The Ultimate Fighter: ATT Vs. Blackzilians Ep. 9 Recap

American Top Team picked up just their second win of the season last week on episode eight. Hayder Hassan dominated Felipe Portela in convincing fashion and earned a majority decision win. The victory earned ATT fifty points and now that the contest is in the final stage, Blackzilians can lose their lead with a loss tonight. Blackzilians teammates gathered around a dining room table after their loss and admitted they were feeling the pressure.

Glenn Robinson pulled Kamarudeen Usman aside and informed him he would be fighting in tonight’s fight. Usman participated in the first fight of the season and kickstarted Blackzilians’ four-fight win streak. Usman seemed excited for the opportunity to step up and sway the momentum back in their favor.

ATT owner Dan Lambert was shown in the locker room standing over former WSOF Welterweight Steve Carl. Carl was told he would be fighting next, and Carl seemed semi-confident he could make weight. After talking with Lambert and his coach, Carl assured them he would be able to make weight without issue.

Usman stepped onto the scale and made weight, but the same couldn’t be said for Carl. Carl initially weighed in a quarter of a pound overweight and it was teased that he had failed. However, it was revealed after the commercial break that he stripped down and nailed 171. After a staredown, the bout was made official: Veteran Steve Carl would step into the octagon with a 5-1 Kamarudeen Usman.

HOME: ATT’s Steve Carl
AWAY: Blackzilians’ Kamarudeen Usman

Round 1: Carl opens up with a stiff two punch combination that put a smile on Usman’s face. Usman works on backing Carl up against the fence and eventually secures his first takedown of the fight. Carl quickly makes his way back to his feet only to fight off another takedown. Carl threatens a guillotine which forces Usman to abandon his superior positioning. It’s not long before Carl’s back is once again against the cage. Usman backed off and chose to pick apart Carl in the middle of the octagon before taking him down. Carl looked terrible toward the end of the round. 10-9 Usman.

Round 2: Usman continued his annihilation of Carl in the second round. Carl was pressed up the fence and eventually thrown to the ground while he sloppily tried to apply a standing straight armbar. Usman hopped on top of him and fought off a triangle choke to gain top control. Carl wall-walked up only to get taken down again. Fatigue was clearly a factor and you have to credit his faulty weight cut to that. Usman smothered Carl for the last remaining 30 seconds of the fight to secure a victory, one hundred points, and home-gym advantage for the next episode.

Kamarudeen Usman def. Steve Carl by way of Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)

Dan Lambert’s back is up against the wall as if they lose their fight in the next episode, they are eliminated from the competition. Do you think they will win the next fight, or is the competition over next episode? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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