The Ultimate Fighter 32 - Episode 1

oh [ __ ] for over 31 action-packed Seasons the ultimate fighter has been a gauntlet that only the most skilled and mentally tough mix martial artists can survive a pressure cooker that over the years has produced world champions and UFC icons to the let the chaos begin I got you in my sight got you locked in now the toughest competition in sports marches on with the most International group of Warriors ever 16 talented fighters from 14 different countries all pursuing their dream to represent their Homeland and take their one shot to win a coveted UFC contract and Achieve ultimate Glory who will shine the brightest on the biggest of stages and punch their ticket to the most prestigious fight organization in the world who will become the next Ultimate Fighter [Music] [Music] what's up Kang what up this is the 32nd season of The Ultimate Fighter the first Ultimate Fighter was actually filmed in 2004 so this has been 20 years in 20 years this show has created 15 UFC world champions one of you could be next we're here to help you we want you to do well we want you to succeed this is your house this is your gym this is your opportunity all right so one thing that I always ask you guys to do is remember why you're here it's probably going to be the hardest thing you've ever done you don't think so right now but as you start to get in this you're living and you're training with the people that you're going to fight and all of you have the same goal you all want to become the next Ultimate Fighter this is the most International cast we've ever had you guys represent 14 different nations here we have two weight classes featherweight and middleweight but only one featherweight and one middleweight will become the next Ultimate Fighter like I said biggest opportunity of your life we always try to do things to make this much easier for you including the coaches we brought in two of the the baddest women of all time current Flyway Champion Alexa grao and for former flyweight Champion Valentina shv shenko Valentina shv shenko is an absolute legend in the UFC she is without a doubt one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport eight consecutive wins for the greatest flyweight champion in UFC history she holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in any UFC Women's Division and was on a badass nine-fight win streak before losing the flyweight Title by submission to Alexa grao and in 2023 Alexa crosso is your Champion Valentina tried to win back the belt later that year but in the rematch and still the Undisputed UFC flyweight Champion Alexa so she's still on a quest to get that belt back Alexa grao is the first Mexican woman to ever hold a title in the UFC oh wow big one two from Gro finds the target ever since moving up to the flyweight division in 2020 her career has taken off here comes Alexa Gro she's sharp and every time we see her she's getting better she's undefeated as a flyweight and earned her first title in 2023 with that win over Valentina UFC 285 it was a win that surprised a lot of people many considered to be one of the biggest upsets we've ever had in the UFC and Alexa is quickly laying claim to being one of the best female fighters ever in our organization these two are scheduled to face off for a third epic fight at the end of this season while Valentina is hoping that the third time is a charm Alexa is looking to prove that she is without a doubt the Undisputed champion of the flyweight division your coaches are going to bring you in to the gym and they're going to evaluate you and then we'll come back and pick teams okay good luck everybody one of my dreams honestly was you know like imagine like one day you could be a coach welcome guys I know how important this opportunity is for each one of you so we are here to help you to win show your skills and let's go guys the evaluations was like we do in our normal Training Day nice that's to see how it was their target their movement change one in one one in one we saw a lot of talent a that flow is perfect so it was cool you know because I know how hard they've been working all these years for this opportunity I don't really have a preference for which team I want to be on I'm a very open-minded fighter so I believe I'll be able to learn and take things from either one of them only kid I'm very happy that I am leading this season very good very good it's the opportunity of his lifetime all the guys they was uh so motivated so energize it to show the best of themselves yeah Mexican guys yeah mexic taking this opportunity with all his heart he's hitting hard he's kicking hard he has grabing yeah he has wrestling yeah no one of the number one picks okay yeah definitely I like um this boy a lot black he was probably the best Grappler and his striking was good and he has very good Shin so in his fight he's kind kind of like take a shot but continue for all 16 Fighters they are amazingly strong so they going to bring not only good fights but also good shows all right guys your coaches have evaluated you and now we're going to do the team picks I'm going to flip the coin this side's Valentina this side's Alexa Alexa gets the first pick now when you pick if you pick a middleweight you have to pick a middleweight so you guys go back and forth you have to pick out of the same weight class Alexa you won go ahead and pick your first fighter we're going to