The episode opens up in the hallway of the UFC gym as Adam Cella talks to his recently -announced opponent Uriah Hall. Cella points out how much entertainment value the two of them possess and what a great standup fight they’ll have. Hall simply responds, “Maybe.”
As two actual opponents talk amicably, two potential opponents are still at odds. Kevin Casey still hasn’t gotten over Bubba McDaniel calling him out during the previous episode. He tries to tell us that he understands Bubba’s strategy — as Kevin suffered a cut in his first fight, he may be vulnerable. Still, he’s clearly taking it personally. Yes, as difficult as it may be to fathom, TUF contestants often place a high priority on perceived masculinity.
URIAH’S CORNER Speaking of dominance issues, back at the house we learn that Uriah Hall has a short fuse. Sitting around the bonfire talking with the housemates, Hall calls someone a “professional cooker.” Josh Samman corrects him, “You mean chef?” We assume Samman didn’t mean it maliciously, but Hall isn’t quite that sure. Now, he doesn’t jump up and scream “Let me bang, bro!” but he does talk about his childhood as a Jamaican emigrant. He struggled to learn English, and other kids would make fun of him and call him stupid. Samman’s correction seems to have brought this to the fore. Initially you feel a sense of pathos, but then you hear him talk about his rage and you’re terrified. Note to Josh Samman: Don’t correct Uriah Hall’s grammar, bro.
Cut to the Team Sonnen training session where we learn more about Uriah Hall besides the fact he can be scary. He opines about how martial arts changed his life and helped give him confidence. It puts a human face on the man that many expect to win the season. Plus we see some cool slow motion punching, which is always nice.
Coach Chael Sonnen then levels some high praise on Hall. He states that he’s the best athlete, works the hardest, he has the most talent etc. There is one caveat, though: Chael states that the key to getting Hall to win the whole thing is for him to realize that he doesn’t have to win everything. We catch a glimpse of this as Hall rolls with Kevin Casey. Casey catches him in an armbar, Hall taps, and his ego can’t handle it. He gets visibly upset and can’t seem to let it go. Maybe he’ll use it as a learning experience to improve? Nope. He appears to miss the point when he tells us, “Today I learned to not be nice.” I suppose Chael would have wanted him to learn armbar defense, but hey, you take what you can get. ADAM’S CORNER We cut to Adam Cella who goes on a humble brag-a-thon about how his friends and family always get angry at him because he finishes his opponents in the first round. He also talks about the heating and cooling company his family owns and explains he doesn’t need fighting. “I want to do this, I don’t have to.”
At the Team Jones training session, Bones works one-on-one with Cella to show him a better method of blocking kicks. He also realizes the mental coaching he needs to give Adam and tells us that, “My job is to humanize Uriah.” After the personal training, he works with the entire team to show them ground-and-pound technique. Coach Jones reveals to us that he’s used this elbow technique so many times that, “I know what the human skull feels like the back of my hand.”
As Jones teaches his fighters how to elbow a face, Sonnen teaches Uriah Hall about confidence…kind of. Hall asks Chael how he deals with all the pressure that comes with high-level MMA. Chael’s words of wisdom can pretty much be summed up as “Deal with it.” He explains: “Failure is always an option, but it’s a choice.”
Time for weigh-in, which occurs with no controversies. Two things worth noting: 1) Dana is still smitten with Uriah Hall and thinks he can be a star 2) Bubba admires Adam’s cojones.
Back at the house, Jon Jones visits the guys and tries to get to know his team better. He asks, “What does it mean to you to make it in the UFC?” There are a variety of responses. Adam Cella is spurned by doubters (who’d have thought those exist in MMA!?) Bubba looks for redemption after being on a path of destruction. Dylan Andrews thinks about his brothers who had potential to be great athletes but lost their chances because of drugs.
FIGHT DAY It’s finally fight day and the combatants have a few more words. Cella realizes the task that lays before him and knows Hall is an intimidating and dangerous opponent. Despite having the odds stacked against him, he believes in himself since, “I always rise to the occasion.” Meanwhile, Hall doesn’t go the normal route of false modesty and states, “I’d be scared of me, too.”
