Pichel submits Cofer in overtime; complete TUF Live, Episode 7 recap

TEAM FABER’S JOHN COFER (7-1) VS. TEAM CRUZ’S VINC PICHEL (6-0)

Round 1 – Referee Josh Rosenthal calls the action. Pichel takes the center against southpaw Cofer. They stay at range before Cofer fires the first combination and looks for a takedown. Not there. Pichel hesitant to start, and Cofer is the one acting first. The trading picks up as the round wears on, and Pichel gets a little more active and walks forward. Cofer is happy to return fire on the feet in the early going. The two look happy to trade as the round wears on, and Cofer again misses two more takedown attempts in the final 80 seconds. The round ends with Pichel throwing bombs, and it’s a tight fight through one.

Round 2 – The brawl picks up in round two, and the action is intense to start. So much for the wrestling match. Faber begs for Cofer to show sharp footwork. Pichel seems to now be the aggressor. Cofer gets inside again, but rather than look for a takedown, he transitions to the back and wraps the body. Pichel peels him off and goes back to work on the feet. Cofer keeps the action close and grans the head. Surprisingly, it’s Pichel that looks for a takedown. He scores it, but he has to pull his head free from a choke. He does, but Cofer transitions for an arm. Pichel pulls free, and he’s on top in an uncomfortable reverse mount, sitting on Cofer’s face. The round finishes there, and both coaches seem to know a third frame could be coming next.

UFC boss White steps in the cage and confirms it: Round three is coming.

Round 3 – Sudden victory starts with Pichel in the center, and he lands a few crisp punches. He shoots in on Cofer and earns a takedown. In a slick sequence, he releases the pressure of a choke by jumping to side control, then hops into mount, sets up a side choke and dismounts to the other side to force the tap in a slick finish.

Vince Pichel def. John Cofer via submission (arm-triangel choke) – Round 3, 0:44.

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