The Ultimate Fighter returned tonight on FOX Sports 1 for a twenty-first season featuring two gyms competing against each other, American Top Team and The Blackzilians.
Kamaru Usman (5-1) vs. Michael Graves (4-0)
Round 1 – Usman crawls across the cage and Graves punches him in the face. Both fighters exchange wild punches. Graves throws a head kick that lands but Usman catches it and takes him down. Usman briefly holds top position but Graves stands up against the cage. Graves nearly hits a switch into top position but Usman muscles him back against the cage. Graves escapes into the center of the octagon and lands two front kicks. Usman pursues Graves and attempts another takedown. He works hard for it and finally gets Graves down. He’s unable to hold him there, though, and Graves stands right back up. Usman holds Graves against the fence and throws knees to the legs. Graves gets the thai clinch and lands a knee to the face. They meet in the center of the octagon and throw more wild punches, most of which fail to hit their target. Graves lands a hook then just misses with a head kick. Usman counters with a left hook and straight right. Usman nearly connects with another takedown but Graves refuses to stay down. Graves breaks free of being held against the cage and but his output slows down at the end of the round.
Round 2 – Usman finds his range to start the round and lands multiple punches. He immediately closes the distance and puts Graves’ back against the cage. Graves establishes the underhook and escapes back to the middle of the octagon. Usman dives for a takedown but Graves sprawls. Usman presses Graves against the fence and gets another takedown. He’s again unable to hold Graves down or keep him against the cage, though. Graves misses with a spinning back kick but lands a kick to the body. The pace of the fight has slowed significantly. Usman controls the center of the cage and lands his fourth takedown of the round. He moves to Graves’ back, but Graves stands up. Usman dives for another takedown but Graves counters and takes the back. Graves works for a rear-naked choke as Ussman stands up. They fight for hand control, but time is running out. Graves falls off the back and Usman lands in side control. He throws elbows and knees to the body until the bell sounds.
Kamaru Usman def. Michael Graves via majority decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19)
