Episode No. 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated” opens with a Team Cormier training session, which features a special guest coaching appearance.

Head coach Daniel Cormier brings “The Ultimate Fighter 15” winner Michael Chiesa into the gym to help provide the fighters with some guidance and advise on the final stages of the competition. Chiesa retells the story of how his father passed away the day after he joined the competition, but he used that adversity to push himself even harder.

Chiesa says he wants the athletes to learn that the pressure is ultimately a good thing that’s going to be of benefit going forward, no matter the results of the fight.

The first featherweight semifinal is an all-Team Cormier affair. Teammates Brad Katona and Bryce Mitchell are set to share the octagon later in the episode, with the winner advancing to the finals. Neither fighter has a problem fighting a teammate, and are working out side-by-side each day in the lead up to their bout.

Back at The Ultimate Fighter House, the cast members are given a small glimpse of the outside world. They are allowed to watch February’s UFC on FOX 27 event, which featured a Jeremy Stephens vs. Josh Emmett headliner. Team Miocic head coach Stipe Miocic and his assistant coaches bring pizza to the house for the cast members and joins them in watching the fights.

At the official weigh-in, Katona and Mitchell come in under the 146-pound featherweight limit. A respectful staredown between teammates follows.

The next day, the athletes return to the TUF Gym for their fight. They finalize preparation in the locker rooms before heading to the octagon to determine the first featherweight finalist.

Team Cormier’s Brad Katona (6-0) vs. Team Cormier’s Bryce Mitchell (9-0)

Round 1 – Mitchell applies the pressure early, but Katona is firing back with hard low kicks. Mitchell begins to settle down a little bit and is picking his shots with more patience. Katona comes forward with a combination that lands. Katona changes levels for a takedown and nearly eats a heavy knee, but he pushes through and secures a takedown. Mitchell immediately goes for the rubber guard, but Katona stays high with his posture and avoids any danger. Katona steps over and attempts a guillotine choke, but that allows Mitchell to roll into top position. He doesn’t stay there long, though, because Katona reserves him and retakes top control. Mitchell is trying to scramble up from bottom, and after some hard work he eventually gets it. They clinch against the fence, but Mitchell spins free before absorbing any damage. Katona is throwing a lot of leg kicks and it’s obvious Mitchell doesn’t like them, because he goes for a takedown. He pushes Katona against the fence before getting him down with a body lock. Unfortunately, he can’t do anything with it before time runs out.

Round 2 – Mitchell lands a nice left hook out of the gate and follow it up with a head kick that’s blocked. Katona is not hurt by it and moves forward with more leg kicks that are badly bothering Mitchell. Mitchell steps in with a clean short left hand, and that forced Katona to initiate the clinch and go for a takedown against the fence. Mitchell reverses position and takes control of the situation. He tries for the body lock takedown again, but Katona has it scouted this time and breaks into free space. Katona lands a hand combination and just grazes Mitchell with a head kick. The pace of the striking picks up for a few seconds, but nothing significant lands. Katona is picking his shots well and is landing at a high accuracy, but Mitchell handles the power well. Mitchell times a nice single leg takedown and lands in Katona’s guard. Katona attacks with an armbar from bottom, but Mitchell is wise to it. Mitchell postures up and attempts to reign down some shots to end the round.

Round 3 – Mitchell land a straight left hand to begin the final round. Katona is remaining disciplined with the game plan, because most of his strikes are either quick punches or leg kicks. Mitchell pushes forward with the takedown again as well as some punches. One of his clean elbow shots opens a cut on Katona’s nose, and Mitchell gets a takedown. Mitchell is working from on top, but receives multiple warms from the referee due to inactivity. Katona goes for an armbar from bottom and uses it to roll his way on top. Katona settles into Mitchell’s guard before taking the back and locking in a rear-naked choke. The submission is in tight, and Mitchell is left with no choice but to tap out.

Brad Katona def. Bryce Mitchell via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3

“There was a lot of work going on in that fight,” Katona says post-fight. “I have to give a lot of acknowledgment to Bryce for exposing areas of my game that I need to work on. He really tested me in all facets of fighting, on the feet, and in wrestling. I ended up coming out with the win, and I was saying before this fight how it is the intangibles, and I think I showed it in this fight.”

Coach Cormier has nothing but rave reviews for Katona’s performance.

“We knew Brad was talented, despite his shy personality,” Cormier says. “He stayed composed, despite Bryce beating on him and he showed he’s a complete martial artist. Bryce showed heart and he just made a mistake and Brad got the W.”

With the victory, Katona becomes the first to advance to the lightweight tournament final, where he’ll meet the winner of Team Cormier’s Tyler Diamond and Team Miocic’s Jay Cucciniello.

On the next episode, the second featherweight final makes place. Team Cormier’s Joe Giannetti takes on Team Miocic’s Allan Zuniga to see who will meet Mike Trizano at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale on July 6 in Las Vegas.

Also see:

• Episode No. 9 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 8 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 7 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 6 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 5 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 4 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 3 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 2 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’
• Episode No. 1 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated’

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FS1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.