The Ultimate Fighter: ATT Vs. Blackzilians Ep. 8 Recap

American Top Team is struggling to get momentum on their side, and the entire first segment of episode eight concentrated on the successes of Blackzilians. In episode seven, Luque picked up a big victory over Coy to give them their sixth win of seven fights.

We joined the Blackzilians team in the locker room during their celebration, but coach Rashad Evans calmed them down and told them he is not happy with just six wins. Owner Glenn Robinson informed the team Felipe Portela would be fighting next.

Felipe Portela has been training in mixed martial arts since he was just ten years old. He has been living in the United States for seven years and left a camp in San Diego for the Blackzilians. He will try to rally and pick up the seventh victory for his camp, rewarding them the last 50 point fight.

Dan Lambert is convinced Portela is fighting because he is the only Blackzilian yet to step into the octagon. The American Top Team owner made the decision to throw Hayder Hassan into the cage for a second time to give ATT their best chances of a win.

Hassan knocked out Nakahara in the fifth episode of the season in just 48 seconds.

Hassan and Portela squared off after their weigh ins, where they both made weight, and we were reminded of their first meeting outside the show from 2014. Titan Fighting Championship hosted their first fight where Hassan knocked Portela out with a big punch to the forehead.

Hassan vows to repeat his winning performance, but Portela and his team are training hard to avoid a knockout loss. Blackzilians expect Hassan’s power to be a constant threat throughout the fight, so they instructed Portela to push the pace and make him backpedal; Hassan’s power will be taken away if he is constantly walking backwards.

Blackzilains’ Felipe Portela vs. American Top Team’s Hayder Hassan

Round 1: Portela kicked off the fight by applying pressure and landing a takedown. Hassan got back to his feet and was able to fight off a second takedown. Back in the middle of the octagon, it was clear Hassan had the advantage in striking. Portela almost landed another takedown, but Hassan grabbed the fencing to stop it. He was warned by the referee, but not punished. As the round progressed, Portela’s takedown attempts decreased and Hassan’s combinations were thrown more frequent. Hassan started to crack Portela with serious shots, but they weren’t fight threatening. 10-9 Hassan

Round 2: Portela started to press forward again in the second round, but Hassan still controlled the majority of the round with the strikes. This round was less eventful than the first, but it was more competitive. Hassan did not land the stiff shots he did in the opening round and he allowed Portela to dictate where the fight went. Portela landed a takedown in the closing seconds of the round which may have given him the edge to bring the fight to a third round. 10-9 Hassan

Hayder Hassan def. Felipe Portela by way of Majority Decision (20-18, 19-19, 20-18)

Glenn Robinson confronted the referee after the fight about not taking a point away for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown. Blackzilians are not happy with the decision, but Lambert couldn’t care less about their opinion.

American Top Team picked up another win because of Hassan, and they plan to build off of that next week.

Blackzilians- 200 POINTS
ATT- 100 POINTS (GAINS HOME GYM ADVANTAGE)

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