choose featherweight youo from Mexico Alexa picked me the first and I was happy because she was she's from my same country Rudy South Africa my first Peak was Rudy and I think he's very strong uh very technically good Robert from Switzerland actually Robert he came from tiger and he's supposed to be in my team you rob my fighter I'm sorry sham Russia KH from Australia Lithuania Patty from Ireland it fills me with pride to represent Ireland you know if there's two things that Irish are known for being good at it's fighting and drinking and I'm not much of a drinker so I was always going to be a fighter Mark South Africa [Applause] big are you kidding me are you kidding me I know he's my guy he's my country labor sorry sorry W Nathan England ombr Finland Brian USA meon from Brazil it's great being de with May Fire It's My Destiny and I'm going to win the season number 32 think I don't need one Telly Valentina pick your next fighter I just grabbed my fighter and bringing him to my [Applause] [Music] [Music] team I just want to welcome everyone to the Team Bullet because my Dre name is a bullet right and I have very special thing it's it's our symbol and our Talisman so I have one bullet for each one so this one is for you wow so it's GNA bring good luck for all the team members yeah you can't bring that back home with you you'll all be in jail I need Dana in my team so he got his bullet as well all right I just want to reiterate one more time remember why you're here guys have come a long way think about all the things you've sacrificed in your life in your career to get right here right now this is it this is your biggest opportunity you've ever had whatever you need to succeed let us know and we'll help you good luck you guys gentlemen Welcome to The Ultimate [Applause] [Music] Fighter get in get get in get let's go let's go let's go get in get and we got the hole upstair the house is dope I think um Dana set us up with a great house oh we about to be chilling we got the fire pit there running in a hotel to kind of dial in and then it's cool to do it with people from all around the world what flag is that brother it's Lithuanian flag Mexico Mexico is here so Ireland Mexico and Switzerland to be on the most International season of tough is is a dream come true that looks nice too man really looks nice it's a big honor to represent my country in a good way so these guys go back to their country like you know what I'm an American he's all right me and my dad do the every day of our lives every day we barbecue meat being in the house it feels like an absolute dream come true I feel absolutely blessed Beyond blessed cheers bro cheers my brother nice to meet you like nice to meet you too bro welcome home welcome guys today is one of the most important days we're going to choose a fight I choose the Fighters first so now Valentina goes first sounds good to me and I will start with featherweights Rudy G I choose Rudy against G first fight because I think Rudy strongest fighter in the division and GMO he is amazing wrestler so it's going to be a good match up to see who has the all the potential to fight in the finals let's [Music] go my name is Rudy Roots I'm 27 I'm representing South Africa and what an honor to be representing South Africa all right pulling up to the family farm this is where I grew up in the heart of the African bush where I'm from is a quite a small town and it's very close to the border of Zimbabwe and mosm Beque as you can see it's still Africa Africa as you know it growing up I stayed on a family farm has been in our name for Generations now this is a dairy form cattle form and a chicken form all three at the same place any F in South Africa they want their kids to play rugby rugby is like a national sport in South Africa but I wasn't as big as the other boys so he said you know what we going the wrestling route father is on the grill where we can usually find him Fight Like A Champion got to eat like a champion fight like a champ eat like a CH I'm so lucky to have my father as my coach so when I was about 6 seven years old I won my first national title when I was 14 years old me and my father sat down and we had a discussion what do I want to pursue and I told my father I want to be a UFC athlete to be a father and a coach is extremely difficult but my father said that the biggest joy in his life was being able to walk a very close road with his son home base for myself where I put the majority of work in is with my father imp poan at our home gymnasium this is where all the magic happens I do my wrestling there my ground workor and my striking I had a chance to go and try and qualify for the Olympic Games and wrestling and we put that aside to chase the lifelong dream of becoming an ultimate fighter hi guys me and my girlfriend we grew up in the same gymnasium this is your training training here she is also a national champion in wrestling so I can't ask for anybody as understanding as her and whatever I do I do it for my father as well I'm blessed to be in a position where I can make them proud now I'm ready to show the world what the South African fighting Spirit truly means is it's an honor that makes me a dangerous opponent I was Mexican Olympic wrestler I have a lot experience competing I'm an Olympian guy I am an Olympian I'm an athlete I'm a winner I'm fighting against ruy from South Africa my strategy is um keep distance moving laterals