Although it might not have seemed like it at the time, Sijara Eubanks’ weight-cut debacle before “The Ultimate Fighter 26” Finale might have been a blessing in disguise.
Sure, Eubanks missed the opportunity to close out an improbable march through the long-running reality show by capturing the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s inaugural women’s flyweight title because she was hospitalized one day before the event, but the long-term benefits could be just as valuable. First, the delay of her official Octagon debut allowed Eubanks to further bond and grow with the team she discovered during taping of “The Ultimate Fighter” -- a group headed by renowned coach Mark Henry, who is at the helm of a stable of fighters that includes the likes of Frankie Edgar, Eddie Alvarez and Marlon Moraes.