The Ultimate Insider: Xavier Franklin shares most memorable moments following TUF 34 season finale

The Ultimate Fighter 34 season concluded with a dramatic semifinal when Mehemmedeli Osmanli submitted Christian Strong via buggy choke in the second round, securing his spot in the bantamweight final opposite Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu. The TUF 34 finals will take place September 26 at UFC Vegas 121, where Osmanli, a Team Michael Bisping fighter, faces Akylbek Uulu in a rematch of sorts—both coaches' fighters will compete in their respective division finals, with Team Daniel Cormier's Tina Black squaring off against Melissa Amaya in the strawweight tournament final.

Guest blogger Xavier Franklin provided insight into Osmanli's submission prowess, noting the buggy choke was a signature technique Osmanli had deployed repeatedly throughout the season, including twice during tryouts against Strong. Franklin recounted the technical breakdown of the submission, explaining how Strong's attempts to escape—particularly his effort to slam and create space—inadvertently deepened his predicament and sealed his fate.

Franklin also revealed significant tension between the two bantamweight finalists. Osmanli and Akylbek Uulu clashed repeatedly during training, culminating in a heated incident where an elbow frame during grappling sparked a near-brawl. Franklin criticized the coaches for repeatedly pairing fighters with known animosity, describing the situation as reminiscent of high-profile rivalries like Conor McGregor versus Khabib Nurmagomedov. He suggested the genuine dislike between Osmanli and Akylbek Uulu extends beyond on-camera theatrics and could boil over on fight night.

Among other season highlights, Franklin singled out the strawweight semifinal between Tina Black and Delphine Benouaich as the season's best fight, praising both women's aggressive performances. He remained noncommittal about picking a bantamweight winner, acknowledging both finalists' credentials while emphasizing that the rivalry transcends typical reality television drama.