Ep 10. Mean Girls

In The Ultimate Fighter season 18 episode 10, titled Mean Girls, the tension between the coaches, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, continues to escalate as they prepare their teams for the upcoming fights. This episode focuses on the women's bantamweight division, with the fighters getting ready for their quarterfinal matches.

The episode begins with an emotional moment between Team Rousey's Jessamyn Duke and her mother, who has flown in to watch her fight. Duke, who has struggled with anxiety and self-doubt, breaks down in tears as she talks about how much her mother's support means to her.

Meanwhile, tensions are high between the coaches, with Rousey still upset over Tate's perceived betrayal in the previous episode. She confronts Tate about her decision to switch up the fights, accusing her of trying to gain an advantage. Tate tries to defend herself, but the two end up in a shouting match that leaves the rest of the cast and crew feeling uncomfortable.

Despite the drama, the focus shifts to the upcoming fights, with the quarterfinals taking center stage. First up is Team Rousey's Raquel Pennington against Tate's Sarah Moras. The two fighters are evenly matched, with both showing impressive striking and grappling skills. In the end, it comes down to a split decision, with one judge scoring the fight for Pennington and the other two for Moras. It's a tough loss for Pennington, who is visibly upset as she leaves the Octagon.

Next up is Team Tate's Julianna Pena against Jessica Rakoczy from Team Rousey. Pena, who has emerged as the top contender in the women's division, dominates the fight from start to finish. She shows off her superior grappling skills, taking Rakoczy down repeatedly and raining down punches and elbows. Rakoczy tries to fight back with her striking, but she's ultimately no match for Pena's ground game. The fight ends in the second round, with Pena winning by TKO.

The final match of the episode sees Roxanne Modafferi from Team Tate facing off against Team Rousey's Jessica Rakoczy. Modafferi, who has struggled throughout the season, puts on an impressive performance, showing off her grappling skills and winning points with the judges. Rakoczy, who is primarily a striker, struggles to find her footing and is unable to mount a significant offense. In the end, Modafferi wins by unanimous decision, securing her spot in the semifinals.

As the episode comes to a close, tensions between Rousey and Tate are still high, with both coaches struggling to keep their emotions in check. With the women's bantamweight division heating up, it's clear that the drama on The Ultimate Fighter is far from over.