faking a lot just to create space and make him react with memo we are working a lot of boxing so I I teach him a few exercise that I used to do in boxing classes you know how to hit the the ball with precision and movement and and technique so yeah that's the main goal with him I'm a boxer I love to box and I'm teaching them as as much as I [Laughter] can good morning Ryan I just want to tell from the beginning uh okay so on the training we don't drink water nothing when you are drinking water you kind of like focusing on that you are tired this is the way how you kind of like develop your Champions mindset water or before or after during the training nothing yeah we don't drink with Valentina she's a very strict coach and we don't drink any water during the sessions which is something new I think it's a mental Advantage it's it's challenging it pushes your your mental toughness we just kick legs very fast I believe how you train this is how you perform this why I believe in strong trainings and the best perform Rudy you change the position if you want to you want to sweep him down you can sweep him down as well yeah Rudy is complete fighter he's strong with his takeown defense he has very good cardio and he has powerful strikes GMO he is wrestler but Rudy has amazing wrestling as well so game plan is no matter what just be dominant punch it there you go we've sharpened up on all the Striking facets and that's where I feel I've got the upper hand yes and another thing is the kicks lightning F kicks we've added to my game beautiful beautiful those points I think I can add in a fight and I think we're going to see them come fight day [Music] two my best friend is there I'm lucky have good girls around me my mother my sister my most precious treasure in my life my daughter Sophia is a power look at this she's the artist she going to be the most famous artist I think these tears is not like Witness is his power you will see you Mexico I grew up waha I started doing wrestling when I was 11 years old and I started competing in National and I start winning I was 10 times national champion and qualified to the Olympics and London 2012 I was three times silver medalist when my daughter born I just decide to be a fighter because I get like another motivation for her it's a nice place to live it's close for to fight ready I just decideed to move to Arizona because I know that if I come to the United States there more knowledge more competition so that's why I decide to move and now I'm living here by myself I'm divorced my daughter lives in guara with her mother and one of my goals is bring her with me because she's my inspiration so give her a better life training here to fight ready SC my record is seven wins and one defeat I took this this opportunity because I want to just make a legacy for for Mexico I want to inspire the the youth wrers that in Mexico I want to inspire my my daughter top 32 let's go the hardest part is being away from from my daughter because being a father has been one of my dreams so but it's it's kind of hard because she's not close to me now but I know she will be she will be soon I'm working hard for that to the scale Rudy Roots Rudy be real still talk H out the way sir 145 next to the scale guer Mo Torres 145 [Applause] our most International season of The Ultimate Fighter ever is about to kick off with a bang as Mexico and South Africa face off memo and Rudy Roots were the top two featherweights chosen during the team picks and both are Elite wrestlers so this should be a great fight Rudy is coming in with a 4in height Advantage so it's going to be interesting to see how memo counters that I can't wait for this one and it is a amazing start to the [Music] competition this fight I'm not just fighting for myself I'm fighting for my country I feel like I've got my entire country behind me knowing that regardless of the outcome they will support me and they will love me and I feel motivated Beyond any comprehension got a headful of steam I'm never looking back F in the air eyes on the priz when the bell rings I'm taking M my inspiration is my daughter I want to be the best the best athlete the best fighter the best dad because I have a new inspiration to be the best version of me get it get it get it you know I'm coming for you com your opponent he's wrestler and everything he's going to do it's one toest his kicks is visible you can use [Music] attack cuz I'm coming for yeah use every single opportunity what we need is Victory ready touch [Music] yep above all else I fight for my family I fight for a future for everyone in my country when I step food into the Octagon I feel everything inside my soul ready up for the war that is to come [Music] [Applause] it's not about money it's not about trophies it's about dreams if you work hard you're going to achieve it my daughter I get inspired to show her that you can achieve with your [Music] rings gentlemen this will be a two- round fight in the event of a draw we will go to a third round sudden Victory overtime you ready to fight yes sir ready let's do it speech speech speech speee [Music] [Applause] spee [Music] [Applause] side [Applause] go on top go on top yes yes yes stay him yep yep yep keep going fingers off the cage yes yes there it is now push with that elbow need to KNE to the leg as well [Applause] going down in get your left hip the cage get your left hip to the cage yes you're almost