TUF 16, episode 5 recap

TEAM CARWIN’S IGOR ARAUJO (22-6) VS. NIC HERRON-WEBB (12-3)

Round 1 – Referee Steve Mazzagatti in charge of the action. Igor opens with a knee and a high kick before slipping a punch and driving in for a takedown. Nic pulls guard underneath and brings his left leg up in a threatening position before Igor pulls back and then presses in to half-mount. He patiently passes his right leg as well and settles into mount. Roy calls for Nic to push on his opponent’s hips to work for better position, but he instead opts for a bodylock. Nic finally bucks, but he simply settles on to his knees, and Igor takes his back. Igor lands a few punches but makes sure not to lose the position. Igor looks to get his hands under the neck. Nic defends well, but he’s offered nothing in the way of a counterattack. Roy begs for his fighter to try anything in the final minute of the round, but he simply turtles and settles for survival.

Round 2 – Between rounds, Roy calls for Nic to step things up. Igor opens with another takedown attempt, and Nic tries to counter by defending and moving to a kimura. Igor counters with a transition to an armbar. It looks threatening, but Nic pulls free and settles into top position. Igor is busy underneath as he looks for triangle chokes and opportunities to sweep. Nic keeps dominant position, but he’s not scoring much with the control, and Igor finally hits a sweep a little past the halfway mark of the frame. Roy does not want Nic to settle for fighting from his back. Nic scrambles as time winds down, and just when it looks like he’ll hit a sweep, he transitions instead to his opponent’s legs. He looks for a few options but lets it go in favor of working back to top position. Still, he’s complacent once there, and the round ends before he can do much damage. Round ends, and Team Nelson and UFC President seem to think a third round is on the way. Except it isn’t.

Igor Araujo def. Nic Herron-Webb via majority decision (19-18, 19-19, 19-18)

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