Both fighters trade jabs to begin the first round. Hall then lands a strong low kick. Cella responds with a couple punches, but Hall clinches and muscles him around the cage delivering knees to the body. They break the clinch and Hal throws a cool spin kick…that doesn’t even come close to landing. Cella answers with a kick of his own, but Hall grabs it and takes him down. Cella works from his back and throws up an armbar attempt. Looks like Hall actually did learn a little defense, because he fends off the submission and stands up. The two are back on their feet and Cella follows a jab-cross combo with another kick that Hall grabs. Cella loses his balance, but Hall doesn’t follow up. Instead, he throws another low kick that lands with a solid thud. Hall throws some more left legs against Cella and backs him up further. Cella swings big with his right hand, but Hall clinches him up again. They break and Adam Cella keeps coming forward.
They trade another couple jabs. Then, with six seconds left, Uriah Hall throws another cool spin kick… that will live forever in TUF highlight reels. Cella is out before he hits the ground. Dana White screams, “Holy [expletive]!” before Cella hits the ground, too. After the initial jubilance subsides, things get very quiet. Cella is still out on the ground and you see the concern on everyone’s faces. Eventually he sits up, but he has no recollection at all about what just happened. As Adam heads to the hospital we see the kick replayed again and again and it still doesn’t get boring.
Then it’s time for next week’s fight announcement — Kevin Casey will face off against Collin Hart. (Vote here for who you think will win.) Bubba doesn’t like it because he’s been angling for a fight with Kevin, but Coach Sonnen says it’s all a part of the strategy. They believe Kevin will take less damage against Hart.
Cut to previews to next week’s episode. Will Kevin Casey’s cut open up again? Can Team Sonnen make it three in a row? Does Dana White hand Uriah Hall a UFC contract before the season even ends? Find out next week on The Ultimate Fighter!
The episode opens up in the hallway of the UFC gym as Adam Cella talks to his recently -announced opponent Uriah Hall. Cella points out how much entertainment value the two of them possess and what a great standup fight they’ll have. Hall simply responds, “Maybe.”
As two actual opponents talk amicably, two potential opponents are still at odds. Kevin Casey still hasn’t gotten over Bubba McDaniel calling him out during the previous episode. He tries to tell us that he understands Bubba’s strategy — as Kevin suffered a cut in his first fight, he may be vulnerable. Still, he’s clearly taking it personally. Yes, as difficult as it may be to fathom, TUF contestants often place a high priority on perceived masculinity.
URIAH’S CORNER Speaking of dominance issues, back at the house we learn that Uriah Hall has a short fuse. Sitting around the bonfire talking with the housemates, Hall calls someone a “professional cooker.” Josh Samman corrects him, “You mean chef?” We assume Samman didn’t mean it maliciously, but Hall isn’t quite that sure. Now, he doesn’t jump up and scream “Let me bang, bro!” but he does talk about his childhood as a Jamaican emigrant. He struggled to learn English, and other kids would make fun of him and call him stupid. Samman’s correction seems to have brought this to the fore. Initially you feel a sense of pathos, but then you hear him talk about his rage and you’re terrified. Note to Josh Samman: Don’t correct Uriah Hall’s grammar, bro.
Cut to the Team Sonnen training session where we learn more about Uriah Hall besides the fact he can be scary. He opines about how martial arts changed his life and helped give him confidence. It puts a human face on the man that many expect to win the season. Plus we see some cool slow motion punching, which is always nice.
Coach Chael Sonnen then levels some high praise on Hall. He states that he’s the best athlete, works the hardest, he has the most talent etc. There is one caveat, though: Chael states that the key to getting Hall to win the whole thing is for him to realize that he doesn’t have to win everything. We catch a glimpse of this as Hall rolls with Kevin Casey. Casey catches him in an armbar, Hall taps, and his ego can’t handle it. He gets visibly upset and can’t seem to let it go. Maybe he’ll use it as a learning experience to improve? Nope. He appears to miss the point when he tells us, “Today I learned to not be nice.” I suppose Chael would have wanted him to learn armbar defense, but hey, you take what you can get. ADAM’S CORNER We cut to Adam Cella who goes on a humble brag-a-thon about how his friends and family always get angry at him because he finishes his opponents in the first round. He also talks about the heating and cooling company his family owns and explains he doesn’t need fighting. “I want to do this, I don’t have to.”
