UFC 292: McGregor and Chandler’s proteges triumph in Season 31 finals

Kurt Holobaugh Octagon Interview | UFC 292

Bantamweight MMA fighter Brad Katona and lightweight MMA fighter Kurt Holobaugh clinched iconic victories in the Season 31 finals of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Under the coaching of legendary fighters Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, they were crowned at UFC 292 on August 19.

Katona made history as the first fighter to secure this title twice, while Holobaugh notched his 10th submission win. Both earned UFC contracts with their impressive performances in the finals.

These bouts marked the culmination of the 31st season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler,” adding excitement to the UFC 292 preliminary card in Boston.

Forcing Hubbard to tap out

In his match, Holobaugh employed precise jiu-jitsu techniques to submit Austin Hubbard in the second round with a triangle choke. This became his first UFC victory in style in the competition, with the fight being his third stint in the UFC.

Holobaugh and Hubbard had been teammates on the show, coached by Chandler, and the victory came after a sequence of smooth transitions, ending the fight at the 2:39 mark of the second round.

Holobaugh made his UFC debut in 2013, where he suffered a loss to Steven Siler following the Strikeforce merger. His second opportunity in the UFC came in 2018, but he faced three consecutive losses, which led to his exit from the promotion. He later earned a chance at redemption by competing in “TUF 31.”

Both fighters came out aggressively in their bout, with Hubbard initiating a takedown just 20 seconds into the fight. Holobaugh attempted to control Hubbard’s hands while countering with ground-and-pound.

When the Louisiana-born fighter rolled back to his feet, he tried to secure a guillotine choke. Upon returning to a standing position, they continued to exchange powerful strikes. As the fight reached its midpoint, Holobaugh began to find his rhythm, effectively pushing Hubbard backward. The opening round remained closely contested throughout.

In the second round, Holobaugh’s striking opened up a takedown and back control. Despite his opponent’s defense, Holobaugh transitioned to a full mount. As Hubbard tried to escape, Holobaugh capitalized with an armbar and seamlessly shifted to a triangle choke, prompting Hubbard to submit. This secured Holobaugh’s victory.

Two-time winner Katona

As McGregor’s protege, Katona made history by defeating Cody Gibson in the Season 31 bantamweight final. Katona (13-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) showcased his superior work rate against Gibson (19-9 MMA, 1-4 UFC). He secured a unanimous decision victory with 29-28 and 30-27 scores.

The fight started in a fast-paced bout from the first round, with both fighters exchanging punches and kicks. Despite Gibson’s size advantage, the Canadian persisted in getting in close. His heavy left-hand strikes made an impact, but his opponent responded with his own lefts and maintained relentless pressure throughout the first round.

In the second round, Katona began landing his shots more effectively, prompting Gibson to counter. Both fighters attempted takedowns early in the bout, but it remained standing. Katona landed a significant blow midway through the round, causing swelling near his eye. However, he finished the round strongly with a powerful right hand, followed by consistent pressure and impactful strikes.

In the last round, both fighters still exchanged punches. Katona seemed to have more stamina and focused on his opponent’s right eye, causing noticeable damage. Despite the challenge, Gibson remained resilient, and they traded powerful punches, with the soon-to-be-winner demonstrating his striking skills.

With this victory, Katona became the first fighter to win the reality competition series twice. He claimed the Season 27 title at featherweight over five years ago.

Katona’s journey included a stint outside the UFC after three previous fights, but he rebounded by capturing the Brave CF title and earning another opportunity through “The Ultimate Fighter.”