On paper, #1 seeded TUF fighter Carla “The Cookie Monster” Esparza looked to have an easy matchup with #16 seeded Team Melendez fighter Angela Hill.
But, there is a reason why the fighters fight,
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman fills us in on Episode 4 of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman:
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman. She is a martial artist with over six years of study. Training primarily in South Korea, the proud Canadian from Roberts Arm, Newfoundland has black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and proficient in Muay Thai kickboxing. Image courtesy Steve Bartlett
TUF 20: EPISODE 4 THOUGHTS
Team Melendez fighter Angela Hill warms up before facing team Pettis fighter Carla Esparza during filming of season twenty of The Ultimate Fighter on July 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Wiseman: Carla Esparza vs. Angela Hill, wow is all I can say. I honestly expected Hill to be tough, not because of her experience, but rather because of her training and what we saw in the episodes.
Team Pettis fighter Carla Esparza warms up before facing team Melendez fighter Angela Hill during filming of season twenty of The Ultimate Fighter on July 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
She was taking on the #1 ranked fighter, but still thought it would be a fight. Esparza dominated and brutally destroyed her using her wrestling and submission game.
Team Melendez fighter Angela Hill kicks team Pettis fighter Carla Esparza during filming of season twenty of The Ultimate Fighter on July 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
I expected more of a fight, but I wasn’t surprised by the outcome. What I was really surprised by was the mental game of Esparza.
Team Pettis fighter Carla Esparza celebrates her win over team Melendez fighter Angela Hill during filming of season twenty of The Ultimate Fighter on July 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Sure, she hasn’t fought in 1.5 years, but she was so stressed out over stepping into the cage. Hill on the other hand, was perfectly fine and confident in her abilities. The rituals, the nerves, just really surprising to see that from someone with so much experience, from a champion, and from someone about to take on the #16 seed. Just wild!
Team Melendez fighter Angela Hill reacts to her loss after facing team Pettis fighter Carla Esparza during filming of season twenty of The Ultimate Fighter on July 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
With the win, Team Pettis is now up 4-0. Quite possibly a clean sweep for Team Pettis.
