• TUF Live

Tickle moans as Chiesa gives Faber last laugh

Michael Chiesa outwrestled Jeremy Larsen © Getty Images

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It was not pretty, and it will win few end-of-season prizes, but Michael Chiesa secured an incredible emotional victory for his late father as Jeremy Larsen was outwrestled in the latest TUF Live encounter on Friday.

Chiesa lost his dad just days after entering the elimination tournament, but decided to fight on in his honour. Team Faber will be glad that he did after victory levelled the coaching battle at two wins apiece, with Team Cruz now on a two-fight losing streak.

An illegal knee almost cost Chiesa, who was docked a point for striking the head of Larsen while his knees were grounded. That meant the first round was scored 9-9, but Chiesa kept up his pressure to squeeze out the win.

As predicted by Faber, it was Larsen's lack of wrestling that cost him, with Chiesa able to consistently put his man on his back, where he controlled the fight without dishing out significant punishment.

"This is strictly dedicated to my mum back home," Chiesa said. "She had a rough year losing my dad. It was tough to get in here, but at least I got the win."

Larsen claimed the illegal strike left him dazed, saying: "It was rattling, but rather than just sit there and pretend I couldn't continue ... I was dazed but I'm a warrior and tried to continue."

Team Cruz is now in the hands of its least trustworthy member, Chris Tickle, in the next fight after Faber paired him with Joe Lauzon's training partner Joe Proctor.

Tickle has constantly irked Cruz with his questionable work rate during the course of the series, and he was sent to a doctor over the past week after he kept complaining about a toe problem that has now cleared. Proctor will provide a proper test of Tickle's mental toughness.

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