Subsequent to the conclusion of the season's ultimate episode on Tuesday night, the stage is now set for the lightweight and bantamweight finals.
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Subsequent to the conclusion of the season’s ultimate episode on Tuesday night, the stage is now set for the lightweight and bantamweight finals. These highly anticipated matchups are slated to unfold at UFC 292 within the premises of TD Garden, a revelation initially disclosed by MMA Junkie.
Stepping into the spotlight of the lightweight final, former UFC contenders Kurt Holobaugh and Austin Hubbard are poised to clash, vying for a lucrative six-figure UFC contract. Notably, both contenders were part of Michael Chandler’s squad throughout the course of the season.
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The bantamweight final brews with an intense rivalry, pitting Team Chandler’s Cody Gibson against Brad Katona of Team Conor McGregor. Embarking on his third tenure with the UFC, Holobaugh (19-7 MMA, 0-4 UFC) arrives with a newfound momentum following back-to-back victories on the reality series.
His initial UFC stint, encompassing only a solitary bout (a loss to Steven Siler in 2013), promptly followed the merger with Strikeforce. In 2018, Holobaugh made a comeback after a successful outing on Dana White’s Contender Series, but faced adversity with three consecutive defeats against Raoni Barcelos, Shane Burgos, and Thiago Moises.
In a compelling sequence of events, Holobaugh initiated his resurgence by securing a submission victory over Lee Hammond, who was associated with McGregor’s camp. This was followed by an emphatic display of a TKO finish against his own teammate and close friend, Jason Knight, propelling him to the semifinal victory. The showdown against Knight is widely regarded as one of the standout clashes in the history of the series.
In a span encompassing May 2019 to August 2021, Hubbard (15-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) engaged in seven UFC battles. Among his victories, notable triumphs were secured against Kyle Prepolec, Max Rohskopf, and Dakota Bush. Throughout his UFC journey, Hubbard maintained a pattern of alternating victories and losses. However, his association with the promotion concluded after a defeat at the hands of Vinc Pichel.
Driven by his intricate connections, including coach John Kavanagh serving as the opposing team’s mentor, Katona made a pivotal choice. Departing from Team Chandler, he made his way to Team McGregor—a transition that a significant number of individuals within the house perceived as a long-anticipated shift.
In the climactic episode of “TUF 31,” a heated dispute unfolded between the pair, ignited by an incident where Gibson scrawled “F*ck you, Brad” on a note within the kitchen.
After an absence spanning almost a decade from the promotion, Gibson makes his comeback to the UFC. His prior UFC tenure encompassed four appearances, spanning from February 2014 to February 2015, yielding a 1-3 record. This stint included a loss to the eventual bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling, who happens to headline the upcoming Saturday event. In his journey towards the finals, Gibson secured a knockout triumph over Mando Gutierrez, followed by a submission victory against Rico DiSciullo.
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