TUF 22, Episode 3 fight recap
The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 features Irishman Conor McGregor leading Team Europe versus Team United States led by Urijah Faber.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 features Irishman Conor McGregor leading Team Europe versus Team United States led by Urijah Faber. Episode three aired tonight on FOX Sports 1:
Team Faber’s Chris Gruetzemacher (12-1) vs. Team McGregor’s Sasha Sharma (7-2)
Round 1 – Sharma opens with a tight right hook and immediately initiates the clinch. Gruetzemacher breaks free and presses forward on the feet. He wings an overhand right, but Sharma clinches again. They fight for position, and Sharma pushes his opponent against the fence and throws a knee to the body. Sharma drops for a takedown but can’t get it. They continue to fight in the clinch until Gruetzemacher gets a takedown off a leg trip. Sharma throws up his legs for a triangle choke, and it looks to be locked in. Gruetzemacher fights it off and escapes. He lands two punches on the ground before Sharma scrambles to his feet. Sharma moves back into the clinch and goes for more takedowns against the fence. He briefly grounds Gruetzemacher, who gets back to his feet. They still battle for the takedown against the fence. Gruetzemacher gets the takedown this time and lands in guard. Sharma is active from his back with upkicks and submission attempts. Gruetzemacher displays strong control on the ground, though, and sticks tight on Sharma until the end of the round.
Round 2 – The second round begins with a wild flurry of punches from both men. Sharma dives for a double-leg takedown, but Gruetzemacher stuffs it. Sharma flops back to the mat and essentially pulls guard. Gruetzemacher dives on top and picks up where he let off in the last round. He gets side control, advances to mount, and even takes the back. He works for a choke, but Sharma scrambles free while eating big punches. Sharma gets back up but dives in for another takedown, much to the anger of coach McGregor. Gruetzemacher takes advantage and takes control on the ground again. Gruetzemacher nearly locks in an armbar, then a triangle choke and then another armbar, but he’s unable to finish. Sharma ends up on top after the submission attempts. Gruetzemacher sweeps his way back on top and ends up in side control. He advances to mount and continues the solid mix of strikes and submission attempts that he’s shown all fight. He can’t finish the fight, but Gruetzemacher ends the contest in dominant fashion.
The judges declare the fight a draw after two rounds, and a sudden-victory third round will determine the winner.
Round 3 – Sharma makes the exact same error as the previous rounds to start the third. He dives for a lackluster takedown that allows Gruetzemacher to get on top. Gruetzemacher takes the back and hammers away with numerous punches. Sharma does a decent job of holding on and surviving, but Gruetzemacher is utterly dominating the positions and landing ground-and-pound along the way. Sharma has nothing to offer other than trying to avoid the big punches, but Gruetzemacher is still unable to pour on enough offense to force a stoppage. Sharma scrambles on top with one minute but does little other than hold. Gruetzemacher scrambles and gets back on top, where he ends the round and the fight.
Chris Gruetzemacher def. Sasha Sharma via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
