TUF 28: Heavy Hitters - Ep. 4 - 10 p.m. ET

[Jackonfire]

Julija Stoliarenko vs. Marciea Allen​

It's been a rough start to the TUF Heavy Hitters competition for Team Whittaker after losing the first three fights of the season, including bouts in both the men's heavyweight division and the women's featherweight division. This week will see Whittaker try again, with another No. 1 selection going up against one of Kelvin Gastelum's final picks, with Lithuanian submission specialist Julija Stoliarenko taking on Marciea Allen.

Julija Stoliarenko has found some stability in her career with three straight wins while she's proved to be something of a specialist, with all of her victories coming by way of armbar. In fact, Stoliarenko's last two fights have been blistering fast finishes as she's submitted her opponents by armbar less than a minute into the first round each time.

Marciea Allen was already fighting in Invicta Fighting Championships very early in her career, and she's faced a long list of tough opponents. Her second pro fight came against former Ultimate Fighter and UFC veteran Jessamyn Duke, while she holds wins over the likes of Carina Damm and Jan Finney, who are both long time veterans in women's mixed martial arts.

Elsewhere this week — Leah Letson will continue to struggle under her current coaching situation, as she is the only American member of Team Whittaker. Letson experienced some problems communicating with her teammates last week, and that will only continue into her training in the new episode.

Letson is considered one of the best featherweight prospects on the show this season, but struggling to communicate with her teammates and coaches certainly won't do her any favors as she awaits the call for her first fight.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Thinking about hitting the DVR and watching tomorrow. But now we have the return of Jon Jones... MMA is popping tonight.

 

[Kryptt]

MMA Drone chiming in!

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Team Whitaker needs something huge this week. Don't want to be that team with one fighter advancing to the next round.

 

[Kryptt]

Team Whitaker needs something huge this week. Don't want to be that team with one fighter advancing to the next round.

I like B-Knuks but there is no apparent energy in that camp. I hesitate on editing but oof!

 

[Kryptt]

But what about men who identify as women?

 

[Kryptt]

Finally Scrapping time!

Hoping for the U!

 

[Vulcan]

fuckin ghost town in here just get rid of the tuf sub forum already or merge it with the wasteland.

 

[Stranger Come Knocking]

The successor to ish?

 

[Kryptt]

Oh yea les drink sum Stolii!

 

[Kryptt]

"You pulled guard in an MMA fight, fuck me"

 

[lostdog000]

good c0meback

 

[Shoot Boxe Hero]

Kelvin got his blackbelt on tonight's episode when some of his other coaches came to visit them gym.

Hell of a fucking comeback for Julija, I thought she was about to get KO'd

 

[HIGH VALUE]

Women’s only gym, still needs a man coach lol

 

[HIGH VALUE]

Slick blackbelt trickery by kelvin’s coach! ahaha

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Awesome comeback

 

[bigkick]

Allen was on the show, it seems to me, to advertise her gym. Julija didn't look nearly as good as she made herself out to be.

I always watch TUF but man these heavyweight seasons are always awful. This one's no different.

 

[Oblivian]

This season has been very poorly edited and really lacking on the storytelling. There needs to be followup in regards to the fight that happened the episodes before. The episode before this one just had a huge upset. They aren't doing much to really sell the tournament or the drama that comes with a tournament style.

 

[bigkick]

This season has been very poorly edited and really lacking on the storytelling. There needs to be followup in regards to the fight that happened the episodes before. The episode before this one just had a huge upset. They aren't doing much to really sell the tournament or the drama that comes with a tournament style.

It feels super throw away to me. The coaches appear to be sleepwalking. Dana has been near invisible and he loves to strut around in front of the contestants. And the contestants themselves don't seem of much interest (or can't tell their stories because of language barriers).

 

[The_Renaissance]

It feels super throw away to me. The coaches appear to be sleepwalking. Dana has been near invisible and he loves to strut around in front of the contestants. And the contestants themselves don't seem of much interest (or can't tell their stories because of language barriers).

Yeah, is got a throwaway cast and the vibe is 'meh, this shit is done anyway'.
The WMMA fight seemed alright (just read the PBP) in a sloppy way, fair enough. Next week will be the best/most interesting fight of the season - Batista and Parisian are the two best HWs on the show and it's typical that they fight in round 1 leaving guys like Frazier, Sosoli to a run to the semis or further. Either of these two could win the entire show if they didn't meet until the final.

I'll go for Parisian to get bullied for 1 round, Batista to gas, Parisian to rally and score a sloppy, bloody TKO in the 3rd round.