The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians

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The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians
GenreReality, Sports
Created byFrank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White
StarringDana White, American Top Team, Blackzilians
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkFox Sports 1
ReleaseApril 22 (2015-04-22) –
July 8, 2015 (2015-07-08)

The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 21) was the twenty-first installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. This season was the first to feature a gym vs. gym theme.[1]

The series was officially announced by the UFC on February 28, 2015. For the first time ever, the UFC reality series featured a format pitting two of the sport's top gyms – American Top Team and the Blackzilians – against one another. The season was filmed in South Florida, where the two camps sit just miles apart, and the competitors were welterweights from each facility. An amount of $500,000 was earned throughout the season based on wins and losses for the winning gym.[2]

Dan Lambert heads the ATT team, and rival Glenn Robinson heads the Blackzilians club. The series prominently features the rivalry between the two camps, which developed in 2011 after a band of ATT fighters defected and started their own camp with Robinson, who is the gym's owner but not their head coach. The two gyms are located just 20 minutes apart.[1] The teams were made up of eight up-and-coming welterweights from each gym. The 16 men shared a house in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area but instead of training amongst each other, the athletes still worked with their coaches at their respective gyms.[2] The actual fights took place at American Top Team in Coconut Creek and the Blackzilians' Jaco Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton. The winning fighter earned home gym control for his team for the next bout. Opponents were not revealed until weigh-ins for the first time.[3]

Cast

Teams

Fighters

*Montgomery was removed from the competition on episode 4 due to medical reasons. He was replaced by Cristiano Souza on episode 7.

*Nakahara was forced out of the competition on episode 7 due to a medical suspension. He was replaced by Alexandre Pimentel.

