VIDEO: Kurt Holobaugh Submits Austin Hubbard, Wins TUF Trophy at UFC 292
Everyone loves a comeback story, and Kurt Holobaugh gave the people just that at UFC 292. With a chance back into the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter season 31 trophy on the line, the 36-year-old wasn’t going to let his chance come down to the judge's scorecards.
Holobaugh and fellow lightweight Austin Hubbard slugged it out through the first round, but things escalated quickly in the second. After trying for an armbar, Holobaugh quickly adjusted his position with Hubbard on top of him to a triangle choke and quickly found the submission.
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It was a great fight with both fighters landing big shots and having their moments on the ground, but Holobaugh said that one of the reasons he won is because he kept some of his game hidden during the UFC’s reality show.
“I’m a jiu-jitsu black belt. I didn’t go into that Ultimate Fighter house showing every bit of my skills,” Holobaugh said. “My coaches said, ‘Don’t go in there and show them everything, just show them a little bit’, and I think that’s what I did. But tonight you got to see the real version."
Holobaugh originally got his shot at the UFC through Dana White’s contender series after beating Matt Bessette. That fight would eventually be overturned to a no contest, but the contract ink was already dry. He would end up going winless in three fights and getting released, and fought in the Xtreme Fighting Championships until getting his second chance.
Earlier in the night, Brad Katona also won his comeback fight against Cody Gibson to get his trophy in the bantamweight class. The UFC decided to put the Ultimate Fighter season finale on their pay-per-view and it was a great decision as both fights lived up the hype.
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