On July 12, 2015 it was announced that the coaches for the season would be Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber. The coaches were not expected to face each other at the end of the season.[1]
The UFC held open tryouts for the show on March 29, 2015. The casting call was for Lightweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights.[2] It was announced on July 12 by Dana White that 16 lightweights would be on the show – eight from the United States, and eight from Europe.[1] In August 2015, the UFC officially announced the cast of this season, featuring 32 fighters competing in qualifying fights to enter the show.[3]
Europe: Thibault Gouti (France), Paulo Boer (Netherlands), Martin Delaney (Scotland), Vlado Sikic (Croatia), Mohamed Grabinski (Germany), Djamil Chan (Netherlands), Sean Carter (England).
United States: Johnny Nuñez, Andres Quintana, Jason Soares, Brandon Ricetti, Tim Welch, Mike Flach, Austin Springer, Brennan Sevin.
Episodes
Episode 1: Europe vs. United States (September 9, 2015)[4]
Dana White welcomed the 32 fighters, consisting of all lightweights, to the show. He introduced them to the coaches, Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber.
The preliminary fights began:
USA – Ryan Hall defeated Johnny Nuñez via submission (heel hook) in the first round.
Europe – David Teymur defeated Thibault Gouti via unanimous decision after two rounds.
USA – Thanh Le defeated Andres Quintana via KO (punch) in the second round.
Europe – Mehdi Baghdad defeated Artem Lobov via majority decision after two rounds.
USA – Julian Erosa defeated Jason Soares via unanimous decision after two rounds.
Europe – Saul Rogers defeated Paulo Boer via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round.
USA – Billy Quarantillo defeated Brandon Ricetti via TKO (punches) in the second round.
Europe – Frantz Slioa defeated Martin Delaney via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.
USA – Jason Gonzaléz defeated Tim Welch via TKO (punches) in the second round.
Europe – Abner Lloveras defeated Vlado Sikic via verbal submission (shoulder injury) in the first round.
USA – Tom Gallicchio defeated Mike Flach via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.
Europe – Martin Svensson defeated Mohamed Gabinski via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Europe – Marcin Wrzosek defeated Djamil Chan via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.
Europe – Sascha Sharma defeated Sean Carter via unanimous decision after two rounds.
USA – Chris Gruetzemacher defeated Austin Springer via TKO (strikes) in the second round.
USA – James Jenkins defeated Brennan Sevin via unanimous decision after two rounds.
Dana White reminds the fighters that the winning fighter and coach will get a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
White kicked off the tournament by flipping a coin to determine which team will pick the first fight. Team Faber wins the coin toss and will have control of fight selection on the next episode.
Coaches McGregor and Faber meet with their respective teams. McGregor says he doesn't feel a responsibility to coach anyone, but rather provide the team with the best mental and physical conditions possible to win fights. Faber takes a different approach than McGregor. He plans to be more hands-on and says everyone on the team must contribute in order to find successful results.
Dana White visits gym and reveals each coach will be granted the opportunity to bring one fighter back who was eliminated during the entry round of fights to make the “TUF 22” cast. Coach McGregor unsurprisingly selects current training partner Artem Lobov, while Faber selects Johnny Nuñez. White also announces that with two new athletes joining the show, there will be nine quarter-finalists instead of the usual eight. As a result, one winning fighter whom White determines has the worst performance in victory will not move to the next round.
Ryan Hall defeated Frantz Slioa via submission (heel hook) in the first round.
Faber announces the next fight: Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Sascha Sharma.
Episode 3: Recognize the Enemy (September 23, 2015)[6]
UFC President Dana White tried to explain McGregor's unique approach to coaching his team. He doesn't show up for the morning sessions, which focuses on light training. However, McGregor always arrives for the evening session, which focuses on technique.
Prior to the official weigh-ins for the Sharma/Gruetzmacher bout, McGregor and Faber have a conversation about Dillashaw's fight. McGregor says Faber should fight Dillashaw even though they are teammates. He says Dillashaw is “the only fight for you.” Faber indicates that he is not interested in the fight, but McGregor continues to pester him over the situation.
Chris Gruetzemacher defeated Sascha Sharma via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Faber announces the next fight: Tom Gallicchio vs. Marcin Wrzosek.
