Episode 4 Recap | The Ultimate Fighter Season 32

Fletcher tells Olfi that he asked to fight him first, telling him he views him as the best featherweight on the other team, and Olfi says the same thing in return, with the two clearly bonding over wanting to face the biggest test possible right out of the chute.

TEAM GRASSO TRAINING SESSION

Valentin and Grasso speak at the UFC APEX, with the Swiss middleweight volunteering to help with coaching and training, which the flyweight champion happily accepts. He continues to train alongside his teammates, but also holds pads for them, offers pointers, and looks to keep building the positive energy on Team Grasso.

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UFC CEO Dana White calls Valenitn’s win over Bachar “one of the most impressive (he’s) ever seen on The Ultimate Fighter,” noting that it must have impressed Grasso too, since she’s allowing him to coach more.

OMRAN CHABAAN FIGHT PREP

As Chabaan goes through his prep for his fight with Magomedov, Grasso outlines that his opponent’s greatest strength is his wrestling, calling it a good matchup for Chabaan because he likes to hunt submissions and works well in tight when someone is trying to take him down.

Chabaan cites his long jab and kicks as his greatest weapons this fight, working on staying at range while he hits pads. He calls himself a much better grappler, saying, “Everyone thinks I’m a striker, but I think I have three or four submissions.”

His highlight reel rolls, showcasing some of his performances under the Cage Warriors and UAE Warriors banners, with a couple of the wins that are spotlighted coming by submission.

TUF HOUSE

Chabaan speaks about his Muslim faith, speaking with Fletcher about fighting another Muslim, which he says isn’t a problem. The two agree that you detach everything else from the fight, approach it as a job and an activity, rather than carrying elements from outside the cage into the battle with you.

Magomedov talks about his family with Bekhzod Usmonov, his face lighting up when he speaks about his son. He explains that he lives in Dagestan and that being away for months at a time is difficult. He calls him a “goalkeeper” now that his son is walking.

His home video from Fairfield, New Jersey, where he finishes his training camps, begins with Magomedov jumping into an ice bath first thing in the morning. The 29-year-old trains under Merad Keshtov, who previously coached Khabib Nurmagomedov at the outset of his career, calling himself “more professional” working under the established leader of the K-Dojo.

Magomedov says he started sports because his older brother did them, beginning with wrestling before transitioning to MMA, like so many of his compatriots.

“I want to kick a lot of a** and become champion,” he says, smiling into the camera.

SHAMIDKHAN MAGOMEDOV FIGHT PREP

As Magomedov enters the UFC APEX, Valentina Shevchenko explains in an interstitial interview that he was her first pick at middleweight, and the two watch Chabaan’s fights together, breaking down his tendencies and tactics.

Magomedov acknowledges that Chabaan is tough, but sees areas where he might be able to find success, with Shevchenko suggesting that he’ll need to close distance quickly to get the fight to the ground.

His highlights from LFA run, with Magomedov explaining that he’s 8-1, having lost his second pro fight and winning since then.

Back at the APEX, Magomedov goes through training with the team, working on his jiu jitsu and takedowns, calling himself the best grappler in the house.

TUF HOUSE

Chabaan sits in the hot tub with a couple other competitors, explaining what happened the day his father died when he was 10 years old, and how his family fell apart after that, as his mom was taken to a psychiatric hospital at one point.

“Now, it’s getting to the point where I want to be the best; I want to be the best ever in this sport,” he says. “If you work for it, you can get it.”

Home video footage from Dublin, Ireland begins with Chabaan on his morning walk to the gym. He trains at Team KF under former TUF competitor Chris Fields, and lives at the gym.

UFC 303 Full Fight Card Preview

Chabaan explains he met his strength and conditioning coach in Finland, who recommended he go and spar in Ireland. He connected with Fields, the two clicked, and it prompted the 23-year-old to move to Dublin to pursue his dream.

CIRCA HOTEL AND CASINO

Shevchenko brings her whole team to Circa Hotel and Casino, noting that all the activities she chooses are personal and connected to her career, and that she wants to share those elements with her international squad, who have largely not been to Las Vegas before.

They check out Stadium Swim and dive into some food at Victory Burger, indulging for one night before getting back to diets and focus tomorrow.

Each of the members of her team speak highly about the opportunity and thank Shevchenko for the opportunity as she leaves.

UFC PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE

Grasso brings her team to the PI for a recovery day in the pools and saunas, while White explains that most of the athletes in the UFC do the same thing, highlighting all the services and equipment that is available to the athletes in the facility.

Valentin asks Grasso about the rivalry between she and Shevchenko, with the Mexican champion admitting it’s a little weird because so many people felt it was a fluke. She calls it “amazing” to have beaten her and won the title, acknowledging how much she respects and admires her.

“It’s kind of weird for me that she does not accept that I did something well,” Grasso says of her rival and opposing coach, “but it’s helping motivate me to get our team to win.”

MIDDLEWEIGT WEIGH-IN

Chabaan and Magomedov are back on the scales, with the Team Grasso fighter up first. Chabaan hits the middleweight limit, 186 pounds, with Magomedov coming in at 184.5 pounds.

UFC 303 Embedded 

White speaks about the matchup, suggesting that while Chabaan is the youngest fighter in the competition, “he could finish anybody in this competition at any time.” As for Magomedov, he recognizes the huge height and reach disadvantage, forecasting the Russian grappler will need to get inside, take the fight to the canvas and work from there.

“Finland versus Russia — here we go!”