At the Team Jones training session, Bones works one-on-one with Cella to show him a better method of blocking kicks. He also realizes the mental coaching he needs to give Adam and tells us that, “My job is to humanize Uriah.” After the personal training, he works with the entire team to show them ground-and-pound technique. Coach Jones reveals to us that he’s used this elbow technique so many times that, “I know what the human skull feels like the back of my hand.”
As Jones teaches his fighters how to elbow a face, Sonnen teaches Uriah Hall about confidence…kind of. Hall asks Chael how he deals with all the pressure that comes with high-level MMA. Chael’s words of wisdom can pretty much be summed up as “Deal with it.” He explains: “Failure is always an option, but it’s a choice.”
Time for weigh-in, which occurs with no controversies. Two things worth noting: 1) Dana is still smitten with Uriah Hall and thinks he can be a star 2) Bubba admires Adam’s cojones.
Back at the house, Jon Jones visits the guys and tries to get to know his team better. He asks, “What does it mean to you to make it in the UFC?” There are a variety of responses. Adam Cella is spurned by doubters (who’d have thought those exist in MMA!?) Bubba looks for redemption after being on a path of destruction. Dylan Andrews thinks about his brothers who had potential to be great athletes but lost their chances because of drugs.
FIGHT DAY It’s finally fight day and the combatants have a few more words. Cella realizes the task that lays before him and knows Hall is an intimidating and dangerous opponent. Despite having the odds stacked against him, he believes in himself since, “I always rise to the occasion.” Meanwhile, Hall doesn’t go the normal route of false modesty and states, “I’d be scared of me, too.”
Both fighters trade jabs to begin the first round. Hall then lands a strong low kick. Cella responds with a couple punches, but Hall clinches and muscles him around the cage delivering knees to the body. They break the clinch and Hal throws a cool spin kick…that doesn’t even come close to landing. Cella answers with a kick of his own, but Hall grabs it and takes him down. Cella works from his back and throws up an armbar attempt. Looks like Hall actually did learn a little defense, because he fends off the submission and stands up. The two are back on their feet and Cella follows a jab-cross combo with another kick that Hall grabs. Cella loses his balance, but Hall doesn’t follow up. Instead, he throws another low kick that lands with a solid thud. Hall throws some more left legs against Cella and backs him up further. Cella swings big with his right hand, but Hall clinches him up again. They break and Adam Cella keeps coming forward.
They trade another couple jabs. Then, with six seconds left, Uriah Hall throws another cool spin kick… that will live forever in TUF highlight reels. Cella is out before he hits the ground. Dana White screams, “Holy [expletive]!” before Cella hits the ground, too. After the initial jubilance subsides, things get very quiet. Cella is still out on the ground and you see the concern on everyone’s faces. Eventually he sits up, but he has no recollection at all about what just happened. As Adam heads to the hospital we see the kick replayed again and again and it still doesn’t get boring.
Then it’s time for next week’s fight announcement — Kevin Casey will face off against Collin Hart. (Vote here for who you think will win.) Bubba doesn’t like it because he’s been angling for a fight with Kevin, but Coach Sonnen says it’s all a part of the strategy. They believe Kevin will take less damage against Hart.
Cut to previews to next week’s episode. Will Kevin Casey’s cut open up again? Can Team Sonnen make it three in a row? Does Dana White hand Uriah Hall a UFC contract before the season even ends? Find out next week on The Ultimate Fighter!
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another exceptional edition of the Downes Side. I’d like to regale you with the exploits of last weeks event in Chicago, but let’s be honest, you don’t care.
