Episode 4 Recap | The Ultimate Fighter Season 31

Wells and Valiev chat in the kitchen, with Valiev explaining how his grandmother introduced him to his wife.

Valiev’s home video rolls, showing him at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand, where he lives and trains. He explains the setup in Phuket, where there are more than 30 gyms in a close proximity to one another, and TUF 11 alum and TMT coach Joseph Henle makes an appearance.

Valiev explains his road to MMA, and his UFC record, which stands at 2-1-1. He explains that he lost his last fight (to Jack Shore) and didn’t have his contract renewed, but that moving to Thailand with his family has helped him turn a corner in his preparations.

TEAM MCGREGOR TRAINING SESSION

Chandler breaks down the matchup from a stylistic standpoint, viewing Wells as a basic wrestler and Valiev as the more well-rounded, dangerous fighter of the two. Valiev echoes his coach’s sentiments, predicting a finish.

UFC APEX

The coaches from Team Chandler meet with Julian Darby, one of the coaches from Team McGregor, who tells them McGregor won’t be able to make the fight, but that he wants it at 135 pounds.

Chandler instantly shoots down the idea, suggesting they do 144 pounds. Darby pushes back at the suggestion and Chandler questions whether he should have to be making any kind of deal as Valiev isn’t the guy that had to pull out of the fight initially. Darby says it’s between Chandler and McGregor, but there is no McGregor, with Darby reiterating their ask of 135 pounds.

GET TO KNOW: Timur Valiev | Trevor Wells

Chandler continues to push back, offering 144 pounds, laughing that McGregor doesn’t even turn up for the discussion, yet wants him to make concessions when it was Wells that was ruled out of the bout.

White calls Chandler, and it seems they have agreed to a catchweight of 142 pounds. Everybody sees it as a fair deal, and we’re moving forward with the fight.

TREVOR WELLS FIGHT PREP

The Team McGregor fighter goes through the paces, and McGregor seems less a little anxious about his guys being down 0-3 when speaking in an isolated interview. He’s not yet been impressed by his athletes, and that’s what he’s looking for from them.

Highlights from Wells’ regional circuit fights run, and he believes he’s the better wrestler of the two, and identifies the game plan as trying to draw Valiev into his shots while constantly moving.

He’s later shown in the kitchen, talking with Cody Gibson about being adopted, explaining his family dynamic as he sweeps the floor.

His home video rolls, starting at his home in Temecula, where he trains at Dan Henderson’s Team Quest. Wells explains he started training after getting beat up in ninth grade, and that he’s been training with Team Quest his entire career.

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“This is everything to me,” he explains, calling this opportunity a step in his journey towards being a UFC champion. “I want this so badly; I don’t think I’ve wanted anything more in my life.”

WEIGH-INS: VALIEV VS. WELLS

Valiev is up first, explaining that he had to cut weight for a second time, but that he’ll do whatever it takes to win the competition. He comes in at 141.5 pounds. Wells follows him to the scale and comes in at 141.5 pounds as well, making the fight official.

FIGHT DAY

McGregor laments there not being a third round, suggesting that if the rounds are close, go to a third round. Chandler says he understands where he’s coming from, but knows his guy did more than enough to merit the decision.

Valiev gets congratulated in the dressing room and explains Wells was tougher than he expected, while the vanquished Team McGregor fighter gets consoled by the first three fighters from the squad to compete, who say he fits into the group now.

Team Chandler is now up 4-0, and up next, TUF 27 winner Brad Katona will look to pick up another win for the veterans when he takes on Team McGregor’s Carlos Vera.

But there is some drama within the veteran crew, as Katona, who trains at SBG Ireland in Dublin with McGregor, seems like he wants to be on the other team.