and dress-up were just about the only thing not surrounding Duke vs. Pennington.
- There isn’t much to be said about the fight that hasn’t already through social media and the promos. It was fantastic. Two good fighters in a competitive fight filled with action. That is what we all want from these type of fights, and they delivered.
The Bad:
- Giving Sarah Moras and Rocky Pennington a makeover may have seemed like a good idea on paper to Julianna Peña, but it should have stayed on paper. She is not a skilled makeup artist by any stretch.
- Anthony Gutierrez decided to be loud and wake up Pennington on the eve of her fight. Not only is it inconsiderate, but it is downright disrespectful in the setting they are in. There was a lot on the line for Pennington, and she shouldn’t have had to deal with Gutierrez on the night before her fight.
The Ugly:
- Apparently Cody Bollinger decided to wear Moras’ shorts for training. No, Cody, no. I cannot unsee.
- I’m putting the hype both pre- and post-show on my list of the ugly. Sure, it was a great fight, but it was totally unfair to the ladies. There were comparisons to Griffin-Bonnar, saying it was the best female fight ever, and that it would have a long lasting impact well after the show. That is just unfair to the fighters and the fight, and typically it almost ensures that all of that will be false over time.
Next week’s fight features Michael Wootten (Team Rousey) against Josh Hill (Team Tate).
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate
Jessamyn Duke vs. Raquel Pennington: Raquel Pennington def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Click the stars to rate this fight.
