Welcome to yet another episode of “TUF:Nations,” where the best of the rest of the prospects go to try and do enough to get a shot in the UFC.
We get a recap of Westcott/Kelly, and Dan Kelly’s thrashing, and the aftermath of it. Team Australia isn’t all that happy because Dan Kelly apparently got hurt and the Aussies weren’t fans of their celebration. Kajan Johnson apparently has beef with Vik Grujic and Brenda O’Reilly over it. It’s a fairly innocuous argument for a season of TUF, of course, but the show needs an hour of time.
Dan Kelly didn’t break anything, which is good, and we get some frank discussion from him about the fight. He felt embarrassed by his effort. He got blown out of water, thus it’s not all that surprising he’d be up front with it. Bad TUF losses seam to be the ones where guys are the most honest about. Kelly’s also a lot older and has had four stints in the Olympics without medaling, thus I imagine he has a much healthier attitude when it comes to accepting defeat.
With the first round of fights ending now we get talk from the guys figuring out that they could be fighting teammates in the near future for a shot in the finale.
Now we focus on the fight of the guys who conceivably could’ve met in the final. Matthews and Aubin-Mercie are both great prospects coming in to the show and it’s interesting they are meeting up. We get previews of both guys coming in and they look the part of great young prospects.
The guys play video games for a Ferrari ride and an XBOX.
Weigh ins go off without a hitch. We get our first weigh in shenanigan of the season as the Canadian puts a pitcher up of Justin Bieber over his face to taunt Matthews, who kind of looks like him.
Round 1: Not an exciting round as neither guy does much. Aubin-Mercer gets a takedown halfway through the round. Matthews is active off his back but eats some shots for his efforts. 10-9 Aubin
Round 2: The Aussie comes out more aggressive to start and winds up on his back for his efforts. Aubin works his way to back and spends most of the round looking for a rear naked choke. He can’t get it, though, but he’s got the win I think. 10-9 Aubin, 20-18
Official decision: Olivier Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision
Luke Harris vs. Vic Grujic is our final bout of the season before the semi-finals.
