We open up the show with both of our fighters walking to the cage and a video showing Michael Chiesa and the loss of his father and a recap of last week’s fight that gave Team Faber control of the fights for the first time on the series.
We go back to the locker rooms as Team Faber celebrates and is happy that Dominick Cruz is feeling bad right now as Cruz silently suggest that Sam Sicilia is feeding information into his friend and training partner on Team Faber Chiesa.
We have a Team Cruz training session as Cruz gets in the cage to work with Jeremy Larsen to prep him for the fight.
We return from a commercial break as Chris Tickle is trying to work through his injuries to his toe and essentially tells him that he needs to stop complaining too much and that if he wants to continue then he needs to stop complaining.
Tickle is upset about Cruz suggesting this but he quickly squashes the issue and continues on.
Chiesa is having a training session with Faber as they show off his long limbs and his strengths on the mat; Faber likens him to being a spider as he’s extremely confident that he will retain control.
Fifteen minutes until fight time as we are again watching Team Cruz again as Chris Tickle continues to be a focal point of the show as he’s sore and his coach is pushing him and tired of his problems.
Tickle immediately finishes up and heads to the toilet for a break that upsets Cruz who notes his potential but doesn’t think he can do it without the heart.
Larsen says that he is not going to touch gloves and he’s ready to go to war with Chiesa to test his chin.
Tickle goes to the doctor who tells him that he doesn’t have anything to worry about and that they’re negative for gout.
Weigh-in time as both men are on point, Faber takes a picture of Cruz’ shoes that he calls a ‘catastrophe’.
With four minutes before we kick off the fights we have both of our coaches giving last minute advice to their guys.
Jeremy Larsen vs. Michael Chiesa
The action begins as Chiesa charges forward with a flurry before pressing Larsen against the cage and slamming him to the mat sitting in half guard and trying to land his elbows from top position before we return to a standing position with Larsen pressing against the cage. We reset as Chiesa ties him up and slams him once again to get on top with two minutes left on the clock to do work.
Chiesa picks him up and slams him to the mat again which has him lose position momentarily before attempting a guillotine choke to no success before he nails the Team Cruz product with a knee to the face on the ground that results in Steve Mazagatti deducting a point. We continue as Chiesa presses against the cage once again to close out the round.
9-9 draw for round one
Larsen pushes the action early getting us against the cage as both men battle for dominate position in the clinch before we return to standing position. Chiesa grabs a leg as he looks for the takedown, eventually taking him down with a single against the cage as Larsen looks to defend wall walking back to the feet before we reset on the feet in a do-or-die situation for Larsen.
Larsen presses Chiesa against the cage as he unleashes with a few strikes but unable to mount a lot of offence, Chiesa drags him backwards taking the back and seeking a rear-naked-choke but it isn’t in deep enough.
10-9 Chiesa for round two
My unofficial score card reads 19-18 for Michael Chiesa
Official decision: Michael Chiesa advances for Team Faber
Post-fight Chiesa dedicates his win to his mother and says it was an easy choice to make to move on in the series.
Larsen states that he thought the fight should go to a third round and apologizes to god, his wife and son.
Jon Anik speaks with Dana White post-fight as he explains that you can’t make errors like that or it could cost you.
Cruz takes a dig at Cruz’ shoes before setting up Chris Tickle (Team Cruz) vs. Joe Proctor (Team Faber)
