TUF 31 – A Hefty Price To Pay – “A Hefty Price To Pay” starts in reverse with Chandler’s number 4 bantamweight, Timur Valiev making his way to the UFC’s Las Vegas Apex Center on fight day. Brimming from ear to ear and seemingly rushing to the trainer’s room, Timur explores his fight-day feelings. Across the way, Trevor Wells is equally in a hurry to get to start his pre-fight rituals. Unlike Timur, Trevor talks confidently about his abilities.

As Timur gets his hands wrapped, he boasts his MMA abilities but deems Trevor an excellent fighter. They share the same room, even though they are on different teams. He is certain Trevor isn’t on his level. Nevada’s Athletic Commission Executive Director, Jeff Mullen, informs Michael Chandler of Trevor’s unexpected medical condition that disqualifies him from the match. Chandler speaks to his assistant coach, Ryan Bader before announcing the disappointing news to the team.

The news obviously traveled to McGregor Camp. John Kavanagh assures Trevor that he will have an opportunity to fight before the season ends. John recalls Trevor making weight and training. Trevor’s opportunity will be delayed a week or longer. He suggests an antifungal will be the treatment. Trevor explains how he discovered the “cold sore” as soon as he woke up. The doctor confirmed his condition during the physical. It’s just a matter of treating it and not spreading it now.

Chandler fills his team in on Trevor’s condition. Timur questions if he will need to make weight again. Not completely certain, Chandler says most likely. UFC President Dana White officially confirms the fight for next week. If Trevor’s condition isn’t cleared up, Timur will be granted a “pass.” Conor McGregor suggests a catch-weight fight to keep Timur upbeat. White leaves it up to the coaches.

TUF House – Timur and Trevor discuss their unfortunate situation. Trevor contributes a poor diet to the flare-up. He claims the doctor doesn’t believe the appearance of his skin will improve anytime soon. He directs his focus plan to next week’s fight.

UFC Apex Center – As Team McGregor arrives at the complex for training, White announces the next fight. Mando Gutierrez, Team McGregor’s bantamweight number 1, Vs. Team Chandler’s Team Chandler’s bantamweight number 4. Mando’s record is 8 and 2 with seven first-round finishes. He claims to be dedicated to daily visits to the gym. He appeared in the Contender Series in 2022. After losing the fight, UFC didn’t pick him up. Conor believes Mando’s build makes him a better wrestler but he doesn’t have any confidence in his striking ability. John demonstrates how to be a more effective striker. Conor and his coaches compare it to the Roosevelt/Jennerman fight.

Mando knows he has to rely on his persistence and ground game to come out with his hand raised. He asks Conor what he thinks about walking out for a fight. Replete in training gear, Conor’s passion becomes apparent as he describes his focus on the trail to the cage. He says, regardless, the fighter must realize his opponent is having the same doubts and concerns.

TUF House – McGregor’s lightweight, Landon Quinones admits his focus is on making history. He appreciates the other fighters because without them he wouldn’t have a platform to showcase his skills. Chandler’s Roosevelt Roberts, fresh off his 8-second knockout, suggests there are several ways to look at it. He tells Landon that he has a “big mouth.” Slightly offended by his comment, Landon feels Roberts is overlooking the veteran fighters. Roberts sarcastically tells him that the veterans have been there and done that. Landon admits a UFC veteran defeat means nothing to him. He boasts it is his responsibility to expose why veteran fighters are signed with the UFC. After admitting to not liking Landon, Roberts says his voice gets on his nerves. Their bitter dispute is put on the back burner after Landon refuses to right in the house, only in the cage.

Roberts contributes the dispute to Landon being a prospect. Jason Knight, on Chandler’s team, tells them to chill out while he enjoys his stir-fry.

Cody Gibson Fight Prep – Replete in a hoodie, Cody works out on the treadmill. He admits it is a privilege to share a mat with Chandler, who in turn, provides a few pointers. Cody says the coaches seem to truly believe and care about the fighters. A record of 19 and 8 validates his experience in the ring. In his first fight at UFC 170, he went up against Aljamain Sterling who walked away with the decision. He KOed Johnny Bedford at Fight Night 44. He took on Manny Bamburyan, a submission fighter, at UFC 178. A submission forced Cody to tap with two seconds left in the round. The loss led to his departure from the UFC. Back in the complex, Cody receives ground pointers from Robert Drysdale before a quick sparring session with Jason Strout.

Cody speaks of his favorite type of fight, standing and banging. He is more comfortable putting pressure on his opponent. Confident all the basics were covered, Chandler says only Cody can lose the fight. Later, Cody approaches Chandler to talk about adoption. They briefly discuss Chandler’s adopted sons. He says adoption saved his life before revealing a biological sister whom he knew nothing about. He met his biological parents a year ago in Oklahoma. His mother was a mere 15 when she had his older brother, a year later, he was born. He and his brother went into the foster system a short time later. Their foster parents who couldn’t Initially have children gave birth to two children. He and his brother were never treated differently than their foster siblings.

