‘TUF 20’ Recap: Episode 4
A matchup between Carla Esparza and Angela Hill is the focal point of this week’s episode.
Urijah Faber makes a guest appearance as the coach of Anthony Pettis’ team. The UFC lightweight champion had a prior engagement, so he asked “The California Kid” to fill in for a few days.
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During training, Rose Namajunas and Heather Clark are practicing takedowns when Namajunas shoots for an outside-leg trip and completely hyperextends Clark’s knee by landing on it. Magana doubts the severity of the injury; she believes Clark is making excuses.
Hill expresses confidence heading into her fight against No. 1 seed
Esparza. She is aware that she is at a disadvantage with less
experience than Esparza, but Hill is determined to upset her
opponent.
“I want to prove to the world that I belong here,” Hill said.
Esparza discusses her close relationship with Felice Herrig. She values the fact that Herrig is there with her during the experience. Esparza worries that she will experience a little bit of ring rust because she is coming off of a 19-month layoff.
Justine Kish is having trouble cutting weight. She has only cut to 115 pounds once and admits she is one of the heaviest in the house. Some of the other women worry that she will be unable to cut the extra pounds and never make it to the UFC. Kish has also been fighting a lingering leg injury, which is really hampering her attempts to cut weight.
Magana becomes frustrated with Clark for using an ice tub when she didn’t even train because of her leg injury. The discussion escalates into a shouting match, further planting seeds for an altercation later in the season.
The weigh-in goes off without a hitch as Hill checks in at 115, while Esparza hits the mark with 114 pounds.
Esparza expresses nerves before the fight. She is happy to be back in action, but she feels pressure from her friends, family and teammates to produce, especially since she has been pegged as a top seed.
Pettis returns to Las Vegas for the fight. He has the utmost confidence in Esparza, believing her wrestling is far too good for the inexperience of Hill.
The fight opens without a ceremonial touching of gloves. Esparza touches Hill with two stiff jabs and then fails to follow up with a takedown. Hill throws a leg kick that Esparza checks and then successfully scores a takedown. Hill squirms, trying to buck Esparza off. In the process, Hill gives up her back to “Cookie Monster,” who sinks her hooks in and threatens the neck of Hill. Esparza is patient, not exerting herself too much for the choke, but then Hill explodes upright for a brief moment before Esparza takes her right back to the floor. After a crazy sequence of Hill trying to break free, Esparza sinks in the rear-naked choke, forcing Hill to tap.
Another victory for Team Pettis puts their record at 4-0. Next week’s matchup will be No. 6 seed Felice Herrig against No. 11 seed Heather Clark.
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