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The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion

From Alfawiki
The Ultimate Fighter 26
IndustryReality television, Mixed martial arts
FoundedAugust 30, 2017; 9 years ago (2017-08-30)
Headquarters
Las Vegas
,
United States

The Ultimate Fighter 26—also referred to as The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion—is a season of the UFC's reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.

Tryouts were announced on May 3, with this season dedicated solely to the women's flyweight category, aiming to determine the UFC's first-ever 125-pound champion during the finale. Both active UFC athletes and unsigned female contenders were eligible to participate.

This direction came after UFC president Dana White had previously declared that no additional women's divisions beyond featherweight would be introduced in 2017, leading to the cancellation of earlier plans for casting calls in women's strawweight, bantamweight, and men's middleweight for TUF 26.

On July 13, the coaching duo was revealed: former two-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and ex-UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez faced off against former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje. The roster, unveiled on August 5, included prominent fighters such as the first Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Barb Honchak, The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate participant Roxanne Modafferi, and former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion and current UFC athlete Lauren Murphy.

Coaches

 Team Alvarez:

  Team Gaethje:

Fighters

Episodes

Episode 1: A New World Champion (August 30, 2017)

  • The season kicks off with preliminary tryouts held in Las Vegas, where more than 50 women competing in the flyweight division vie for a spot in the cast aiming for the inaugural UFC 125-pound title. UFC President Dana White alongside matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard select sixteen fighters.
  • The athletes are introduced to head coaches: former two-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and ex-UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje, who will face each other at the season’s conclusion. White explains the tournament's stakes.
  • Gaethje assesses participants with an emphasis on psychological resilience; Alvarez evaluates their skills through live sparring sessions, expressing admiration for their abilities.
  • After winning a coin toss, Alvarez secures the privilege of making the first fighter selection. Unbeknownst to both coaches, fighters are seeded; each selection transfers the corresponding seed to the opposing team.
  • Coaches’ picks along with their seeds assigned to the rival team:
Barb Honchak – #2 (Team Alvarez – first pick)
Gillian Robertson – #15 (Team Gaethje)
Roxanne Modafferi – #1 (Team Gaethje – second pick)
Shana Dobson – #16 (Team Alvarez)
Lauren Murphy – #3 (Team Alvarez – third pick)
Nicco Montaño – #14 (Team Gaethje)
Rachael Ostovich-Berdon – #10 (Team Gaethje – fourth pick)
Melinda Fábián – #7 (Team Alvarez)
Sijara Eubanks – #12 (Team Alvarez – fifth pick)
Maia Stevenson – #5 (Team Gaethje)
Montana Stewart – #6 (Team Gaethje – sixth pick)
Ariel Beck – #11 (Team Alvarez)
DeAnna Bennett – #4 (Team Alvarez – seventh pick)
Karine Gevorgyan – #13 (Team Gaethje)
Emily Whitmire – #8 (Team Gaethje – eighth pick)
Christina Marks – #9 (Team Alvarez)
  • Gaethje announces that the opening bout will feature #1 seed Roxanne Modafferi against #16 seed Shana Dobson.
  • Competitors move into the "TUF" house and begin adapting to their new competitive surroundings.
  • Modafferi aims for redemption following an early elimination in "TUF" Season 18 and recent achievements at Invicta FC.
  • Team Alvarez concentrates on preparing underdog Dobson with a strategy focused on maintaining stand-up exchanges against Modafferi.
  • Former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate joins Team Gaethje as an assistant coach, providing motivation to Modafferi.
  • Roxanne Modafferi secures victory over Shana Dobson via first-round TKO due to elbows.
  • Alvarez reveals the forthcoming matchup: #4 DeAnna Bennett versus #13 Karine Gevorgyan.

