Zac Pauga is the first finalist of The Ultimate Fighter 30.
Team Julianna Pena’s second heavyweight selection secured a spot in the tournament finals with a dominant performance against teammate Jordan Heiderman (5-0) that was capped off by a stoppage via strikes in the second round. Pauga (5-0)* awaits the winner of the other semifinal, which sees Team Pena’s Mohammed Usman fight Team Amanda Nunes’ Eduardo Perez.
Right out of the gate, Pauga was the sharper fighter. He convincingly out-struck Heiderman in Round 1, stinging him with a big left hook and beating him to the punch at distance. To close the first frame, Heiderman was even able to spin his backfist and compete in LFA.
Round 2 was more of the same and eventually Pauga landed another left hook that rocked Heiderman. Pauga followed up with punches to secure the TKO win. It was a bittersweet moment for Pena, who decided not to corner either fighter, instead flying in members of the fighters’ own coaching staffs from their respective home gyms.
Helen Peralta from Team Pena was confronted by Pena about her drinking habits before the training session. She explained that she had been upset at losing the series early and being left out of the semifinals. Pena spoke to Peralta about the matter and Peralta later accused teammate Laura Gallardo of “snitching” on her. The matter appeared to be resolved amicably after Peralta, Gallardo, and other members of Team Pena talked it out.
This year’s coaches challenge saw Pena and Nunes compete in an axe-throwing competition. Nunes was clearly ahead of Pena, having already thrown an axe at least once. Pena was trying to learn how it worked. After four rounds of throwing, Nunes had a huge advantage on the scoreboard and Pena could not author a comeback in the fifth. With the win, Nunes earned a $10,000 prize and an extra $1,500 for each of her fighters.
Here’s the semifinal matches and final results :
Heavyweight
Zac Pauga def. Jordan Heiderman via TKO (strikes) (R2, time not announced)
Mohammed Usman vs. Eduardo Perez
Flyweight
Laura Gallardo vs. Brogan Walker
Juliana Miller vs. Kaytlin Neil
Here are the first-round results:
Zac Pauga def. Nyle Bartling via unanimous decision
Kaytlin Neil def. Helen Peralta via split decision
Mohammed Usman def. Mitchell Sipe via unanimous decision
Laura Gallardo def. Kathryn Paprocki via majority decision
Eduardo Perez def. Bobby Maximus via TKO (strikes) (R1, 3:58)
Juliana Miller def. Claire Guthrie via unanimous decision
Jordan Heiderman def. Chandler Cole via TKO (strikes) (R1, time not announced)
Brogan Walker def. Hannah Guy via majority judgment
On next week’s episode, Team Pena’s Laura Gallardo fights Team Nunes’ Brogan Walker in the first flyweight semifinal.
(*TUF bouts are considered exhibitions and fighters’ pro records are not affected by the results on the show)
Season 30 The Ultimate Fighter will be coached by UFC bantamweight champ Julianna Pena, and UFC featherweight champion Amanda Nunes. Pena takes on Nunes to defend her title in a rematch which will be the main event at UFC 277 July 30, Dallas.
The finalists of the TUF 30 heavyweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a six-figure UFC contract at a finale event with a date still to be announced.
Exclusively on ESPN+, every Monday at midnight new episodes air.
Here is the TUF 30 roster divided by team:
Team Nunes
Heavyweights
Nyle Bartling
Chandler Cole
Eduardo Perez
Mitchell Sipe
Flyweights
Claire Guthrie
Kaytlin Neil
Kathryn Paprocki
Brogan Walker
Team Pena
Heavyweights
Jordan Heiderman
Bobby Maximus
Zac Pauga
Mohammed Usman
Flyweights
Chantel Coates
Laura Gallardo*
Hannah Guy
Juliana Miller
Helen Peralta
*replacement Chantel Coates
Advancing towards finals: Pauga
Advanced into semifinals: Neil, Pauga, Neil and Perez. Heiderman, Walker .
Eliminated: Bartling, Peralta, Sipe, Coates, Paprocki, Maximus, Guthrie, Cole, Guy