What you do care about, however, is that the UFC is back in Las Vegas for UFC 156 inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The main event of the evening puts the featherweight title on the line as champion Jose Aldo seeks to make the former lightweight belt holder Frankie Edgar’s 145-pound debut an unfortunate one. The co-main event of the night features a pair of light heavyweight superstars as The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner and former 205-pound champ Rashad Evans looks to begin another title run against Antonio Rogerio “Lil Nog” Nogueira.
Joseph Benavidez (16-3) vs Ian McCall (11-3-1) The night kicks off in the flyweight division with Joseph Benavidez taking on Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall. The favorite to win the flyweight tournament, Benavidez lost the finals in a split decision to current champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152. Training out of Team Alpha Male, the “Joe-jitsu” master is known for his guillotine chokes and holds eight career submission finishes. Extremely well-rounded, McCall’s two career UFC fights have both been against Demetrious Johnson. After falling prey to an arithmetically-challenged Australian judge in March, McCall dropped the rematch to “Mighty Mouse” last June.
In their short stint in the UFC, the 125-pound fighters have taught us two key things. Firstly, despite what Randy Newman says, you should never pick on short people. Secondly (and more importantly), the elite members of the division are evenly matched, and the same holds true for this fight. When you have evenly-matched opponents, the difference comes down to conditioning and work rate. Using those ciriteria, Benavidez has the advantage. He’ll be able to beat McCall to the punch early on, and by the time the third round comes around, he’ll secure the takedown and ground Uncle Creepy to get the unanimous decision victory.
Jon Fitch (24-4-1) vs Demian Maia (17-4) We jump up to the welterweight division for a clash of elite grapplers as AKA’s Jon Fitch faces BJJ black belt Demian Maia. 14-2-1 in his UFC career, Jon Fitch has used his dominant wrestling to smother opponents like Thiago Alves, Mike Pierce and (most recently) Erick Silva. A former middleweight number-one contender, Demian Maia has rejuvenated his career since dropping down to 170 with finishes of Dong Hyun Kim and Rick Story.
Fighting Jon Fitch is like battling a horror movie monster: You can run as much as you want, but eventually he’ll grab you, take you down and grind you to a decision victory. Ok, sure it’s not the scariest monster, but it’s still more believable than Gary Busey. Maia’s improved striking will give Fitch some problems in the beginning, but Maia doesn’t possess the same power in his left hand as Johny Hendricks. Fitch hasn’t been submitted since his pro debut in 2002, so he’ll avoid Maia’s dangerous guard and secure the UD win. It won’t be the best horror movie death, but still better than Death by Umbrella.
Alistair Overeem (36-11) vs Antonio Silva (17-4) Next we head to the heavyweight division for Alistair Overeem and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Elite kickboxer and action figure personified, Overeem has a gone the distance only five times in his professional MMA career. Known for his KOs, he actually holds 19 career submission victories. The majority of those subs are by guillotine, and I was actually able to find some footage of it here. A powerhouse in his own right, Silva holds 12 first round finishes, the most recent in October against surging star Travis Browne.
Alistair Overeem is a polarizing figure. Some hate him, while others are already poised to crown him the next heavyweight champion. Personally, I don’t care as long as I get to make horse meat jokes. Regardless of how you feel, you can’t deny the man’s talents. He’ll walk into the Octagon, drop Silva and proceed to open Bigfoot up worse than Cain Velasquez did at UFC 146. The Demolition Man takes the first-round TKO and the number one contender spot. Rashad Evans (17-2-1) vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5) Dropping to the light heavyweight division, Rashad Evans prepares himself for another title shot. Standing in his way will be PRIDE legend and Wonder Twin, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Holder of the second most wins in UFC light heavyweight history, Evans looks to rebound from a loss to Jon Jones in April. After dropping decisions to Phil Davis and Ryan Bader, “Lil Nog” hasn’t fought since disposing of Tito Ortiz in the first round back in December 2011.
Despite a takedown defense rate of over 70%, Nogueira’s losses to Davis and Bader have shown that he can be outwrestled. Evans will secure a couple of takedowns early, and while he won’t finish, it will cause Nogueira to be less aggressive on the feet. This will play into Rashad’s advantage and open up his boxing game. In the third round, he’ll finally drop Rogerio and earn the TKO win.