Episode 2: Fight! (September 6, 2017)

  • Following Modafferi’s triumph, Team Gaethje celebrates with a sushi dinner at the TUF house.
  • Communication challenges arise due to language differences with Karine Gevorgyan, who feels isolated as the sole Armenian competitor.
  • Emily Whitmire sustains a rib injury during grappling but receives medical clearance to continue fighting.
  • Team Alvarez regroups after reviewing tournament brackets that reveal potential teammates facing each other.
  • DeAnna Bennett defeats Karine Gevorgyan by first-round TKO via punches.
  • The next fight announced is between #6 Montana Stewart and #11 Ariel Beck.

Episode 3: Time to Shine (September 13, 2017)

  • Both teams utilize advanced training facilities at the UFC Performance Institute; Emily Whitmire undergoes treatment for her rib injury.
  • Ariel Beck experiences a panic attack but recovers sufficiently to resume training.
  • To boost morale, Team Gaethje organizes a competitive bowling event with cash prizes.
  • Montana Stewart earns a first-round submission victory over Ariel Beck via D'Arce choke.
  • The upcoming fight is announced as #3 Lauren Murphy versus #14 Nicco Montaño.

Episode 4: The Truth in Me (September 20, 2017)

  • Nicco Montaño defeats Lauren Murphy by unanimous decision after two rounds.
  • Next fight revealed is between #5 Maia Stevenson and #12 Sijara Eubanks.

Episode 5: Feelings Mean Nothing (September 27, 2017)

  • Lauren Murphy struggles emotionally following her loss and abstains from training; coach Alvarez questions her dedication while she requests personal space to reflect.
  • Maia Stevenson expresses self-doubt regarding her selection due to her husband Joe Stevenson’s MMA reputation but gains reassurance based on her own capabilities.
  • Sijara Eubanks cuts her dreadlocks to meet weight requirements ahead of her fight.
  • Sijara Eubanks submits Maia Stevenson with a kimura in round two.
  • Next bout announced is between #2 Barb Honchak and #15 Gillian Robertson.

Episode 6: Predator (October 4, 2017)

  • Barb Honchak defeats Gillian Robertson via second-round TKO.
  • Upcoming fight is set between #7 Melinda Fábián and #10 Rachael Ostovich-Berdon.

Episode 7: Enjoy the Moment (October 18, 2017)

  • Dana White surprises competitors with an inspirational visit and showcases his BMW M760i luxury vehicle.
  • Rachael Ostovich-Berdon submits Melinda Fábián in round one using a rear-naked choke.
  • Next fight announced is between #8 Emily Whitmire and #9 Christina Marks.

Episode 8: Sink or Swim (November 1, 2017)

  • Dissatisfied following her defeat, Lauren Murphy transfers from Team Alvarez to Team Gaethje; this shift causes friction with Alvarez who questions his coaching effectiveness.
  • Miesha Tate returns to support Emily Whitmire’s recovery and corner her upcoming bout.
  • Coaches engage in a swimming competition for a $10,000 prize; Eddie Alvarez wins after Justin Gaethje tires early. Members of the victorious team receive $1,500 each.
  • Emily Whitmire wins over Christina Marks via verbal submission in round one.
  • Quarterfinal pairings are announced:
:#1 Roxanne Modafferi vs. #8 Emily Whitmire
:#12 Sijara Eubanks vs. #4 Deanna Bennett
:#2 Barb Honchak vs. #10 Rachael Ostovich-Berdon
:#6 Montana Stewart vs. #14 Nicco Montaño

Episode 9: The Fight Gods (November 8, 2017)

  • Dana White rewards fighters with a relaxing dinner cruise on Lake Las Vegas following preliminary bouts.
  • Roxanne Modafferi defeats Emily Whitmire by first-round TKO.
  • Sijara Eubanks initially misses weight by a quarter pound but successfully makes it after an hour; Lauren Murphy temporarily utilizes Eubanks’ sauna time in an unconventional move that frustrates Alvarez.
  • Sijara Eubanks knocks out Deanna Bennett with a head kick in round one.

Episode 10: Make it a Fight (November 15, 2017)

  • Barb Honchak wins by unanimous decision over Rachael Ostovich-Berdon after two rounds.
  • Nicco Montaño defeats Montana Stewart by unanimous decision after two rounds.