Cody Gibson’s Home Video – Cody introduces his blended family – two daughters, wife, brother, Keith, and nephew, Emmett. His adoptive parents, Debbie and Mike Gibson, and foster brother, Josh, and his wife, Anna, and daughter. Their youngest biological son, Jacob was born with a birth defect. In his young innocence, his nephew Emmett apologizes to his Uncle Cody for having to fight. They all get a big laugh out it.

Cody explains how he and Jackie met in the trainer’s room while both were inflicted with sprained ankles. They have two daughters, Ella, 7, and Margo, 3. Cody trains at one of the most coveted MMA gyms, “The Pit,” home to the likes of Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, Tim Kennedy, and Jake Shields.

TUF House – McGregor’s Mando shows Nate “Nasty” Jennerman and Mano some family photos. He boasts his Mexican heritage, contributing it and his family’s support to his drive to be a successful fighter. His family won’t be in his corner for unknown reasons.

Mando Gutierrez Home Video – Unlike Cody, Mando decides to start his home video off with introductions of his beloved canines, Harley and Aspen. Mando was raised in Carpentersville, Chicago. His Mexican/Spanish heritage played a big role in his upbringing. He claims his parents were adamant about achieving the “American Dream.” He relocated to Lansing, Michigan to pursue a fighting career. He shares a home with his two younger brothers, Junior and Miguel, his girlfriend, and his dogs. He is particularly close to the beautiful Pit-bull/Huskie, Aspen, that is like the man’s 5’o clock shadow.

Besides fighting and his canines, Mado has an insatiable passion for his barbershop, “Mondocutit.” An established clientele to will be there if fighting doesn’t work out for him. His Roman Greco career was cut short before graduating from high school. He describes his not wrestling in college as one of his revered regrets. He trains at “Simmons Academy of Wrestling.” He partially contributes his success to the “hardest working people on earth,” his brother, Miguel.

TUF House – Conor is the first volunteer for Mando to cut his hair. Mando opens up to Conor about wanting to be on his team since the moment UFC extended an opportunity for him to be on the show. He admits to feeling extreme pressure to cut Conor’s hair to perfection. Even with Conor’s inability to sit still, Mando did a remarkable job.

Chandler’s Austin Hubbard reveals he skipped an important wedding anniversary to be on the show. When Conor refers to it as a “break,” the fighters laugh. Carlos Vera admits to being motivated by Conor, in and out of the cage.

Weigh-In Day – Jeff Mullen welcomes the bantamweights to the scale. As Cody weighs in, offsite, White tells viewers that Cody has the longest streak of being out of the UFC spotlight. He questions how it will impact the fight. He points out Cody’s height and reach advantage. Cody weighs in at 136 while his opponent, Mando tips the scale at 135-1/2. McGregor’s Lee Hammond also mentions Cody’s size advantage and the habit of constantly lifting his knee. He believes the fight won’t end well for Mando. Chandler’s Hunter Azure suggests Mando could take the win if he turns the fight into a nasty brawl.

Fight Day – Cody reflects on his emotions leading up to the fight. He feels disciplined, getting up at 4am every morning, hitting the gym, going to work, and back to the gym before returning home. Mando focuses on grit and toughness, even with Cody being one of the toughest fighters in the house.

With “The Tale of the Tape” out of the way, the referee recaps the rules. Cody forces Mando to the outside with kicks. Pushing inward, Mando throws a head kick. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Cody pins him against the cage. Mando squirms out with little time wasted. He continues with kicks while Cody takes a few jabs. A front kick lands Mando pinned against the cage. Conor calls for short rights to the temple. A few more shots from Cody give Mando the advantage he needs to escape. The fighters are “phone booth fighting” now, exchanging shots back and forth at a ferocious pace.

Separating, Cody goes back to throwing long front kicks. Mando works his hands and kicks. As their pace slows, the fighters continue to trade shots. Cody sneaks in a huge flying knee, making contact with the bridge of Mando’s nose. He moves in quickly to put him on the mat. On his knees, Mando can do nothing but cover up, forcing the referee to end the fight.

Conor says Mando didn’t quite stand his ground. The constant moving around leave an opening for Cody’s flying knee that practically ended the fight.

 

The Ultimate Fighter Review

Another hard loss for Team McGregor but it was handled with grace by both teams. In lieu of this, it’s going to be really interesting to see how Conor responds to this. Once again, it was extremely refreshing to get a look inside the fighters’ lives. That’s the one thing that keeps bringing me back to the series time again, even during the less appealing seasons. Cody and Mando both certainly have interesting backstories, and they put on a great fight. Despite the fight and the interesting backstories, I would only give this episode a 5 to 5.5.

It was nice to see Conor in a different light. He is a really good sport in the house and him letting Mando cut his hair was super cool, whether it was fake or not. The thing that continues to underwhelm me is the fake facade. It feels as if Conor and Chandler are both hiding trying too hard to be professional. As was said before, this is good for the sport and also great that the entire season was built around testosterone-fueled drama, but it would be refreshing as well to see those cocky personas come to life and clash.

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