TUF 31 Episode 11 takeaways: McGregor wins coaches challenge,

Ahead of this week’s “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 31 lightweight matchup, coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler competed in the traditional coaches challenge.

This season, the coaches went head-to-head in a UFC trivia game, but with an added twist: taking an ice bath in 39-degree water the entire time. Dana White said adding the element of the nearly 30-minute cold-tub plunge, made the game test the coaches’ mental and physical abilities. McGregor won the challenge. For winning the challenge, McGregor earned $10,000 and every fighter on his team was awarded $1,500.

This week’s fight featured two members of Team Chandler, as Kurt Holobaugh and Jason Knight squared off for a spot in the lightweight finale. Holobaugh picked up a second-round knockout and will take on fellow Team Chandler fighter Austin Hubbard for a UFC contract during the prelims of UFC 292 in Boston on Aug. 19.

Let’s look at the biggest moments from Episode 11 and what’s ahead next week on the final episode of the season.

Lightweight: Kurt Holobaugh, Team Chandler vs. Jason Knight, Team Chandler

Holobaugh beats Knight by TKO

The two fighters touched gloves and immediately proceeded to put on the best fight of the season. The matchup pitted two fighters who love to stand and bang, and the matchup didn’t disappoint, as they went toe-to-toe and traded punches for the entirety of the fight.

Both fighters had their moments in Round 1, but Holobaugh was leading the dance as he walked Knight down and continually landed big head strikes. In Round 2, Holobaugh picked up right where he left off, applying constant pressure until the referee stepped in to stop the fight with just over two minutes left in the round.

Before competing on TUF Season 31, Holobaugh, who has already had two runs in the UFC, last fought with Xtreme Sports Championship. Holobaugh made his UFC debut in 2013, then after competing on…