The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): Season 31 is back for a third episode featuring head coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Team McGregor is still looking for their first win of the competition.
This week’s episode will see Team McGregor’s Aaron McKenzie hunt for the team’s first win against Team Chandler’s Austin Hubbard, a UFC vet with a handful of big victories already under his belt.
Those with a subscription to ESPN+ can stream TUF 31 on demand.
TUF 31 Episode 3 Recap
In spite of falling to 0-2 and finding out one of his fighters may need to forfeit his fight later in the season, Coach McGregor seems to be in good spirits as he helps McKenzie, one of his four lightweight prospects, prepare to take on what should be a tall task in Hubbard. There is a connection here, as both McKenzie and Hubbard are tied together through LFA lightweight championship lineage. McKenzie is the current champion, while Hubbard won the belt at the end of 2018 and booked his road to the UFC in the process.
McGregor is emphasizing McKenzie getting inside Hubbard’s punching range to take him down and force some grappling exchanges on the ground. Hubbard had mixed results in the UFC, going 3-5, though his ability to recover from takedowns showed well, particularly in defeat against former Olympian Mark Madsen. The one occasion he did get himself into deep trouble came against Joe Solecki where he surrendered a standing rear-naked choke, so there could be a path to victory after all for the right type of grappler.
McKenzie, for the record, has awesome grappling credentials. A native of Oklahoma City, he has spent the near entirety of his MMA career working under Head Coach Rafael Lovato Jr. at Lovato’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. McKenzie has been a regular at Lovato’s for the past eight years. Though he has 14 total fights under his belt at age 34, McKenzie did go 7-3 as an amateur which has, no doubt, aided him in his pro career. McGregor credits McKenzie for his silent energy and gives him a lecture on pain management.
“Close your eyes [and] feel where the pain is,” McGregor said. “Put your finger right on the pain. Feel it. Feel yourself grabbing it out of there and then just get f—— rid of it. Really feel yourself taking the pain, or wherever the pain is and condensing it into a fist like a little pebble and then f— the pebble into the ocean.”
Feel no pain 🙅♂️@TheNotoriousMMA preparing his team to battle through anything inside that Octagon 👊 #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/F9HbJpziVH
— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 14, 2023
The focus then returns to the TUF House for the first time of the episode, where Hubbard is talking about the increasing pressures of being able to support his family. He mentions how he just lost his brother and how he and his wife lost a baby. Outside the Octagon, Hubbard has a 13-year-old daughter and balances his time between training and working for a restoration company. He relishes his time on TUF as his true chance at redemption.
We then get to hear Coach Chandler’s thoughts on Hubbard as a fighter and how he sees the matchup with McKenzie playing out. Chandler essentially says Hubbard is better than McKenzie everywhere and has the physical intangibles to boot. He also said his guy deserves it more. Hubbard believes he can hang with the best fighters in the world and doesn’t see McKenzie being able to do anything to him he hasn’t already seen or experienced.
The show then deviates from the normal structure to highlight a fan Coach McGregor came across on social media. The boy, Samuel Romero, makes his own action figures, catching the eye of McGregor who arranged for the two to meet while filming TUF. Romero drove with his family from California to meet one of his favorite fighters while McGregor showered him with compliments about his creations. McGregor ends up paying the kid $1,200 for a few his figures, which he hand-paints and assembles using parts from old figures. A very cool moment, and absolutely surreal for the kid.
Conor dropping the big bucks on some personalized action figures 💸 #TUF31 pic.twitter.com/hvEgD1L7G5
— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) June 14, 2023
With the slight detour out of the way, this episode seems to be moving fast towards the fight, as weigh-in day is next to be highlighted. This could indicate that the fight could be going long, and if it is, that could play into Hubbard’s advantage as he typically trains at elevation with Elevation Fight Team out of Denver, Colo. and is notorious for weaponizing pace in fights where he comes out on top.
At the weigh-ins, Hubbard checks in at 156 pounds while McKenzie weighs in at 155.5. Despite Chandler claiming Hubbard is the bigger man, McKenzie seems to hold about an inch and a half height advantage and holds about a two-inch reach advantage on the Tale of the Tape. Both fighters exude confidence heading into the third fight of the season. McKenzie says he is planning on taking Hubbard’s will to fight, while Hubbard is able to close his eyes and visualize himself getting his hand raised in the end.
The Fight
Both fighters have made their way to the cage. Coach McGregor looking sharp as usual.
Mark Smith is the referee.
McKenzie looks to take the initiative early with the striking volume. He is landing on Hubbard early, but eventually forces his way in, seeking the takedown he prophesized in his gameplan. Hubbard sprawls on the first take down attempt, but a later takedown attempt sees McKenzie lift Hubbard into the air as it feels like a slam is the only reasonable outcome. However, Hubbard is able to adjust himself mid air and land back on his feet with McKenzie still hanging on the back.
As he attempts to sink in some hooks, McKenzie gets too high, allowing Hubbard to escape and return to the feet. Hubbard tries for a standing back-take of his own, but McKenzie is able to separate against the cage. However, momentum quickly shifts Hubbard’s way when he lands an uppercut, the hardest shot of the round, wobbling McKenzie and allowing Hubbard to take the fight to the ground and accrue top control. Hubbard makes the most of the limited moment, raining down hard punches and elbows that disfigure McKenzie’s face as time expires.
What seemed like a round that could have gone to McKenzie became a clear Hubbard round, and McKenzie will need to adjust to avoid a similar fate in Round 2. As a reminder, TUF rules mandate that a third round will only be used if necessary.
McKenzie’s rough end to the first does not seem to be deterring him in the second frame, as both he and Hubbard come out aggressive. It is worth noting that despite the damage he took in the first round, McKenzie has never been finished in his professional or amateur career. McKenzie is doing a nice job of mixing things up on the feet, as his ability to mix in leg kicks also aided him in the first round. The leg kicks seem to keeping Hubbard in check, and McKenzie is now going back to the well looking to control Hubbard against the cage and drag him to the ground.
However, McKenzie’s plan ultimately backfires, as Hubbard is able to successfully fight out of the position, reverse McKenzie and gain top control of his own. He has just over two minutes to work, and if he can ride out top position, he should be able to secure the second round and be the probable winner by decision. However, Hubbard doesn’t seem intent on resting on his laurels. He is not only controlling McKenzie on the ground, but continuing his ground and pound assault with heavy strikes and elbows that have further cut up McKenzie. Moreover, McKenzie doesn’t seem to have an answer off his back and is unable to scramble back to his feet. Hubbard’s onslaught continues for the entirety of the final two minutes, and with that being a clear round for him, he seems likely to get his hand raised.
The judges, in fact, agree, as a third round will not be necessary. Hubbard moves on, while Team McGregor remains winless.
Austin Hubbard def. Aaron McKenzie via Unanimous Decision
Aftermath
Coach Chandler heaps praise on his fighter in the immediate aftermath, crediting him for putting on a clinic, taking the fight to his opponent and “breaking his will,” which is ironic in that it is exactly what McKenzie thought he would do to Hubbard. Hubbard is likewise pleased with the win, albeit unsatisfied. He says he will need two more victories like this one before he is happy.
McKenzie likewise credits Hubbard for doing the things he needed to do get the win as he makes his way to a local medical facility. He calls him the better fighter and thanks his friends and family for having his back.
On next week’s episode, we will finally get to see the Timur Valiev–Trevor Wells fight originally intended for Episode 2.