Episode 11: A Will to Win (November 22, 2017)

  • Training sessions at the UFC Performance Institute feature playful pranks between coaches Alvarez and Gaethje involving their SUVs and team slogans.
  • Nicco Montaño beats Barb Honchak by unanimous decision in round three.

Episode 12: The Ultimate Goal (November 29, 2017)

  • Sijara Eubanks receives nutritional guidance at the UFC Performance Institute to address weight management challenges.
  • Sijara Eubanks secures a unanimous decision victory over Roxanne Modafferi after three rounds and advances to face Nicco Montaño at the TUF 26 Finale.

Tournament bracket

* Due to medical concerns on the day of weigh-ins, Eubanks was withdrawn from the tournament final and substituted by Roxanne Modafferi.

Legend

Team Alvarez

Team Gaethje

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Unanimous Decision

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Majority Decision

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Submission

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(Technical) Knockout


The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale—also referred to as The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale—was a mixed martial arts event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 1, 2017, at the Park Theater in Paradise, Nevada, within the Las Vegas area.

This event hosted the concluding bouts of The Ultimate Fighter 26 tournament, aiming to determine the first-ever UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. Originally, Sijara Eubanks was set to compete against Nicco Montaño; however, Eubanks was medically disqualified during weigh-ins due to weight-cutting complications that included kidney failure. Consequently, semifinalist Roxanne Modafferi stepped in as her replacement.

Debuting fighter Priscila Cachoeira was slated to face former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy, but visa complications barred Cachoeira from participation. As a result, Murphy weighed in as an alternate and subsequently faced former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Barb Honchak after Honchak’s initial opponent, Modafferi, moved up to the main event.

At the weigh-in stage, Karine Gevorgyan failed to make weight by four pounds for her flyweight contest, leading to a catchweight bout and a 30% fine of her fight purse awarded to her opponent Rachael Ostovich.

This card highlighted UFC’s focused effort on growing its women’s flyweight division by featuring both rising prospects and established athletes, thereby strengthening its presence in women’s mixed martial arts.

Bonus awards

Monetary bonuses of $50,000 were granted as follows:

  • Fight of the Night: Nicco Montaño vs. Roxanne Modafferi
  • Performance of the Night: Gerald Meerschaert and Brett Johns

Reported payout

The disclosed fighter payouts submitted to the Nevada Athletic Commission amounted to $553,000. These amounts do not include sponsorship earnings or UFC "fight night" bonuses.

  • Nicco Montaño: $100,000 (no win bonus) defeated Roxanne Modafferi: $100,000
  • Sean O'Malley: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Terrion Ware: $10,000
  • Lauren Murphy: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Barb Honchak: $10,000
  • Gerald Meerschaert: $28,000 (including $14,000 win bonus) defeated Eric Spicely: $14,000
  • DeAnna Bennett: $10,000 fought to a draw with Melinda Fábián: $10,000 ^
  • Brett Johns: $28,000 (including $14,000 win bonus) defeated Joe Soto: $31,000
  • Montana De La Rosa: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Christina Marks: $10,000
  • Ryan Janes: $24,000 (including $12,000 win bonus) defeated Andrew Sanchez: $28,000
  • Rachel Ostovich-Berdon: $23,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Karine Gevorgyan: $7,000 ^^
  • Shana Dobson: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Ariel Beck: $10,000
  • Gillian Robertson: $20,000 (including $10,000 win bonus) defeated Emily Whitmire: $10,000

^ Both competitors received their show money; match ended in a majority draw.
^^ Karine Gevorgyan incurred a 30% purse deduction ($3,000) for missing weight; this amount was awarded to Rachel Ostovich-Berdon by NSAC officials.

Coaches' Fight

UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2 occurred on December 2, 2017, hosted at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

Eddie Alvarez secured victory by knockout (knee and punches) at 3:59 in the third round.

See also

References

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