The Ultimate Insider | Behind the scenes of TUF 34 injury woes: ‘A lot of bad sh*t that started happening’

The Ultimate Fighter 34's final days in the house were marked by a cascade of injuries and close calls that tested the resilience of the cast as they approached the show's conclusion. Strawweight contestant Melissa Amaya, who had earlier survived a severe arm injury, suffered a back injury during training ahead of her semifinal bout against GiGi Canuto. Despite the setback, the UFC Performance Institute medical team managed her recovery, and Amaya went on to defeat Canuto in a grueling matchup. Canuto herself was dealing with her own injury heading into the fight—a dislocated or broken finger or toe sustained in training—adding to what guest blogger and bantamweight contestant Xavier Franklin described as a dangerous period when hard sparring led to mounting physical damage across the cast.

Franklin provided behind-the-scenes insight into the intensity of Amaya and Canuto's clash, recounting how visibly worn Amaya appeared afterward. He praised Amaya's mental toughness, noting her refusal to yield despite injury, and credited her competitive mindset with carrying her through the bout. All four semifinal fights were filmed on the same day, so Franklin didn't witness their clash live, but later conversations with fighters and footage revealed just how brutal the encounter had been.

Despite the injuries plaguing TUF 34, Franklin attributed the cast's professionalism to maturity and a focus on their long-term UFC careers. Unlike past seasons marred by dramatic altercations, this group understood that brawling in the house risked jeopardizing their opportunities. Franklin emphasized that viral moments hold little weight against sustained career momentum, and the cast prioritized avoiding the pitfalls that derailed previous competitors.

Coaches Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier provided entertainment through their competitive banter, culminating in a fencing challenge where Bisping mounted a comeback to defeat Cormier 15-10 despite the former champion's early 5-1 lead, earning Team Bisping $1,500. With three Team Bisping bantamweights advancing, Franklin and close friend Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu were matched against each other in the semifinals, a pairing both have described as emotionally taxing given their bond forged during the season.