Brash featherweight Akira Corassani wins a grudge match, ending Team Miller’s string of victories at four on Season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
The episode of the MMA reality TV show that aired Wednesday is filled with bad blood – not to mention controversy in the cage.
When the dust settles on Episode 5, Corassani collects a majority decision over Dustin Neace for coach Michael Bisping, narrowing rival coach Jason (Mayhem) Miller’s lead to 4-1 and giving Bisping control of the fight matchups.
Miller is a loser all round in the show as his car is towed for being in a handicapped parking space, thanks to some signage hijinks from the Bisping fighters.
Miller unwittingly sets the wheels in motion when he arrives at the house with a hat for Neace that matches Bisping bantamweight Josh Ferguson’s trademark lid. When Ferguson hides the new hat, Neace unravels thinking Corassani is behind the theft.
Neace, in his own words, goes “a little bit crazy” by throwing the Bisping team gear all over their dressing room.
The two fighters swap insults as they wait for their fight to be announced.
“This is not the time,” Miller, surprisingly the voice of reason, tells Neace.
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Neace and Corassani go at it right from the post-announcement staredown after bumping heads. They’re separated and the coaches exchange words after Bisping takes offence at one of Miller’s assistant coaches and Miller gives him a shove.
Both fighters are seeing red.
“I hope to make a good fight and not send him to the hospital with a broken skull,” says Corassani, later explaining it’s “just business.”
Miller, meanwhile, looks to exploit Corassani’s hot blood for his own purposes.
“Talented fighter, kind of a wack job and we’re hoping to exploit that,” says Miller.
Bisping adds to his record of tardiness on the show, apologizing sheepishly after arriving late for the weigh-in.
He makes the fight, however, and watches as Corassani, a tattooed Swede, gets top position midway through the first round. But Neace responds by applying a heel hook, with the Miller camp screaming that Corassani taps. Referee Herb Dean disagrees.
“The ref doesn’t call a tap, it’s not a tap,” UFC president Dana White says later.
Corassani puts Neace against the cage to open the second. He then floors Neace with a left, only to see the Miller fighter somehow survive the onslaught. Corassani finished the fight on top, racking up points.
Before the decision is announced, Corassani taunts Neace – making as if spraying him with a machine gun. That leads to another cage dust-up, with Miller spraying water at an irate Bisping, who clearly forgets he did the same to a rival fighter on a previous season.
Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is unamused by Corassani’s post-fight antics and threatens him with a suspension unless he ceases and desists.
Featherweights Steven Siler (Team Miller) and Diego Brandao (Bisping), who have a grudge match of their own going, are due up next week, thanks to Miller’s last pick as the coach in control of the matchups.
Miller’s strategy backfires all episode.
Knowing that his bantamweight John Dodson is close to the other team, Miller looks to some misdirection. He makes it appear like Siler is prepping for Brandao next while secretly Neace prepares for Corassani.
The hope is Brandao gets frustrated at not fighting while Corassani has trouble making weight.
The plan does not work.
This season is the first to feature the UFC’s two lightest weight classes.
The rival coaches are slated to square off on the live finale on Dec. 3.
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