CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – The lightweights are back in action on this week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir. So who will join Junie Browning and Efrain Escudero in the semifinals?
Four 155-pounders – George Roop, Phillipe Nover, John Polakowski, and Dave Kaplan – are in search of the final two semifinal spots, but before the action gets underway in the Octagon, the rest of the progressively more restless gang are figuring out different ways to get on each other’s nerves. This week, Team Mir’s Tom Lawlor and Team Nogueira’s Phillipe Nover are the targets as members of the opposing teams eat Lawlor’s fruit platter and Nover’s sushi. Needless to say, neither of the victims take this well, and both parties get even in their own particular (and peculiar) way.
Once this series of events plays out, it’s back to business, and Team Mir chooses Kaplan to face Nover in this episode’s fight. Both coaches are confident in their fighters, with Mir especially high on Kaplan’s prospects of going all the way in the competition.
Back in the gym, Browning may disagree though, as he can’t get Kaplan or any of his other teammates to roll with him on a consistent basis. This leads the Kentucky native to discuss strategy with rival team member Nover about fighting Kaplan, his own teammate.
Once the fight between the two lightweights begins, Nover immediately takes control, landing a series of shots to the face of Kaplan, who is seemingly letting the Brooklynite hit him. One of the punches drops Kaplan though, and once the fight hits the mat, Nover ends it quickly with some ground and pound and a finishing rear naked choke, leaving coach Mir stunned.
Team Nogueira’s win evens things up at 3-3 heading into the final two quarterfinal matchups. Here’s how the teams look:
TEAM MIR Krzysztof Soszynski Vinny Magalhaes 1-0 Elliot Marshall 1-0 Tom Lawlor – Eliminated in week three by Ryan Bader Junie Browning 1-0 Shane Nelson – Eliminated in week four by Efrain Escudero Dave Kaplan – Eliminated in week eight by Phillipe Nover George Roop
TEAM NOGUEIRA Ryan Bader 1-0 Shane Primm – Eliminated in week five by Elliot Marshall Kyle Kingsbury Jules Bruchez – Eliminated in week seven by Vinny Magalhaes Phillipe Nover 1-0 Efrain Escudero 1-0 John Polakowski Roli Delgado – Eliminated in week six by Junie Browning
For weekly recaps of The Ultimate Fighter, as well as fighter profiles, stay tuned to UFC.com.
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