The Return Of The Ultimate Fighter | Episode 9 Recap

In a solo interview, Ortega plays off the prank as lame, taking a jab at Volkanovski, but everyone seemed to get a good laugh out of the effort. He doubles down on dismissing the effort, but his team members liked it, and it was a legit shot at his perpetually tardy ways.

Still at the PI, Liudvik goes through his fight prep, rolling with Ortega, who shows him a few different setups, attacks, and transitions on the ground, with his coach singing his praises for his preparedness and focus ahead of his semifinal clash with Ricky.

“I’m ready for everything,” Liudvik says in a confessional interview. “I don’t care about Ricky’s game plan; I only care about the win. Ricky is a good fighter, but I’m counting only for myself.

“He’s ready. I’m ready. It’s good.”

SEE WHAT THE COACHES OF TUF 29 HAD TO SAY: Volkanovski | Ortega

Three days before the fight, Ricky goes through his prep with Team Volkanovski, beginning with him meditating inside the boxing ring.

“Ricky’s a cool dude, man; very spiritual,” begins Volkanovski. “I don’t want to say ‘weird character’ because he’s a cool dude, but he’s different.

“I feel like when Ricky’s running his own show, there is success there. There is something about (him) where he’s going to have a lot of hype around him and a lot of people loving that Ricky show.”

Ricky works striking combinations with Volkanovski, talking about the importance of his jab in this fight with Liudvik.

Ricky reads his journal entry and starts warming up, getting loose before heading to the APEX. Liudvik does the same in the backyard before each man departs for the facility and their semifinal matchup.

Mike Beltran is the third man in the Octagon for the first semifinal fight of the season.

Round 1: They touch gloves and we’re off, with Ricky looking for a kick early, vocalizing all his movements, prompting Liudvik to make similar noises in return. A hard low kick for Ricky spins Liudvik around. Ricky floats on the outside until he’s ready to attack, then comes forward with a double jab and a sharp inside leg kick. Two more low kicks half connect as Liudvik backs away from them.

Ricky continues to throw the kicks and finishes a combination with one to the thigh. Liudvik finally lands something sharp — a left hand as Ricky tries to come forward and close the distance, getting knocked backwards instead. Liudvik missing a high kick, then Ricky misses a high kick before they exchange jabs a couple different times.

Ricky is throwing greater volume and more combinations, again punctuating his attacks with kicks, while Liudvik is going a good job getting just out of range, but only offering singles in return. Ricky presses forward behind combinations and his jab, landing, and Liudvik calls him in, nodding as he gets hit. Ricky obliges, landing another good jab before changing levels and working into the clinch at the halfway point.

FIGHTER PROFILES: Liudvik Sholinian | Ricky Turcios 

Ricky lands a series of short punches along the fence as he controls Liudvik’s position, grinding on him. Liudvik fights his way free, and they trade hard jabs on the break. Ricky goes high with a kick and throws a one-two behind it. Liudvik drives home a right hand with 80 seconds remaining in the round, but Ricky presses forward right away, working into the clinch again.

Ricky lands a series of short punches along the fence, but Liudvik ducks under and escapes to the center. Liudvik reaches with a couple right hands, but Ricky comes forward right away after, finishing a combination with a high kick and landing a good left hand as Liudvik tries to circle away. Ricky chases him down and looks to pour it on in the final seconds.

Liudvik complains about an eye poke in the midst of the flurry from Ricky, but the referee had no reaction to it, and Ricky continues to fire away through to the horn, capping a very strong opening round for the Team Volkanovski representative.

As Liudvik walks back to his corner, blood trickles from the left side of his forehead, up in his hairline, which he says happened as a result of a clash of heads.

Round 2: Liudvik is raring to go, requiring Beltran to tell him to move back. He’s a little more active and aggressive out of the chute, but Ricky is game, responding with a stiff jab and a high kick offering. Liudvik hits a beautifully timed level change, getting in on Ricky’s legs and twisting him to the ground in the center of the cage, with Ricky immediately looking to lock up his guard and attack off his back.

