Episode seven of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 "Draft Dodger," featuring middleweight coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, gets underway and featherweight Roland Delorme has a swollen foot as a result from an infection. He has five days to get ship-shape for his fight against T.J. Dillashaw.
The "draft dodger" in question.
Team Miller brings in former Chute Boxe coach Rafael Cordeiro and Johnny Bedford gets weak in the knees. The former Muay Thai champion schools the cadets in the art of striking and then marches off like the cool and collected badass that he is.
Team Bisping has a little treat of his own and brings in former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" gives a little pep talk before drilling the boys in ground-and-pound. Marcus Brimage stands in awe of Tito's head, which unquestionably gets a rise out of the viewers at home.
Back at the house the group discusses the "bitch move" by T.J. Dillashaw, who talked about being the best 135-pounder in the bunch -- only to then ask for the easiest fight available. Diego and Akira decide it's time to teach the "little boy" a lesson for his intelligent (but unpopular) strategy.
It gets a lil' ugly.
Brandao turns Dillashaw into a pretzel with some painful looking submissions, Corassani repeatedly takes him down hard and then Brimage does his "hulk smash" routine when they spar.
The only bright spot is when T.J. turns the tables on Akira and tosses him like the Sunday paper, because it left Corassani writhing in pain.
Tit, meet tat.
After tempers flare in practice, "The Count" rallies the troops to give the rah-rah-rah we're all teammates speech. It ends with Dillashaw getting the night off.
Following all the drama, we learn that Roland's foot is healing on schedule and that he'll be cleared to fight.
Tiki Ghosn, assistant coach for Bisping, won't be cleared to drive, however, since Miller boxed his car in with cement dividers. Tee-hee. Can we get to the fight already? Yes, we can, because it's my recap. And you don't need to hear about all the pre-fight training montages anyway.
135 lbs.: T.J. Dillashaw (4-0) vs. Roland Delorme (6-2)
Round 1: Gloves touch and Delorme comes out swinging but gets taken down for his efforts. Delorme escapes, Bisping yells "Hands tight!" and he gets taken right back down. Dillashaw works from side control but can't keep his man down. Back on the feet and Delorme gets pushed against the fence and taken down again. Color me reactionary but I believe a pattern is developing here. Roland eating some big elbows. He works his way up and boom right back down. Dills has an arm choke applied but loses it on the roll. Delorme back up and lands a 1-2. Dillashaw gets a takedown stuffed and Delorme with a trip takedown that is reversed; however, Dills is caught in a triangle on the way down south. It doesn't last and he pops out. Time expires with Delorme on his back. Nostradumbass has it 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 2: Dillashaw lunges in and floors him with a huge right and pounces for the finish. Delorme on queer street and flopping around like a fish out of water. Dills either punches himself out or makes an odd decision but chooses to leap into half guard and drop some elbows. Delorme recovers and gets brief wrist control but Dills powers out and blasts him with punches and elbows. Delorme gives up his back, rolls over and gets choked out.
T.J. Dillashaw def. Roland Delorme via submission (rear naked choke)
Now that the elimination fights are in the book, it's time for the semifinals, but because the score is 5-3 in favor of "Mayhem," two guys from Team Miller will be forced to compete against each other. Dana and the coaches bring the fighters in to get some feedback.
Johnny Bedford has no problem fighting Dodson for selling secrets to Team Bisping. He gets his wish.
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Semifinals:
135 lbs.: T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dustin Pague
135 lbs.: John Dodson vs. Johnny Bedford
145 lbs.: Akira Corassani vs. Dennis Bermudez
145 lbs. Diego Brandao vs. Bryan Caraway
Stay tuned next week as Team Bisping pulls off "the wildest prank in Ultimate Fighter history," right before Akira Corassani and Dennis Bermudez face off for a spot in the live finale.
See you in seven!


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