TUF 34: Episode 2 Recap
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The Ultimate Fighter: Team Cormier vs. Team Bisping airs every Tuesday on Paramount+ at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
The season premiered on June 14th, and features competitors in the men’s bantamweight and women’s strawweight divisions. TUF 34 Episode 2 delivers plenty of emotion and drama as the competition intensifies.
Here’s what went down this week:
TUF 34, Episode 2: ‘Scousers Don’t Get Knocked Out’
Scousers Don’t Get Knocked Out aired on on June 16th on Paramount+.
After Cormier ignores his coaching staff to make the next fight matchup, the teams resume training. The first bantamweight fight of the competition.
Episode Notes
- In Episode 1, Daniel Cormier and his coaches’ disagree on matching Christian Strong against Marlon Jones. The move creates a little tension and some words on Team Cormier, but it doesn’t appear to be a major issue yet.
- Meanwhile, Team Cormier’s coaches continue talking trash to Michael Bisping‘s fighters, and it seems to be getting under their skin.
- Fighters begin forming friendships around the house, but tensions are also starting to build. Tina Black, a Brazilian strawweight on Team Cormier, grows frustrated with teammates who aren’t cleaning up after themselves in the house. It feels like things could boil over before long.
- We get introduced to Marlon Jones. He’s a 24-year-old from Liverpool, England, and a southpaw kickboxer with decent Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Wrestling is considered the weakest part of his game, and Team Cormier likes to remind him constantly.
- He has fast hands and embraces the mantra “Scousers don’t get knocked out.”
- Jones’ mother died when he was seven, and his father was sent to prison shortly afterward. So, he was raised by his grandmother and uncle, who now also serves as his coach.
- We also get introduced to Christian Strong. He’s a 28-year-old American wrestler from Everett, Washington. He entered foster care at a young age and also experienced periods of homelessness while growing up. He credits wrestling with shaping his life and giving him direction.
- Outside the cage, he works full-time in construction while pursuing his MMA career and won a championship with a regional Canadian promotion in his last fight.
- The fight for Episode 3 is announced, as strawweights take center stage. Team ‘Bisping’s Gigi Canuto vs. Anita Karim from Team Cormier
The Fight on TUF 34 Episode 2
TUF Fight Rating (1–5 Scale)
1️⃣ 😐 Meh / Okay – Not much happened
2️⃣ 🙂 Decent – Solid fight, nothing special
3️⃣ 🔥 Good / Fun – Crowd got into it, entertaining spots
4️⃣ 💥 Great / Must-See – High energy, memorable moments
5️⃣ 🤯 Epic / Instant Classic – Mind-blowing, fight of the season candidate
Christian Strong (9-1) vs. Marlon Jones (5-0) Bantamweight
- Results: Christian Strong Wins via Unanimous Decision
- Rating: 🙂
Thoughts on the fight:
- Christian Strong entered the fight with a clear wrestling and grappling advantage. Matt Jones was expected to hold the edge on the feet and needed to keep the fight standing.
- Strong secured an early takedown within the first minute of Round 1, though Jones was initially able to work his way back to his feet.
- Any striking exchanges were brief, as Strong repeatedly landed takedowns and mat returns to keep Jones from finding a rhythm.
- Strong established smothering top control throughout the opening round and stayed active enough with ground strikes to avoid referee warnings.
- Jones spent much of the first round being controlled on the mat and ultimately finished the round on his back.
- Strong closed Round 1 with some of his most impactful ground-and-pound from top position.
- Strong opened Round 2 with another early takedown and maintained constant pressure for the remainder of the fight.
- Jones showed urgency with a submission attempt early in the second round and managed to stand up several times, but he was unable to create separation before being dragged back to the mat.
- Strong completely neutralized Jones with relentless wrestling and control, though he did not inflict significant damage.
- Jones was never able to establish any meaningful offense, as Strong’s pressure and grappling shut down his striking game.
- Dana White noted that dominant wrestling without a finish isn’t the most exciting style and won’t necessarily earn extra attention.
- Even so, Strong’s wrestling should carry him deep into the competition, and the rest of the house should take notice of his grappling ability.
- Overall, it was a frustrating and uneventful performance for Jones, who was never able to get his striking going.
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