‘TUF 25’ Recap: Episode 11

Wednesday’s episode will kick off the critical semifinal matchups where Dhiego Lima will oppose Tom Gallicchio and James Krause will square off against Jesse Taylor. However, Krause suffered a scratched cornea during last week’s win over Ramsey Nijem and there’s a possibility that he may be forced off the remainder of the season. Tonight, though, will only be the duel between Gallicchio and Lima.

With the news of Krause’s eye, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White decides to allow only red team coach Cody Garbrandt to choose who will replace Krause, provided he’s unable to continue. “No Love” is excited for the opportunity, but there is some anxiety from the Ohio native as he doesn’t want to step on anybody’s toes or upset whoever he does not choose. The caveat is that only someone from Garbrandt’s team will be allowed to come back, not somebody off Team Dillashaw. Nijem is furious because he’s the one who damaged Krause’s eye and thinks it should be he -- nobody else -- who should fight. Now-retired Gilbert Smith is irritated by his behavior and calls him out.

As expected, Smith and Nijem trade words in the hallway and Smith steps to Ramsey, threatening to beat the (blank) out of him. Smith is up in his face while Nijem is laughing at him and some of Team Dillashaw is hovering on eggshells with what’s going down, but Nijem casts off the threats as nothing but poppycock. Smith eventually simmers down and the show continues.

Lima’s fight prep footage is next and T.J. Dillashaw is helping both him and Gallicchio separately but he’s not going to coach either man when the fight actually unfolds. Next thing we know, Dillashaw, Duane Ludwig and a few others are in Team Garbrandt’s locker room and they paint the red walls blue. They are all giggling like schoolgirls at the thought of Garbrandt and his team’s faces when they see the transformation.

After the first commercial break, Team Garbrandt strolls into their room and they are stunned by the blue wall and photos of Dillashaw. They laugh it off, saying it was a great prank but after a few minutes of pondering their next move, they tape the walls with “No Love” and other photos. “No Love” himself comes in and loves what happened and is proud of his team, who clearly has his back.

At the TUF House, Krause is getting irritated because everybody is asking him about his eye. He’s miffed because the questions are constant and he thinks the guys are being disingenuous. Johnny Nunez asks him about his eye and then Krause flips him the bird so, naturally, they begin cackling at each other like angry hens. Verbal barbs are thrown, but cooler heads prevail and they do not come to blows.

Dillashaw then sneaks into the red team’s locker room while they are playing volleyball in the gym. But rather than deface the walls, the former UFC bantamweight champ fills the room with an assortment of snakes. Some of the guys on the team are scared, others love it and “No Love” is thrilled that his enemy is finally embracing his new snake image.

After the usual pre-fight prep footage, it’s time for Gallicchio and Lima to fight. Herb Dean is the referee for the contest and Gallicchio opens the bout with a left low kick. Gallicchio is moving in and out behind the low kick, but nothing of note is landing. Lima finally lets loose with a left kick to the ribs, followed by a straight right upstairs. Gallicchio ducks in for a body shot, but he eats a right-left for his effort. Gallicchio misses a single-leg takedown attempt and Lima quickly regroups to the center of the cage. They trade jabs as they circle around two minutes in before Lima cracks him with a straight right down the pike. Gallicchio finally lands a good punch -- an overhand right up top -- but Lima shakes it off. Gallicchio misses another takedown attempt after the pair exchange decent punches to the head. Lima absorbs a left kick and then stuffs a powerful takedown attempt from his foe. Lima is looking smooth as he laces Tom with a right cross -- left hook to the noggin. Gallicchio is popped by a few crisp punches to the face, but he’s not taking a backward step at all. It’s all Lima in the first and he wins it 10-9.

Gallicchio is a bit more desperate early in the frame as he charges with strikes before shooting in. It’s a mad scramble, but Lima eventually shrugs him off and resets in the center of the Octagon. Lima slams his shin into his opponent’s ribs before landing a partially-blocked right to the head. Gallicchio finally lands a single-leg takedown, but Lima explodes back to his feet as soon as he hits the deck. Gallicchio is all over him, trying like crazy to drag him back down. Lima finally escapes two minutes into the stanza and forces Gallicchio back to his feet. Lima is stalking the weary Gallicchio to the cage and drills him with a straight right to the jaw. The punches freezes Gallicchio, who backs away to clear his head. Moments later, Lima laces him with a beautiful three-punch combo to the face. Gallicchio charges in for a takedown and drives Lima into the cage, but he can’t bring him down. Lima is warned for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown and Dean stops the bout immediately to deduct a point from him. When the fight resumes, Lima stuffs a takedown and the cracks him with another right to the mouth. Gallicchio shoots in for another double-leg attempt, but Lima’s sprawl is spot-on. Back up with 40 seconds left, Gallicchio is running out of time as he takes a kick to the body and a right to head. Lima punctuates the round with a two-punch flurry to the dome. With the point deduction, it’s a 9-9 round but Lima is ahead 19-18 going into the third.

They trade a few punches as soon as the round begins and Gallicchio shoots in. Lima stuffs him and forces him back to his feet. Finally, Gallicchio crashes a clean right to Lima’s jaw, but he shakes it off. Gallicchio again has a takedown stuffed and when he gets up, he is nailed by a straight right to the face. The punch rocks him and he backs away, trying to clear the cobwebs. Gallicchio is clearly dazed as he eats another overhand right and Dean implores him to fight back. Gallicchio opts to swing for the fences and forces an exchange but Lima pops him with three clean shots upstairs. Gallicchio has had enough and changes levels, finally securing the takedown and lands in Lima’s guard. With two minutes left, Gallicchio is looking to pass to his right, but Lima’s defense is terrific. Desperate, Gallicchio goes to the old can opener maneuver and is able to get to half guard with 90 seconds left. Gallicchio is doing everything possible to pass to side control but when he does, he’s given Lima too much space, allowing him to explode to his feet. Gallicchio is gassed out completely and is trying to drag his foe to the canvas again, but he can’t. Lima lands several hammerfists when Gallicchio is hanging onto his leg and ends the round taking Gallicchio down and landing in his guard. 10-9 Lima again, who should win 29-27.

As expected, Lima wins the unanimous decision and moves on to the TUF 25 finals.

Next week’s episode will see Taylor take on either Krause (who visits the eye doctor) or someone from team Garbrandt. Also, TUF 24 winner Tim Elliott visits the show and when he’s at the TUF House at night, he gets into a verbal and physical altercation with a cast member.