Ricky lands a handful of elbows off his back and shows active hips, looking to elevate Liudvik with butterfly hooks. Ricky creates a scramble and gets back to his feet, but Liudvik stays close and controls him along the fence. Ricky forces his way off the fence, and they reset in the center of the Octagon.

Ricky backs Liudvik off with a long combination. They trade jabs a couple times and Ricky presses forward, connecting with a long right hand, backing Liudvik into the fence. Ricky goes for a takedown and Liudvik opts to sit down with it, hopeful to create a scramble or counter in the transition, keeping Ricky stuffed before collecting his legs and working to top position. But Ricky is always moving, scurrying back to his knees, with Liudvik sprawled out on top.

Check out every contestant's profile on The Return of The Ultimate Fighter.

They scramble and Ricky lands elbows to Liudvik’s glute while Liudvik looks for an ankle. Another scramble ensues and Ricky works his way back to his feet, earning vocal praise from his coaches and teammates. Liudvik deep on a shot, Ricky tries to scramble away over the top, but Liudvik transitions to a single leg. Ricky tries to limp leg and Granby roll free, but Liudvik stays with him, grabbing his waist and ending up on Ricky’s back, seated along the fence.

Ricky throws and lands a pair of backward elbows and tries to untangle his legs from Liudvik’s as the Team Ortega representative holds on with less than a minute remaining in the round. Ricky breaks Liudvik’s grip and turns into him, taking top position and looking to attack in the closing seconds of the round.

They scurry to their feet and trade along the fence, Ricky continuing to land at a higher clip and with greater impact as the horn sounds.

Another good round for Ricky Turcios.

Round 3: Before the round begins, both men point to the giant Howler Head logo in the center of the Octagon, with Liudvik again walking forward, prompting Beltran to guide him back to position.

They exchange a “High 10” and we’re off, with both men seemingly content to stand in the pocket right out of the gate. Ricky continues to be the more accurate of the two, hitting Liudvik with a right, using it to press forward. He’s the fresher of the two, as Liudvik’s strikes look labored, and he drives forward for a takedown attempt.

Liudvik defends it easily and calls Ricky back to his feet, which he’s happy to oblige. Ricky works the jab but eats a couple rights in return as they stand static and trade. He wisely gets moving again and lands to the body and head, chasing Liudvik along the perimeter before hemming him in on the fence. A body shot lands hard for Ricky with an elbow over the top behind it, with Liudvik motioning him in for more.

Ricky grants his requests, lands a couple combinations to the body and head, and Liudvik backs him up with a right hand coming off the fence. Ricky now has a cut on the bridge of his nose and is slowing a little, but he’s still landing the greater volume. Liudvik continues to sling heavy singles and one-twos, but with limited success. As they hit the halfway point, Ricky cranks home two straight rights, the second of which straightens up Liudvik and makes him readjust his mouthpiece.

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They just start getting after it in a phone booth, with Ricky landing combinations and defending well, blocking more punches than Liudvik lands. Ricky drives home a couple clean one-twos, finding the jaw with the second shot, alternating stances as he fires them.

Liudvik has clearly found a home with some of his punches, as Ricky’s nose is covered in blood, but the Team Volkanovski man sticks to his original strategy and sticks his jab in Liudvik’s face.

Ricky starts pouring it on with 90 seconds to go, landing a series of one-two combinations, keeping it simple and effective. Ricky calls for the audience to get loud and Volkanovski tells him not to get careless. Liudvik lands a right hand and shoots for a takedown, but Ricky escapes it easily.

They repeatedly get close to clashing heads in tight, prompting Beltran to warn them multiple times as they hit the final 30 seconds, meeting on the logo in the center and swinging. Liudvik lands a couple good shots, but he just doesn’t have the energy to throw more than singles or the pop in his punches for it to have much impact, as Ricky returns fire and walks him down behind a series of punches as the horn sounds.

This should be a clean sweep of the scorecards for Ricky Turcios.

Dana White gives the bantamweights a standing ovation and praises their efforts.

Official Result: Ricky Turcios def. Liudvik Sholinian by unanimous decision