Jose Aldo (21-1) vs Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) Time for the main event of the evening! The challenger, Frankie Edgar, has made a career of proving people wrong. He tried out for the first season of TUF but didn’t make the final cut… and soon after, got a call asking him to take a fight in the Octagon. After hearing people tell him to drop to featherweight for years, Edgar became the 155-pound champion… and then dropped to featherweight. The champion, Jose Aldo, is 11-0 in his WEC/UFC career. By all objective accounts the most dominant fighter in 145-pound history, Aldo’s last title defense was just over a year ago when he dropped Chad Mendes with a well-timed knee at the tail end of the first round.
Despite a renowned career, Edgar is still the biggest underdog since Seabiscuit competed in the All Valley Karate Tournament with his Jamaican bobsled team. Despite making a career of proving people wrong, it’s not going to continue tonight. Edgar used his speed advantage at lightweight to attack opponents at angles and keep them guessing with a blend of strikes and takedowns. Unfortunately, this advantage disappears against Aldo. Couple that with the fact that “Scarface” has stuffed 52 of 55 takedowns, things don’t look good for New Jersey’s second-favorite son (Springsteen forever, bro). Benson Henderson used leg kicks to beat Edgar twice, and despite how questionable you may find those decisions, Aldo will do the same. After beating up his legs, Aldo will catch Frankie with a right hand and put it away in the third round.
That wraps up another cromulent edition of the Downes Side. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, be sure to make your own predictions in the new UFC Fantasy game, then leave your thoughts, concerns, and neologisms on the page here.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another exceptional edition of the Downes Side. I’d like to regale you with the exploits of last weeks event in Chicago, but let’s be honest, you don’t care.
What you do care about, however, is that the UFC is back in Las Vegas for UFC 156 inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The main event of the evening puts the featherweight title on the line as champion Jose Aldo seeks to make the former lightweight belt holder Frankie Edgar’s 145-pound debut an unfortunate one. The co-main event of the night features a pair of light heavyweight superstars as The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner and former 205-pound champ Rashad Evans looks to begin another title run against Antonio Rogerio “Lil Nog” Nogueira.
Joseph Benavidez (16-3) vs Ian McCall (11-3-1) The night kicks off in the flyweight division with Joseph Benavidez taking on Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall. The favorite to win the flyweight tournament, Benavidez lost the finals in a split decision to current champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152. Training out of Team Alpha Male, the “Joe-jitsu” master is known for his guillotine chokes and holds eight career submission finishes. Extremely well-rounded, McCall’s two career UFC fights have both been against Demetrious Johnson. After falling prey to an arithmetically-challenged Australian judge in March, McCall dropped the rematch to “Mighty Mouse” last June.
In their short stint in the UFC, the 125-pound fighters have taught us two key things. Firstly, despite what Randy Newman says, you should never pick on short people. Secondly (and more importantly), the elite members of the division are evenly matched, and the same holds true for this fight. When you have evenly-matched opponents, the difference comes down to conditioning and work rate. Using those ciriteria, Benavidez has the advantage. He’ll be able to beat McCall to the punch early on, and by the time the third round comes around, he’ll secure the takedown and ground Uncle Creepy to get the unanimous decision victory.
Jon Fitch (24-4-1) vs Demian Maia (17-4) We jump up to the welterweight division for a clash of elite grapplers as AKA’s Jon Fitch faces BJJ black belt Demian Maia. 14-2-1 in his UFC career, Jon Fitch has used his dominant wrestling to smother opponents like Thiago Alves, Mike Pierce and (most recently) Erick Silva. A former middleweight number-one contender, Demian Maia has rejuvenated his career since dropping down to 170 with finishes of Dong Hyun Kim and Rick Story.