Episodes

Episode 1: Rumble in South Florida (April 22, 2015)
Episode 2: Battle Lines Drawn (April 29, 2015)
  • Michael Graves expresses his sour feeling due to his loss on the last and also his opinion that he gave an opportunity for the Blackzilians to gain confidence. His teammates talk about the fact that they have all faced losses before and Graves never has. Due to that, Steve Carl believes his teammate will now have less pressure on his shoulders. Graves is supported by Nathan Coy and Hayder Hassan, who both say that they are all motivated to defeat their opponents.
  • Hassan tries to work mind games on Kamarudeen Usman, but he does not want to take part in it. Later, both fighters comment on the situation with their teammates.
  • After analyzing several options, ATT picks Uros Jurisic. The Blackzilians also consider many options, ultimately picking Luiz "Buscapé" Firmino.
  • During a training session at the Fighter's House gym, Usman gets frustrated and angry at Jason Jackson. He leaves the session showing off his anger, but later calms down and apologizes to Jackson.
  • Both fighters make weight and after that, Dan Lambert and Glenn Robinson exchange heated words during a confrontation.
  • Luiz Firmino defeated Uros Jurisic via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18) after two rounds.
Episode 3: Settling the Score (May 6, 2015)
  • Valdir "BBMonstro" Araújo complains about a stolen bottle of red wine. He believes that somebody from ATT stole it, but all of them deny it. In turn, Michael Graves confirms to Nathan Coy in a poker match that he drank the wine earlier. Steve Carl comments that his teammate has been doing deliberate things ever since he lost the first fight.
  • After analyzing their options, ATT believes its time to change the game using their veterans and they pick Carl, a former
    WSOF Welterweight champion
    .
  • The Blackzilians analyze their training and recovery to decide their next pick. After considering those aspects and his experience, they pick Araújo, who has formerly fought UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.
  • Sabah Homasi talks to Steve Montgomery about Araújo's accusations days earlier and Graves' unadmitted guilt over drinking the wine. They both believe that Graves is being weak at the moment and that he needs to pull himself up.
  • During weigh-ins, Carl weighs in at 171.75 lb on his first attempt and must make 171 within one hour. He goes to the Blackzilians' locker room to use their sauna and Michael Johnson does not like the fact that they are helping their rival. Tyrone Spong did not know that and does not like it as well. He discusses the issue with the athletic commission representative and later enters the locker room to confront ATT.
  • Spong and Johnson demand that Carl and ATT leave the locker room. Dan Lambert and Coy argue with them about letting Carl stay as they would do the same if it was the opposite case. Spong says there are no rules about that and Coy mentions that "no rules" means that they will stay until their teammate cuts the remaining weight, which leads to a heated confrontation between the two of them. In the end, Carl weighs in at 170 lb.
  • Valdir Araújo defeated Steve Carl via submission (guillotine choke) in the second round.
Episode 4: Boiling Point (May 13, 2015)
Episode 5: Battle Wounds (May 20, 2015)
  • Hayder Hassan defeated Andrews Nakahara via TKO (punches) in the first round at 48 seconds.
  • This earns ATT their first win and 50 points, as they have now gained home gym advantage.
Episode 6: Fight Through the Pain (May 27, 2015)
  • Jason Jackson defeated Marcelo Alfaya via majority decision (19–19, 20–18, 20–18) after two rounds.
  • Dan Lambert and the ATT coaching staff express frustration with Alfaya, especially due to his major experience. Lambert says that after the fight, Alfaya told him he was saving energy in the first round. That statement made Lambert wish it was said before the fight, as they would have kept him from fighting next.
  • Dana White reveals another change to the season. On the next episode, both ATT and the Blackzilians will have the opportunity to drop two fighters from the team and substitute two alternates.
Episode 7: Eyes on the Prize (June 3, 2015)
  • The ATT coaches are still disappointed at their fighters. Conan Silveira urges them to seize the opportunity and perform better. He believes that they are wasting a great chance with poor performances. He also tells them to listen more to the coaches.
  • Vicente Luque defeated Nathan Coy via submission (anaconda choke) at 2:26 in the third round.
  • Coy was tearful and dejected about the loss, as the Blackzilians now lead 200 to 50 points and retain home gym advantage.
Episode 8: Lightning Strikes Twice (June 10, 2015)
  • Hayder Hassan defeated Felipe Portela via majority decision (20–18, 19–19, 20–18) after two rounds.
  • With the win, Hassan earns ATT a significant 50 points in the competition and takes home gym advantage for the next fight. The Blackzilians still lead 200 points to 100, but with the next four fights rewarding 100 points each, there is potential for ATT to make a comeback and possibly even win.
Episode 9: No Guts, No Glory (June 17, 2015)
  • Kamarudeen Usman defeated Steve Carl via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18) after two rounds.
  • Carl says that both of his fight during the tournament were the worst of his career and that he does not know whether it is the atmosphere of the reality show or the pressure of letting his team down that made him perform poorly.
  • In order to win the $200,000 team prize, ATT must win three straight fights to end the season.
Episode 10: Do or Die (June 24, 2015)
  • Nathan Coy defeated Valdir Araújo via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18) after two rounds.
  • Blackzilians still lead 300 to 200 in points with two 100-point fights remaining. However, home gym advantage goes back to ATT for the next fight.
Episode 11: Pushing the Limits (July 1, 2015)
Episode 12: Showdown (July 8, 2015)
  • Glenn Robinson reminds the Blackzilians that they were proving themselves as the better team until they became overconfident and started losing. He asks the fighters if they want to be reminded as a team that started strong and finished weak. Right off the bat, Robinson announces Vicente Luque as their final pick of the season.
  • Meanwhile, ATT discusses their next pick at the house. Dan Lambert asks Hayder Hassan who would he pick if he was the coach. Hassan wastes no time replying "me" and everyone agrees that he should be the one to finish it off for them. Lambert states that it is because of Hassan that they are still on the competition. Hassan will be the only fighter to fight three times this season.
  • Hayder Hassan defeated Vicente Luque via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) after three rounds.
  • Madness takes over the American Top Team as they celebrate their enormous comeback to win the competition 400 to 300 points and also get $200,000.
  • As celebration takes place in ATT's locker room, desolation is in the air at the Blackzilians. They praise Luque's effort as well as the whole team.
  • Both teams will close the season with their picks for the live finale on July 12 at the
    Harley Davidson
    motorcycle, $300,000 and the TUF trophy. ATT can choose between Michael Graves, Nathan Coy and Hassan. While they believe Graves would be a tough match up against anyone from their opponents, they all agree that Hassan is their man, as he brought half of ATT's points. Blackzilians also has doubts as some coaches want to pick Luque again, while Rashad Evans voices his opinion that Kamarudeen Usman should be their guy due to his performances and two victories.
  • Both teams gather at ATT's gym, while Dana White participates via video conference. Before the selections, Lambert announces that the whole team decided to donate the $200,000 prize to the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, service and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following the events of September 11, 2001.
  • ATT and Blackzilians announce their fighters for the finale: Hayder Hassan vs. Kamarudeen Usman.

Tournament

Results table

Home Gym Away Gym Method Round Points
  Kamaru Usman   Michael Graves MD 2 25
  Luiz Firmino   Uros Jurisic UD 2 25
  Valdir Araújo   Steve Carl SUB 2 25
  Carrington Banks   Sabah Homasi UD 3 25
  Andrews Nakahara   Hayder Hassan TKO 1 50
  Marcelo Alfaya   Jason Jackson MD 2 50
  Vicente Luque   Nathan Coy SUB 3 50
  Felipe Portela   Hayder Hassan MD 2 50
  Steve Carl   Kamaru Usman UD 2 100
  Valdir Araújo   Nathan Coy UD 2 100
  Michael Graves   Jason Jackson SUB 1 100
  Hayder Hassan   Vicente Luque SD 3 100
Legend
  American Top Team
  Blackzilians
UD
  Unanimous Decision
MD
  Majority Decision
SD
  Split Decision
SUB
  Submission
(T) KO
  (Technical) Knockout

