On the eight episode of The Ultimate Fighter 19, Team Edgar’s Eddie Gordon took on Team Penn’s first pick Mike King in the middleweight quarterfinals.
Eddie Gordon gave some insight about how he was introduced to the sport of MMA. After watching UFC 101 in person, Gordon developed an interest in MMA, and that interest became into a profession after his friend Chris Weidman talked him into going to a gym.
At the house, Mike King talked about how big of an impact his girlfriend has had on his life. King met his girlfriend at a bowling alley when he went on a double date with one of his buddies, and King and his girlfriend have been inseparable since.
She’s provided a stability that King needed in his life after he went through a dark period in his life following the deaths of pair of his friends. King began to drink alcohol and eventually ended up in jail before meeting his girlfriend. Since meeting her, she’s provided him with a feeling of self-worth and a positive outlook on life.
The Team Penn coaches met up to discuss Mike King’s gameplan, deciding that it would be best if King used his wrestling game.
Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn’s water sport skills were put to the test as the two featherweights competed in this season’s coaching challenge – a kayaking race. Edgar started off with a quick lead, but Penn was able to secure a second wind and win the race.
The fight took place next, and after three rounds of a back-and-forth striking battle, Eddie Gordon was awarded a decision. Following two frames that saw Mike King blitz Gordon with barrages of strikes from time to time and Eddie Gordon employ a constant boxing attack, the judges scored the fight a draw, leading to a sudden death round.
Gordon would go on to win that period and the fight in what was yet another close round. During the second frame, Gordon accidentally poked King’s right eye, which caused a significant abrasion, but King continued to fight.
Afterwards, the final quarterfinal fight of the season was announced, and it pitted Team Edgar’s Matt Van Buren against Team Penn’s Chris Fields in a light heavyweight tilt.