“It doesn’t feel so bad”: Sarah Bradley reacts to Tournament of Champions Season 6 finale loss

There’s no easy way to lose in a competition where every dish can make or break your fate. But Sara Bradley? She walked out of the Tournament of Champions Season 6 finale with a calm grace that most chefs only dream of.

“It doesn’t feel so bad to get second place,” she said with a half-smile, and tears in her eyes, moments after the final verdict was announced.

The finale of Tournament of Champions Season 6 was a whirlwind of nerves, knives, and nuanced flavors. With just one challenge standing between the final two chefs and the belt, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The randomizer, true to form, threw out curveballs, making this last round anything but predictable. But even with all that pressure, Sara’s response was clear: she gave it her all, and she was proud of how far she’d come.

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A Tournament of Champions finale built on legacy and firepower

This season’s final round wasn’t a clash of strangers, it was a collision of two veterans who had seen the chaos of the Tournament of Champions kitchen before. Antonia Lofaso, a Tournament of Champions OG, had returned with unfinished business. Sara Bradley, coming off a strong showing the whole season, had proven she belonged among the greats.

Their final challenge was anything but easy. The randomizer tossed out wagyu beef, huitlachoche, and a sausage stuffer as the equipment they needed to use, and the style was hot and cold. No pressure, right?

The chefs had 60 minutes to make sense of it. And while both remained composed on the surface, the tension simmered just beneath.

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How the Tournament of Champions finale played out

The finale started with a familiar face; Martha Stewart’s feet and head were the only clues shown in the preview. Her presence added gravity to the judging table for the last round.

The finale unfolded in three battles. First, Antonia faced off with Britt Rescigno. Then, Sara went up against Lee Anne Wong. Finally, Antonia and Sara clashed in a double-dish, double-envelope, high-pressure match that included wagyu beef, huitlacoche, and a sausage stuffer.

Judges looked at taste, randomizer use, and presentation. In a competition like Tournament of Champions, one point in the right category can make all the difference.

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The final faceoff: two dishes, one winner

For the grand finale, Sara and Antonia had to make two dishes in one hour using wagyu beef, huitlacoche, and a sausage stuffer. The randomizer added another twist: hot and cold styles, plus the wild card envelopes. Hunter Fieri finally got some on-camera time to deliver those.

Sara and Antonia agreed that “sticky” would apply to the cold dish and “spicy” to the hot. The sausage stuffer caused issues for both, but Sara had a bigger problem—she didn’t use it for her second plate, which cost her points.

Sara made chochoyotes with wagyu and huitlacoche, and a silky tartare.

“My favorite is the cold dish,” said Martha. Brooke called the tartare “so luxurious and silky,” and Maneet said it was “an absolutely exquisite dish.” But the missed sausage stuffer led to a half-green, half-red mark from the judges. Martha found her sausage “mushy.”

Antonia made a Latin-inspired bangers and mash and a seared beef salad with sausage vinaigrette. “Perfectly cooked,” said Brooke. Martha praised the sausage as “beautifully fashioned” and “impeccably flavored.” Maneet, though, noted the texture was dry.

Antonia scored 88 to Sara’s 82. But that score didn’t reflect how close and compelling the final really was.

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Sara Bradley gave Tournament of Champions an emotional core

Sara didn’t win the title, but she might’ve given Tournament of Champions its heart this season. From her creativity in the silkie chicken round to the ambitious double dish finale, she was a consistent standout. Her emotional honesty stood out, too.

Before the final judging, Sara was already feeling the pressure.

“This is my fifth round with chef Sara. First time I’ve even remotely seen her break a sweat,”

Tiffani Faison observed. And yet, Sara kept going. She plated. She pushed. She almost took it.

Even after Antonia won the title, Sara, though in tears, kept smiling, murmuring,

“You deserved this.”

That’s what makes Tournament of Champions more than just another cooking competition. It’s about effort, emotion, and resilience. Sara brought all three.