“The Final Fighter 31” is ongoing with coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler attracting extra eyeballs again to the collection.
This season, which options eight lightweights and eight bantamweights, airs Tuesdays on ESPN. McGregor’s crew options eight fighters who haven’t competed within the UFC in opposition to Chandler’s crew of eight UFC alumni.
Amongst these UFC alums is Kurt Holobaugh, the lone fighter who had two earlier stints with the promotion. Holobaugh went 0-4 over these stretches, however historical past reveals a troublesome energy of schedule: Steven Siler, Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises.
Now at light-weight relatively than featherweight, Holobaugh devastated two opponents to get a 3rd look from the UFC.
Every week right here at MMA Junkie, Holobaugh will peel again the curtain and supply an unique, behind-the-scenes look and provides perception into what could not have made the lower onto the episode.
Take a look at what Holobaugh needed to say about Episode 10 under.
No laborious emotions in opposition to Brad Katona
“I don’t see how one can (fault him). If that was my coaches on the opposite facet, that I’ve been coaching with for the previous couple of years, and I had the possibility to go there as a result of I used to be preventing a teammate or a man, I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t make that swap. It truly labored out completely for Brad Katona that he was ready to do this. I used to be truly standing proper there. You’ll be able to see me come into the nook when Brad is speaking to Chandler and all the opposite coaches, letting them know he appreciates all the pieces they’d carried out for him. I don’t suppose can maintain it in opposition to him. Anyone would’ve carried out that in the event that they had been in Brad’s sneakers.”
An elevated feeling of stakes throughout semifinals?
“Being in the home the entire time, you’re regular working towards one thing. The blokes who misplaced within the quarterfinal battle are primarily out of the competitors. They don’t have something to stay up for vs. we did, proper? We’re within the semifinals. We’re nonetheless coaching for a battle, so we had a bit of little bit of stress on our shoulders. All of us knew we had powerful fights. For us, we’re preventing to make it. … I didn’t let the stress get to me however you possibly can really feel a bit of bit there.”
Struggle response: Brad Katona def. Timur Valiev by way of cut up determination
“Each guys had been form of an equal degree. Each of them had nice runs within the UFC. After all, Brad received an earlier season of ‘TUF.’ Timur Valiev was the best way he was within the UFC, successful fights. Each of these guys most likely acquired lower or launched from the contract a bit of early. It was undoubtedly a rattling good battle.
“… I didn’t get to see that battle reside, so this week was the primary time I’ve acquired to see this battle. … It was a enjoyable and entertaining battle. Each guys I believe actually needed to go in there and actually confirmed how unhealthy they needed to win that battle.”
Good determination?
“I don’t know if I’m being biased or not. I’m attempting to not be biased however I felt like I gave Timur all three rounds. All people knew that Brad had the abilities. He already received the present earlier than, so he’s truly received what everyone is there to win. … It didn’t actually shock me in any respect, the efficiency he placed on. We all know Brad is nice. A variety of guys could not like Brad however that doesn’t say something in regards to the talent.”
Did fighters have a lot interplay with Dana White outdoors what viewers noticed?
“Not likely, particularly not battle night time. I don’t suppose I talked to him one time on battle night time, besides perhaps saying one thing by way of the cage. We talked to him a bit of bit after we did the fighter picks at first of the present and perhaps a bit of bit on the coaches’ problem you’re going to see arising on subsequent week’s episode and in addition on the finish of the present. Proper earlier than we had been going residence, Dana talked to everyone and hyped us up about being the UFC and preventing and all this and that. That was it.”
Excited for the world to see your semifinal vs. Jason Knight subsequent week?
“Kinds make matchups, proper? I most likely didn’t have the most effective matchup for my model in Lee Hammond. He’s huge and robust and a very good grappler. He needed to place me down. After all, I wish to standup more often than not. That’s what I’m going to get with Jason Knight. As you hear on the finish of this episode, Dana is already calling me and Jason the battle of the season. If he’s calling us the battle of the season over Timur and Brad, you recognize that battle has acquired to be thrilling.”
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