Overall table

Teams Total points Wins
  American Top Team 400 5
  Blackzilians 300 7

The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale
The poster for The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJuly 12, 2015 (2015-07-12)
VenueMGM Grand Garden Arena
CityLas Vegas, Nevada
Attendance4,844[4]
Total gate$291,000[4]
Event chronology
UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee

The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale) was a mixed martial arts event held on July 12, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5]

Background

The event was originally expected to be held in South Florida.[6] However, on May 15, the event was moved to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5]

A lightweight bout between former

UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Michael Johnson was initially linked as the event headliner.[6] However, on May 15, a welterweight bout between Jake Ellenberger and Stephen Thompson, originally booked for a day earlier at UFC 189, was announced as the main event.[5] Although never officially announced by the UFC, the bout between Henderson and Johnson did not take place at this event.[7]

The final of The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians took place at the event.[6]

Márcio Alexandre Jr. was scheduled to face George Sullivan at the event. However, Alexandre pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event citing a rib injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Dominic Waters.[8]

Maximo Blanco missed weight on his first attempt at the weigh-ins, coming in at 148.5 lb. After having made no attempts to cut further, he was fined 20 percent of his fight purse, which went to Mike De La Torre.[9]

During the live broadcast, it was announced that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter would be coached by current interim

WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber will coach a team of 8 American lightweights. They did not fight each other at the end of the season.[10]

Results

Main Card (Fox Sports 1)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Stephen Thompson def. Jake Ellenberger KO (spinning hook kick) 1 4:29
Welterweight Kamaru Usman def. Hayder Hassan Submission (arm-triangle choke) 2 1:19 [a]
Welterweight Michael Graves def. Vicente Luque Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Jorge Masvidal def. Cezar Ferreira KO (elbow and punches) 1 4:22
Women's Strawweight
Michelle Waterson
def. Angela Magaña Submission (rear-naked choke) 3 2:38
Catchweight (148.5 lb) Maximo Blanco def. Mike De La Torre TKO (punches) 1 0:16
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)
Middleweight Josh Samman def. Caio Magalhães Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:52
Bantamweight Jerrod Sanders def. Russell Doane Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Trevor Smith def. Dan Miller Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–25, 30–26) 3 5:00
Welterweight George Sullivan def. Dominic Waters Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 30–25, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Flyweight Willie Gates def. Darrell Montague TKO (knees to the body and elbows) 1 1:36
  1. ^ The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Final.

[11]

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[12]

  • Fight of the Night: None awarded
  • Performance of the Night: Stephen Thompson, Jorge Masvidal, Josh Samman and Kamaru Usman

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[13]

  • Stephen Thompson: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus) def. Jake Ellenberger: $73,000
  • Kamaru Usman: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Hayder Hassan: $10,000
  • Michael Graves: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Vicente Luque: $10,000
  • Jorge Masvidal: $102,000 (includes $51,000 win bonus) def. Cezar Ferreira: $20,000
  • Michelle Waterson: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Angela Magaña: $10,000
  • Maximo Blanco: $41,400 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Mike De La Torre: $17,600 ^
  • Josh Samman: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Caio Magalhães: $20,000
  • Jerrod Sanders: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Russell Doane: $11,000
  • Trevor Smith: $34,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Dan Miller: $25,000
  • George Sullivan: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Dominic Waters: $10,000
  • Willie Gates: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Darrell Montague: $10,000

^ Maximo Blanco was fined 20 percent of his purse ($5,600) for failing to make the required weight for his fight with Mike De La Torre. That money was issued to De La Torre, an NSAC official confirmed.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Staff (February 28, 2015). "'TUF 21' features ATT vs. Blackzilians, $500K grand prize, 16 welterweight cast members". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Marc Raimondi (February 28, 2015). "TUF 21 features American Top Team vs. Blackzilians with $500K on the line". mmafighting.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Damon Martin (February 28, 2015). "'The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians' debuts April 22". foxsports.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Staff (July 13, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale draws reported 4,844 attendance for $291,000 live gate". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Thomas Gerbasi (May 15, 2015). "Summer UFC Events Secured for Florida and Nevada". ufc.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Ariel Helwani (April 15, 2015). "Benson Henderson vs. Michael Johnson targeted for TUF 21 Finale in Florida; venue to be determined". mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Ariel Helwani (May 15, 2015). "Benson Henderson vs. Michael Johnson off TUF 21 Finale card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Guilherme Cruz (July 5, 2015). "Marcio Alexandre Jr. out with rib injury, George Sullivan now meets Dominic Waters at TUF 21 Finale". mmafighting.com. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Staff (July 11, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale weigh-in results: Headliners, 'TUF' finalists hit their marks; two miss". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  10. ^ Staff (July 12, 2015). "McGregor, Faber to coach TUF". ufc.com. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  11. ^ "TUF 21 Finale". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  12. ^ Luke Thomas (July 13, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale bonuses: Stephen Thompson claims $50,000 with Jake Ellenberger stoppage". mmafighting.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Staff (July 13, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale salaries: Jorge Masvidal earns event-high $102,000 payday". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 13, 2015.