Episode 4: A Faithless Foe (September 30, 2015)[7]
McGregor and Faber exchange words outside the dressing rooms and Faber tells McGregor that he should attend all team practices if he's going to be so angry about fight results. The coaches exchange words but McGregor remains firm in his stance that his role is not to babysit the athletes.
At the next Team McGregor training session, McGregor begins to change his mind on his approach to coaching. He indicates he can't help but become emotionally invested in the fights.
Team Faber's Johnny Nuñez, who was selected as one of the returning fighters after being defeated in the elimination round, decides to skip practice. Faber expresses frustration in the athlete at the evening training session.
Marcin Wrzosek defeated Tom Gallicchio via unanimous decision after two rounds.
McGregor announces the next fight: Saul Rogers vs. Billy Quarantillo.
The fighters return to the "TUF" house, and Team Faber's Tom Gallicchio is upset with his loss to Marcin Wrzosek on the previous episode. The 10-year veteran says he's tired of disappointments and setbacks, and he begins to question his future.
Coaches and fighters from both teams enjoy some relaxation time outside of the house. They travel to a Las Vegas restaurant for dinner and drinks. The fighters are grateful for the bonding time with the coaches outside of a training environment.
Team Faber's Chris Gruetzemacher begins to show signs of a succumbing to the pressure of the competition. Despite earning a victory in his opening-round fight, Gruetzemacher shares frustration with living in the house. He says he's not comfortable with the training tactics or the members of his team.
Saul Rogers defeated Billy Quarantillo via unanimous decision after two rounds.
McGregor announces the next fight: Mehdi Baghdad vs. Julian Erosa.
Episode 6: Snake in the Grass (October 21, 2015)[9]
Team Faber has a guest trainer as Julian Erosa finalizes his preparation. UFC bantamweight champion and “TUF 14” runner-up T.J. Dillashaw joins the Team Faber coaching staff to help provide guidance and share knowledge with the athletes.
Faber explains his relationship with Dillashaw and the well-publicized riff with former head trainer Duane Ludwig and Team Alpha Male. Dana White discusses McGregor's pestering of Faber about the situation over the course of the season, and Dillashaw believes a confrontation with McGregor is bound to occur.
McGregor, Faber and Cody Garbrandt engage in an argument over the Dillashaw situation. McGregor states that T.J. is simply appearing on the show to better his own interests. He goes on to predict TJ's apparent departure from Team Alpha Male, some months later. When Conor continues to press the issue, a member of Faber's team attempts to speak up. Conor challenges him to "do something" about it, when Garbrandt engages and proceeds to push him. Conor does not budge and a skirmish erupts between both teams. The fighters eventually calm down and the teams separate. Dillashaw arrives and McGregor confronts him about his relationship with Ludwig. T.J. simply has no real response back.
Julian Erosa defeated Mehdi Baghdad via majority decision after two rounds.
Faber announces the next fight: Thanh Le vs. Martin Svensson.
Episode 7: Mental Breakdown (November 4, 2015)
After a disagreement on who had the most boring fight between the two, Team Faber members Chris Gruetzemacher and Julian Erosa get into a heated argument that leads to a drunken confrontation at the "TUF" house. This causes the rest of their teammates and the Team McGregor members to break it up before it gets physical.
In order to dress up like McGregor for the fight, as a joke, Faber takes his team to the local thrift store to buy cheesy clothes at a fraction of the cost to McGregor's highly expensive fancy threads.
Martin Svensson defeated Thanh Le via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round.
McGregor announces the next fight: James Jenkins vs. Artem Lobov.
Episode 8: Heart Is not Enough (November 11, 2015)
Artem Lobov defeated James Jenkins via TKO (punches) in the first round.
David Teymur defeated Johnny Nuñez via unanimous decision after three rounds.
McGregor announces the final fight: Abner Lloveras vs. Jason Gonzaléz.
Episode 9: Bullseye (November 18, 2015)
Faber and McGregor compete in this season's coaches challenge; a target game consisting of dropping watermelons off a helicopter. Faber wins the challenge much to the dismay of McGregor.
Abner Lloveras defeated Jason Gonzaléz via unanimous decision after two rounds.
Before the quarter-final match-ups are announced, Chris Gruetzemacher is the winning preliminary fighter chosen not to advance to the quarter-finals.
