Ep 9. The Wild Card

In The Ultimate Fighter season 17 episode 9, entitled "The Wild Card," tensions are at an all-time high as the remaining fighters face off in their final matchups before the quarterfinals. With only two spots left in the playoffs, the fighters must give it their all in the octagon.

As the episode begins, coach Jon Jones and his team are feeling the pressure of having lost five out of seven fights so far in the competition. Coach Chael Sonnen, on the other hand, is feeling confident with his team's performance and hopes to pick up another win in tonight's matchup.

First up is Team Jones' Bubba McDaniel, who takes on Team Sonnen's Kelvin Gastelum. McDaniel is a seasoned veteran with plenty of experience, but Gastelum is a hungry up-and-comer who has been turning heads with his impressive performances in the octagon. From the start, it's clear that Gastelum is the more aggressive fighter, constantly pushing the pace and throwing heavy strikes. McDaniel, on the other hand, seems content to wait and counter, but he quickly finds himself getting overwhelmed by Gastelum's onslaught. In the end, it's Gastelum who comes out on top, earning his spot in the quarterfinals and sending McDaniel home.

Next up is a much-anticipated matchup between Team Jones' Dylan Andrews and Team Sonnen's Luke Barnatt. Both fighters are well-rounded, with Andrews showcasing his striking and ground-and-pound skills in previous fights, while Barnatt's lanky frame and vicious kicks have made him a fan favorite. The first round is extremely close, with both fighters landing some impressive shots but neither gaining a clear advantage. In the second round, things start to get heated as the two fighters exchange words between rounds and then come out swinging. Ultimately, it's Barnatt who earns the victory with a slick submission, solidifying his spot in the quarterfinals.

With only one spot left in the playoffs, the coaches now have to choose their wild card fighter – the one fighter who had previously been eliminated but will now have a chance to fight their way back into the competition. Coach Jones chooses Kevin Casey, a jiu-jitsu specialist who lost in the preliminary round, while coach Sonnen selects his own fighter, Jimmy Quinlan, who also lost early on.

Casey and Quinlan face off in a tense matchup, with both fighters knowing that this is their last chance to stay in the competition. Casey looks strong early on, using his grappling to control Quinlan on the ground, but Quinlan refuses to give up and keeps fighting back. In the second round, it's Quinlan who gets the upper hand, landing some heavy strikes that leave Casey bloodied and battered. When the final bell rings, it's anyone's guess as to who will come out on top. In the end, it's Quinlan who gets the unanimous decision victory, securing his spot in the quarterfinals and sending Casey home for good.

As the episode comes to a close, tensions are running high in the TUF house as the remaining fighters prepare for the quarterfinals. With only eight fighters left in the competition, each one knows that they'll need to give it their all if they want to make it to the finals and earn that coveted UFC contract.