Team Jones’ Bubba McDaniel and Team Sonnen’s Kevin Casey had a chance to redeem themselves following losses on The Ultimate Fighter 17 as the two competed in a wild card fight and it was McDaniel that picked up the victory.
As soon as the fight started, McDaniel — who called out Casey earlier in the season –moved forward and Casey pulled guard immediately. He went for a guillotine choke and got back to his feet before securing double underhooks and a nice trip takedown. Casey looked to pass into side control and after fending off McDaniel’s long limbs he advanced to the dominant position.
With 90 seconds remaining in the round the two got back to their feet where McDaniel, a teammate of his coach Jon Jones with Greg Jackson’s team, landed some knees to the body before taking McDaniel down again. Casey finished the round in mount where he attempted a guillotine choke but the horn sounded before he could lock it in and squeeze.
Before the fight, Jones tried to motivate McDaniel by telling him that he is one of the best training partners he has and possesses the talent and potential to be great when he fights aggressively and comes forward.
In the second round, McDaniel took that advice to heart and came out more aggressive. He landed a flush leg kick and initiated a clinch right off the bat and unlike in the first round it was him who took the fight to the ground. For the remainder of the round McDaniel landed punches and elbows to a fatigued Casey.
Third rounds have been rare occurrences this season, but since Casey clearly won the first and McDaniel clearly won the second, this fight needed a third and deciding round.
However, when it was time to start the final frame Casey didn’t answer the bell.
“I felt great in the first round and halfway through I second round my body just shut down,” Casey said. “In 2010 I had a situation where I had kidney failure during a fight and (that’s what was happening).”
Casey was taken away in an ambulance for examination.
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McDanial joined his teammates Dylan Andrews, Collin Hart and Josh Samman, plus Team Sonnen’s Jimmy Quinlan, Luke Barnatt, Kelvin Gastelum and Uriah Hall in the quarterfinals.
Following the wild card bout, UFC president Dana White, Jones and Chael Sonnen consulted the fighters still active in the tournament and then chose the four quarterfinal matchups, which are as follows:
— Collin Hart vs. Kelvin Gastelum
— Dylan Andrews vs. Luke Barnatt
— Josh Samman vs. Jimmy Quinlan
— Uriah Hall vs. Bubba McDaniel
On the next episode of TUF 17,a double dose of action as Andrews vs. Barnatt and Hart vs. Gastelum takes place.
Also on next week’s episode, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey visits and trains with Team Sonnen.
