The Ultimate Fighter
TUF 21 REPORT 5/27: Penick's thoughts on sixth episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season
May 27, 2015 - 11:15:05 PM TUF 21 REPORT 5/27: Penick's thoughts on sixth episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Time for us to go through another episode of The Ultimate Fighter on Fox Sports 1. American Top Team got on the board last week, and can tie up the score tonight with another win during the 50 point round. It will also mean our first visit to ATT for a fight this season. Let's get to the rundown...

-ATT rightfully celebrates Hayder Hassan's win and get out of the Blackzilians gym quickly. Andrews Nakahara was down off the loss. Jason Jackson thinks they lost the hunger during their four-fight winning streak, while Glenn Robinson says nothing changes, and it's time to rebound.

-Marcelo Alfaya gets probably his first on-camera comments of the season, talking about the food and the house, then saying he's ready to fight.

-Blackzilians are set to pick their guy, and they debate between Jackson, Luiz Buscape, and Vicente Luque. They bring the team in and give them the lecture on getting the hunger back before announcing Jackson as the pick.

Rashad Evans quote: "Everybody doesn't have to get a turn to fight. Now do you know what it comes down to more than anything? Who wants it. Who wants to be out there?"

-Jackson gives some background; he's from Jamaica, he's fighting for his son, and to get his mother out of a rough spot. One of his coaches talks him up, as expected.

-ATT's coaches debate the possibilities, and decide to go with Alfaya, who seems very happy with that opportunity. For those who don't know Alfaya, his most high profile fight came in a loss to Jon Fitch in the WSOF late in 2013.

Alfaya quote: "Monday he told me I or Nathan Coy. But it's me now. It's my time."

-The ATT guys are excited to get the fights back to their gym, while the Blackzilians aren't happy to have dropped a bout. At the fight reveal, Lambert had positive comments about the opposing man Jackson, as did Robinson for Alfaya on a lesser scale, though he commented on Alfaya's seven career losses. Alfaya gave Jackson some crazy eyes in the staredown. And once again, Lambert and Robinson stand behind the two fighters in what continues to be a forced and awkward moment each week.

-Carrington Banks thinks Jackson's getting overlooked by them. ATT immediately goes to film study on Jackson, and the team looks to break down what he does and doesn't do well. Hassan, who fought Jackson himself in a regional event, commented on the matchup, and believes a weakness of Jackson's plays right into Alfaya's penchant for throwing an overhand right. Either foreshadowing or just typical pre-fight talk.

-Lambert thinks Alfaya's better than Jackson everywhere, and plans to use him twice in a couple of weeks to score a win during the 100 point round.

-Jackson feels confident in himself and says he's excited to be considered as the underdog in this one. He said he's going to "put some fear" in the whole team.

-Alfaya's got some strange pre-fight rituals that seem to amuse his teammates as he's doing some odd breathing exercises and grunting the night before the bout.

Alfaya quote: "I no promise victory, I promise the war and the end. That's it."

-Jackson believes he's got the cardio to "break" Alfaya, and says he's going to "bring the fire" in this one.

-ATT's got some drums going and the home gym crowd is amped. Dana White says it's like actually being at a UFC fight with the energy in there.

FIGHT: JASON JACKSON VS. MARCELO ALFAYA

ROUND ONE: Jackson opened with a couple of jabs and an inside leg kick, blocking an overhand right from Alfaya. Jackson connected on a right hand. Both slowed and got a little tentative. Alfaya's mouthpiece popped out for some reason and the ref gave him a warning. They restarted and Jackson continued to land the jab while circling on the outside. Alfaya pressed him back with a jab. Jackson continued to find a home for the jab, but he also kept getting backed up to the cage. Alfaya then shot in, but got stuffed. He tried to pull off a lateral drop, then briefly got a takedown on the other side of the cage, but Jackson popped to his feet and they went back to the clinch briefly before separating. Alfaya scored a solid counter-right after they reset. Jackson went back to the jab, and he landed a few hard strikes. Jackson avoided a rush and got in a few more jabs. Alfaya pressed him back with a couple of jabs of his own. Jackson landed a solid combination. Alfaya kept pressing the pace, but he wasn't being very active on the feet. Jackson landed a good left hook. Alfaya closed distance and shot in, but again got stuffed. He went for the lateral drop, then grabbed for a leg when that didn't work. He popped back to the clinch when Jackson stepped out. Alfaya kept on the takedown attempt, but Jackson stuffed it. Close round; Alfaya was pressing in, Jackson was more active offensively. Lambert comments that he doesn't think it was close. Could lead to disappointment if he actually thought that.

ROUND TWO: Jackson opened with a left hand as he actually came forward a bit. He landed a strike, then Alfaya caught a kick and landed a right hand. Jackson got in a step in knee as he came back forward. He popped Alfaya head back with a hard jab. Jackson connected on a hard overhand right. Alfaya was visibly slower than the first round, and Jackson continued to land from out of Alfaya's range nicely. Alfaya looked for the big shot, but he was getting tagged. Jackson landed a nice combo with an inside leg kick followed by a jab. Alfaya stalked, but Jackson stayed out of range. Nice circling and footwork from Jackson to avoid damage. Jackson wasn't overly active with his strikes, but when he popped out the jabs they kept landing. He got in a nice right hand as Alfaya tried to press in. Jackson landed another counter and circled out. Jackson continued to circle as Alfaya tried to chase him down. He landed a combo and Alfaya shot in. Jackson stopped it at the cage. Alfaya again went for the drop, but Jackson stepped out easily. They smiled at one another after the exchange and touched gloves. Alfaya was bloodied up from the jabs, which Jackson continued after the separation. Jackson got in a solid kick to the body, then circled some more to the horn. All Jackson, but with a close first there could be a third round.

-Back from break, we're getting a decision, this'll be Jackson's fight. The Blackzilians chanted "Let's go home" before the decision.

WINNER: Jackson via majority decision (two 20-18 scores, one 19-19)

-Lambert said he thought Alfaya was their scariest guy coming in, but didn't fight like that. Lambert gave Jackson credit for his activity. Robinson said the goal was to keep the fight standing.

Robinson quote: "My guy was so fast, you need a GPS to find him."

-Dana White again called another fight a disappointment, saying it wasn't what he was expecting. He thinks Alfaya was mentally out of the fight from the first punch that knocked out his mouthpiece.

-Jackson thought he fought a smart fight, and thinks he proved to the ATT crowd that he's got what it takes to compete.

Jackson quote: "I [told] everybody I wanted to be the hero for the team, and guess what? I felt like I was the hero today by bringing the fight back to [our] house."

-Alfaya apologized to Lambert. Lambert said it happens. The ATT coaches were upset and at a loss for words. He says their margin for error is getting less and less going forward.

-Dana White introduces a new twist, saying at the mid-way point here the coaches have the opportunity to bring two new guys in and get rid of two guys currently on the team. We'll see how that plays out next week!

TEAM SCORE (WEEK 6)

ATT: 50
Blackzilians: 150