there get your shoulder under El you're almost there [Music] yes work this work [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] take take down yes nice knee good control don't forget free the arm very good very good same s SE the hold down [Applause] cat that next back and [Music] forth work now to work [Applause] again again when he goes [Applause] catch let's finish this round I see B [Applause] stay sit sit Rudy you did good your round it's everything fine but when you hold don't let him take your back like no b as a cage use everything second okay okay same SC same SC same SC the chin CH the chin [Applause] backing him up [Applause] [Applause] get up get up [Applause] heav [Applause] minutes left we got [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] out the back come out the back turn come out the [Applause] [Applause] gra that leg grab that leg yes stay stay stay very good stand up yes stay there don't let him go out stay on top top finish on top stay there don't let him get out stayy stay very heavy 2 minutes Ry two minutes stay on top your control [Applause] elb [Applause] El tables again stay here the arm and try [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] against [Applause] [Applause] R work work it's your time don't time to rest rest last minute push him push push push up up yes keep going yeah work work work control control [Applause] [Applause] [Music] it's going to be one more sit down don't let him control you on top okay guys we're going to another round this is your round don't let him control you second so [Music] Rudy it's your time ready let's [Applause] [Music] [Applause] fight for [Applause] nice defense nice defense hands up up [Music] [Applause] [Applause] hook pressure [Applause] your [Applause] [Applause] pressure head control control yes head control come on let's work [Applause] [Applause] stand up move move move stand up stand up yes yes keep going keep going hands up hands [Applause] up watch for the punes watch for the punes yes the yes control down [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] strong stay stand up stand up yes work work yes KN KN yes keep control very good stay there stay there keep kn [Applause] spee fore [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] you did it you did it for your father for your father she will be proud of you will very proud of you Ro sir after three rounds the judges have given us a decision roie rits [Applause] advances let do it so round one Rudy was able to control G and strike with his knees stri in the second round memo you know he was able to be on top land some punches I think he did a really good adjustment in this second round let's fight after Rudy took the first round and memo took the second round the judges sent it to a third sudden Victory round Rudy was able to shake off that second round and once again use his size advantage to overwhelm memo in the grappling control control hey memo has that Olympic wrestling pedigree but in the third Rudy was just too much and he pulled off the first win in the quarterfinals very impressive it feels absolutely amazing I feel like I did my father proud I feel like I did myself proud I knew it was going to be a scrap in the wrestling Department a scrap on the feet a scrap in the grappling exchanges and to have the better of that it's uh it's absolutely amazing I'm just happy I got my hand raised at the end of the [Music] day brother what a woman you too brother your wife and children can be very proud of you brother we worri us man don't thank you brother nice wanted to share the cage with you nobody knows the struggles we do man love you brother we are all one doesn't matter where we're from what we do what we share we all fight for the same reasons we all fight for family good job guys good Jobo congratulations I gave everything as a Mexican I never give up I still fight on the as the last moment hey man we're proud of you brother brother you did you fought really well man you fought really well you fought a great fight to the end f today I couldn't make it and I hope that all Mexico is is proud what I did tonight but it was so close brother and you didn't stop swinging to the Bell bro so be proud of [Music] yourself I down after the second it's like what what could you die tell you now I pray to God before this fight if it does go to the Deep Waters if I can hear my father's voice and I did and to be able to push through that and secure the third round is is amazing and I can't wait to tell my father that Team Bullet Team Bullet for sure no other way let's go so team shf shenko takes the first win and now it's time for fight number two and because Alexa got to pick the first middleweight a team picks Valentina gets to pick the first middleweight fight next one middleweights I choose sham and Oman magedov of Russia versus Shaban of Finland is a great matchup to kick off the middleweights both of these guys only have one loss to their name and both have solid well-rounded skills this should be an evenly matched and very exciting fight thank you guys it's going to be good fight on this season of The Ultimate Fighter it's the ultimate fighter so hey let the games be played [Music] [Applause] break keep us down this is the area that you fractured Robert I kill you right now right now let's go I'm fighting for this flag I'm out here representing my country it's Do or Die yeah unbelievable [Music]