While his second go round on the UFC reality show “The Ultimate Fighter” went better than his first, it still wasn’t the ending that Colorado Springs’ Gilbert Smith wanted.

Smith was eliminated in the quarterfinals of “TUF: Redemption,” which aired June 14. On Wednesday, the show will pit semifinalists Dhiego Lima and Tom Gallicchio, and James Krause and Jesse Taylor against each other. The winners will fight for $250,000 in the finale live July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Smith lost a unanimous decision to Lima.

“I wanted to go out there and fight and win, maybe get some money,” Smith told The Gazette recently.

“It was a great experience, it was an honor. Coming off the loss in my Bellator fight and being back on TV, that’s awesome.”

Following his loss, Smith was flown to Los Angeles to be on “TUF Talk,” a live show that talks about the series. Being a part of that for the first time also stuck out with the co-owner/operator of Victory MMA and Hustle Hard Boxing gym in Colorado Springs.

Smith caught up with T.J. Dillashaw (his coach on the show) when Dillashaw was in Colorado Springs to spar with boxer Terence Crawford.

“I love T.J.,” Smith said. “I thought T.J. was a good dude.”

Smith retired in the octagon immediately after his loss. But he’s hoping for one last fight in which to retire with his coaches and his family watching.