“The Ultimate Fighter 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler” returned Tuesday for Episode 5 as the anger begins to mount internally on one team – and externally through the second team’s coach.
On Episode 5, the matchup between Brad Katona and Carlos Vera finally happens after a disagreement and negotiations between coaches from each team pertaining to the weight class.
The season runs from May 30 to Aug. 15 with the live finale expected for later this year. The promotion also intends for coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler to square off in the months that follow the conclusion of the season.
Scroll below for a recap of Episode 5 and make sure to check out an exclusive insider look from “TUF 31” cast member Kurt Holobaugh, who will peel back the curtain on MMA Junkie the morning after each episode airs.
Team McGregor battles on the row machine
McGregor challenges his team of prospects to a 500-meter time trial contest on a row machine. Of his fighters, Aaron McKenzie tops the list with a time of 1:38. McGregor then jumped in himself, much to the delight of the team, of which many members said the activity was great for team building.
Finding the balance with Brad Katona
Chandler and assistant coach Robert Drysdale have a conversation about Brad Katona, a fighter who trains out of McGregor’s gym, not wanting to do live sparring with his Team Chandler teammates ahead of his fight.
“Maybe we humor him another day,” Chandler told Drysdale.
Later Chandler added, “I want to make sure he truly wants to be here and he’s not alienating himself too much from the team, because it’s going to take away from the team. But then again, this isn’t going to be a team competition for much longer. For me, I take it personally because we are all Team Chandler here.”
Chandler and Drysdale agree they need to find the balance with Katona between discipline and freedom.
Brad Katona explains his mindset
Katona acknowledges in a cut scene he’s trying to find his own, self-focused balance as he competes for an individual goal in a team setting.
“When I’m in practice, I’m thinking about the practice and preparing for the fight. Now, I’m not saying for any special favors. It’s that tough balance and maybe it’s a judgement call. To me, fighting in a tournament with multiple fights, it’s a pretty easy decision to sit out wrestling practices and get in some other type of work.”
Katona and Chandler butt heads over film study
Katona presses Chandler as to when and why the coaching staff has not taken time to watch film with him for his upcoming fight. Chandler explains that the fight isn’t for another week, to which Katona argues one week isn’t even enough time to incorporate specific drills into training.
“The days are ticking by pretty fast,” Katona said, to which Chandler seemed unsure how to answer.
Katona says in a cut scene, “Chandler at this point is kind of fed up with me. He’s like, ‘My life will be so much easier without the giant diva, Brad, always wanting to do something special.”
'Come the f*ck on, Brad'
Members of Team Chandler sit in the van agitated as they wait after practice for Katona to stop chatting with coach John Kavanagh, who is leading the opposite team.
Jason Knight breaks the silence with a “Come the f*ck on, Brad. How long does it take?”
Kurt Holobaugh follows up with a verbal jab, “You know he’s got to communicate with his team a little bit. He’s got to shoot the sh*t about the secrets.
Then Roosevelt Roberts jumps in, “I want to hide his f*cking glasses. … He’s pissing me off, man.”
Kavanagh recuses himself from helping Vera fight Katona
It’s revealed Kavanagh told him team up-front at the start of the season he would not be assisting with preparation for fights against Katona, who he coaches outside the show.
“A little bit of drama there with Brad Katona ending up on the other team,” Kavanagh said. “It feels like it’s a bad movie. But look, at the end of the day, he’s here to do a job. There’s only one winner in the bantamweight division and Brad is aiming for that to be him.”
With that, Vera said coach Owen Roddy, who assists Kavanagh at SBG Ireland, has become his go-to trainer in preparation.
The fight: Brad Katona vs. Carlos Vera
Weight: Bantamweight
Round: Quarterfinal
Team McGregor fighter: Carlos Vera (12-3)
Team Chandler fighter: Brad Katona (12-2)
Result: Brad Katona def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision
Vera comes out kick-heavy, much to the delight of a singing McGregor. Around the 45-second mark, Katona ties up Vera and drives him into the fence. Eventually, Katona drags Vera to the canvas. Vera goes belly-down and stands up along the cage. Again, Katona drags him down. Vera rolls for a leg submission, a specialty of his highlighted earlier in the episode. It doesn’t work. Katona pulls him away from the cage and moves to half guard. Vera returns him to guard. Katona lands a few ground-and-pound shots. Vera wiggles back to the cage but Katona drags him back toward center and briefly takes his back. Vera reverses and gets up. The round ends seconds later.
In Round 2, Vera finds his rhythm in the striking department, as he lands a couple good body kicks and a slick jab before Katona drags him to the mat again. Katona takes Vera’s back and seeks a rear-naked choke. After some hand-fighting, Vera turns into Katona and ends up in half guard on top. Vera’s mouth piece falls out and referee Chris Tognoni briefly calls timeout to reinsert it. Once the action resumes, Katona threatens a heel hook but Vera evades, still on top. Vera tries to hop into mount, but Katona grabs hold of a leg and uses it to get back up. Vera lands hammerfists on the way up. Back at distance, Katona lands a punch and takes Vera down against the fence again. Katona is in guard as he lands short punches. McGregor continues to harass Tognoni for a standup. The round ends with Katona on top – and no third round is needed.
The score: Team Chandler (5), Team McGregor (0)
McGregor calls for three rounds
Prior to the official decision, McGregor enters the cage and complains about the fact “TUF” exhibition fights are only two rounds. He continues to voice his opinion as the fighters return to their locker rooms.
“Dana, tell them three rounds, yeah?” McGregor said as he walked into the back. “Two rounds are (expletive). The fight’s not over. … They’re unfinished fights. If they’ve got unfinished fights, give them a third round. The guy’s are fighting for their life here.
Next week's fight
On Episode 6, lightweights Lee Hammond and Kurt Holobaugh square off, as Team McGregor seeks its first victory – and it appears tempers flare as McGregor and Chandler get physical post-fight.
