第 23 季，第 5 集: Hoping to light a fire under her team, coach Joanna Jedrzejczyk brings in former UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza to help out in training. The "Cookie Monster" runs the fighters through intense drills and techniques that helped her win season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter. At the house, a producer informs Abdel Medjedoub that his wife has called and she insists that she be allowed to speak with him. After talking to her, he reveals that she is upset with him and demands he leave the competition to come home. Distraught and unsure what to do, Abdel tries to put his personal issues behind him and continue to train with his team. Then in the fourth preliminary fight, two strawweights face off for the first time this season, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.