The Return Of The Ultimate Fighter | Episode 6 Recap

Things start off with a Team Volkanovski training session at the UFC APEX and the leader of the squad rejoicing about finally putting one in the win column.

“We did it!” Alexander Volkanovski says, raising his arms to the heavens, laughing. “We get that win and we break that losing streak.

“Next up, Ricky versus Dan,” the featherweight champion continues. “I’m looking forward to that. Ricky is very experienced; he knows what he’s doing in there. I’ve got full confidence in him, so we’re gonna turn it around. Let’s turn this whole thing around. Let’s go!”

Out in the parking lot, Team Ortega initiates the first prank of the season, pulling the tires off a couple of Team Volkanovski vehicles, leaving them on jacks, and providing the coaches with two horses, a tiny horse, and a donkey to ride home instead.

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“There’s points where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to respect this guy,’ and then there are points where I just **** all over him,” explains Ortega, as the tires come off the second Team Volkanovski vehicle.

“I’m slowly getting under their skin,” he adds. “This is basically saying, ‘Bro, shut the f*** up.’”

Volkanovski and his coaches give Team Ortega full marks for their prank, appreciating the efforts, while promising to respond with something big of their own in the future.Back at the house, Ricky and three of the Team Volkanovski fighters that have already competed sit out back chopping it up, learning a little more about their teammate that is readying to step into the Octagon this week.

Turcios explains that he and his girlfriend have been together for seven years and met through combat sports, as he was teaching a jiu jitsu class she was taking.

“Dan’s just a little tornado when he’s in there,” begins Ortega, breaking down his team’s latest bantamweight hopeful, as he’s shown working on combinations with Dan. “This guy is just a wrecking machine when he’s in there, but I want him to know that can be your downfall right now.

“I don’t want his mental mindset messing him up. Let’s make it a smart fight. Let’s make it chess, not checkers.”

“I truly believe that I’m the better fighter,” Dan offers in a confessional interview before highlights of his LFA 90 win over Jackson Filho play. “He may be the better martial artist; I’m the better fighter.

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“My record is currently 5-0,” continues the unbeaten bantamweight. “I think what it’s going to take for me is raw passion — go out there, be patient, pick him apart. Ricky, I like you, but you’re in my way.”

Back at the house, Dan soaks in the hot tub, talking with Tresean, who tells him things will get real when he puts on his gloves and sees the letters “UFC” emblazoned on them.

“I hate fighting,” Dan says in a matter-of-fact tone in a confessional interview, echoing sentiments shared by numerous UFC competitors over the years, including, most famously, former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre. “It’s terrifying, but I’m good at it.

“It’s getting there — that’s the terrifying part. Once I’m in, I’m in, and you’ve got to rip me out of there.”

They get back to meeting in the pocket in short bursts, each man landing solid blows in the flurry of exchanges before Ricky seems to catch Dan with a knee to the body as he changes levels near the fence. Dan secures a body lock and finally spins Ricky to his back with a minute remaining in the round. Ricky threatens with a triangle and Dan slams his way out of it, clamping onto a guillotine choke that he uses to roll into mount as they return to the canvas with 30 seconds remaining.

Ricky defends well and escapes, and the two slug it out to the horn. Really fun round from the bantamweight hopefuls!

Round 2: Ricky closes the distance to begin the round, landing knees in the clinch before Dan breaks free and they trade, working back to the center. Ricky lands a kick to the body, but Dan catches it, looking to turn it into a takedown. Ricky shows good balance, lands a borderline elbow or two, and reverses position off the fence, claiming the control position and working short knees to the thighs.

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Back in the middle, Dan telegraphs a takedown that Ricky stuffs easily and he’s starting to look tired. While he’s still landing single shots, Ricky is landing the cleaner, heavier blows at a higher rate as they hit the second half of the round.

They’re just slinging with each other now, neither man showing much in terms of defensive responsibilities, with Dan’s corner urging him to avoid the firefight and move as Ricky lands a few unanswered blows. Dan shoots and dumps Ricky to the canvas, but Ricky immediately attacks with a triangle. Dan escapes it quickly, but in the scramble, Ricky attacks a toehold from bottom, blood leaking into his eyes from a cut on the bridge of his nose.

The round ends and they’re likely headed to a sudden victory frame.

Round 3:  Dan comes forward to start, landing an outside low kick that Ricky counters with a right hand that lands clean. Dan shoots for a single, eating hammerfists to the side of the head as he looks to spin Ricky to the mat. Ricky limp-legs out and attacks a takedown of his own, prompting Dan to jump on a guillotine that isn’t there, allowing Ricky to end up in half guard.

Dan lets go of the choke and Ricky flattens him out. Ricky looks at an arm triangle, but Dan sniffs it out, defending well. Dan recovers full guard and looks to work to his knees, but Ricky takes his back in the process, staying sticky as Dan tries to reverse position halfway through the round.

Ricky rolls with Dan, switching the body triangle every time he changes sides. Dan defends well, going two-on-one, but Ricky is tight to his back. With a minute left in the round, Ricky works to get the arm under the neck, settling for a neck crank momentarily. With 30 seconds left, Dan reverses into top position, attacking guillotine twice in the transition, missing each time as they battle to the final horn.

“That was crazy. Why’d we do that?” Dan asks Ricky as they sit opposite one another on the canvas immediately following the bout.

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UFC President Dana White offers a round of applause and an excited Volkanovski hustles up the steps and into the Octagon to collect his fighter.

Official Result: Ricky Turcios def. Dan Argueta by unanimous decision