The quarter final match-ups are announced as:
Artem Lobov vs. Martin Svensson
Saul Rogers vs. Ryan Hall
Marcin Wrzosek vs. David Teymur
Abner Lloveras vs. Julian Erosa
Episode 10: Nice and Flowy (November 25, 2015)
After chosen not to advance to the quarter-finals, Chris Gruetzemacher gets a second chance when Martin Svensson's elbow is sore from his last fight against Thanh Le's kimura attempt. He goes to the doctor and an MRI showed his elbow is broken and he is eliminated from the show.
Dana throws the fighters a pool party at the "TUF" house for having exciting performances this season, and to relax, recharge and have fun.
Artem Lobov defeated Chris Gruetzemacher via KO (punches) in the second round.
Saul Rogers defeated Ryan Hall via majority decision after two rounds.
Episode 11: Bone on Bone (December 2, 2015)
Marcin Wrzosek defeated David Teymur via majority decision after two rounds.
Julian Erosa defeated Abner Lloveras via split decision after three rounds.
After the fight, Artem Lobov calls out Julian Erosa, believing Erosa was "gifted" two decisions and asks Dana White to make this fight happen next.
The semi-final match-ups are announced as:
Saul Rogers vs. Marcin Wrzosek
Artem Lobov vs. Julian Erosa
Episode 12: Here For Myself (December 9, 2015)
Saul Rogers defeated Marcin Wrzosek via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round.
UFC Featherweight champion José Aldo visits the TUF gym to train Team Faber, showing the fighters pointers with their Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Artem Lobov defeated Julian Erosa via KO (punches) in the first round.
A fast forward interview with Dana White reveals that Saul Rogers lied during his visa application and had problems getting into the United States again. Therefore, he was pulled from the finale and replaced by Ryan Hall.
Conor McGregor squares up with José Aldo after he turned up to assist Team Faber in their training.
Tournament results
Elimination round
Team USA
Team Europe
Method
Round
Ryan Hall
Frantz Slioa
SUB
1
Chris Gruetzemacher
Sascha Sharma
UD
3
Tom Gallicchio
Marcin Wrzosek
UD
2
Billy Quarantillo
Saul Rogers
UD
2
Julian Erosa
Mehdi Baghdad
MD
2
Thanh Le
Martin Svensson
SUB
2
James Jenkins
Artem Lobov
TKO
1
Johnny Nuñez
David Teymur
UD
3
Jason Gonzalez
Abner Lloveras
UD
2
Tournament bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Finale
Saul Rogers
MD
Ryan Hall
2
Saul Rogers
SUB
Marcin Wrzosek
2
Marcin Wrzosek
MD
David Teymur
2
Ryan Hall**
UD
Artem Lobov
3
Artem Lobov
KO
Chris Gruetzemacher*
2
Artem Lobov
KO
Julian Erosa
1
Julian Erosa
SD
Abner Lloveras
3
* Martin Svensson was originally scheduled to face Artem Lobov, but pulled out of the fight on episode 10 due to a broken elbow. He was replaced by Chris Gruetzemacher, who was the winning preliminary fighter chosen not to advance to the quarter-finals.
** After the conclusion of the season, it was revealed that Rogers was pulled from the tournament finale due to visa issues. He was replaced by Ryan Hall.
Legend
Team McGregor
Team Faber
UD
Unanimous Decision
MD
Majority Decision
SD
Split Decision
SUB
Submission
(T) KO
(Technical) Knockout
The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale
The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale
The poster for The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale
Mirsad Bektic was expected to face Tatsuya Kawajiri at the event. However, Bektic pulled out of the fight on November 27 citing injury.[15] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Jason Knight.[16]
Saul Rogers was expected to face Artem Lobov in the Lightweight final of this season. However, Rogers was not allowed to participate after it was discovered that he had falsified information on his visa application, restricting his travel to the United States. In turn, Rogers was replaced by fellow cast member Ryan Hall. Subsequently, the event will be the second to feature two fighters who had previously been eliminated from the competition to reach the finals, the first being The Ultimate Fighter 11.[18] It was later announced that the UFC decided to cut Rogers from the organization due to the incident.[19]
On February 10, it was announced that Konstantin Erokhin tested positive for drostanolone in a pre-fight, in-competition test. The test was administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), not a test administered by USADA.[20] On March 23, the NSAC announced he was suspended for 12 months and fined $3,300 retroactive to the date fight.[21]
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[23]
Fight of the Night: Tony Ferguson vs. Edson Barboza
Performance of the Night:Frankie Edgar and Tony Ferguson
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[24]