Fighting Jon Fitch is like battling a horror movie monster: You can run as much as you want, but eventually he’ll grab you, take you down and grind you to a decision victory. Ok, sure it’s not the scariest monster, but it’s still more believable than Gary Busey. Maia’s improved striking will give Fitch some problems in the beginning, but Maia doesn’t possess the same power in his left hand as Johny Hendricks. Fitch hasn’t been submitted since his pro debut in 2002, so he’ll avoid Maia’s dangerous guard and secure the UD win. It won’t be the best horror movie death, but still better than Death by Umbrella.
Alistair Overeem (36-11) vs Antonio Silva (17-4) Next we head to the heavyweight division for Alistair Overeem and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Elite kickboxer and action figure personified, Overeem has a gone the distance only five times in his professional MMA career. Known for his KOs, he actually holds 19 career submission victories. The majority of those subs are by guillotine, and I was actually able to find some footage of it here. A powerhouse in his own right, Silva holds 12 first round finishes, the most recent in October against surging star Travis Browne.
Alistair Overeem is a polarizing figure. Some hate him, while others are already poised to crown him the next heavyweight champion. Personally, I don’t care as long as I get to make horse meat jokes. Regardless of how you feel, you can’t deny the man’s talents. He’ll walk into the Octagon, drop Silva and proceed to open Bigfoot up worse than Cain Velasquez did at UFC 146. The Demolition Man takes the first-round TKO and the number one contender spot. Rashad Evans (17-2-1) vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5) Dropping to the light heavyweight division, Rashad Evans prepares himself for another title shot. Standing in his way will be PRIDE legend and Wonder Twin, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Holder of the second most wins in UFC light heavyweight history, Evans looks to rebound from a loss to Jon Jones in April. After dropping decisions to Phil Davis and Ryan Bader, “Lil Nog” hasn’t fought since disposing of Tito Ortiz in the first round back in December 2011.
Despite a takedown defense rate of over 70%, Nogueira’s losses to Davis and Bader have shown that he can be outwrestled. Evans will secure a couple of takedowns early, and while he won’t finish, it will cause Nogueira to be less aggressive on the feet. This will play into Rashad’s advantage and open up his boxing game. In the third round, he’ll finally drop Rogerio and earn the TKO win.
Jose Aldo (21-1) vs Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) Time for the main event of the evening! The challenger, Frankie Edgar, has made a career of proving people wrong. He tried out for the first season of TUF but didn’t make the final cut… and soon after, got a call asking him to take a fight in the Octagon. After hearing people tell him to drop to featherweight for years, Edgar became the 155-pound champion… and then dropped to featherweight. The champion, Jose Aldo, is 11-0 in his WEC/UFC career. By all objective accounts the most dominant fighter in 145-pound history, Aldo’s last title defense was just over a year ago when he dropped Chad Mendes with a well-timed knee at the tail end of the first round.
Despite a renowned career, Edgar is still the biggest underdog since Seabiscuit competed in the All Valley Karate Tournament with his Jamaican bobsled team. Despite making a career of proving people wrong, it’s not going to continue tonight. Edgar used his speed advantage at lightweight to attack opponents at angles and keep them guessing with a blend of strikes and takedowns. Unfortunately, this advantage disappears against Aldo. Couple that with the fact that “Scarface” has stuffed 52 of 55 takedowns, things don’t look good for New Jersey’s second-favorite son (Springsteen forever, bro). Benson Henderson used leg kicks to beat Edgar twice, and despite how questionable you may find those decisions, Aldo will do the same. After beating up his legs, Aldo will catch Frankie with a right hand and put it away in the third round.
That wraps up another cromulent edition of the Downes Side. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, be sure to make your own predictions in the new UFC Fantasy game, then leave your thoughts, concerns, and neologisms on the page here.
We open our first regular episode with the guys arriving at the house after the elimination bouts. Bubba McDaniel feels like a kid again, Luke Barnatt appreciates the upgrade from his budget lifestyle and Gilbert Smith is simply awestruck.
While most of the crew is just excited to be in a fancy house, Josh Samman is worried about the impending fight between Gilbert Smith and Luke Barnatt. He doesn’t believe it was a smart pick and seriously questions Gilbert’s cardio. Bubba agrees that Smith’s endurance seems to be lacking. While teammates sniping each other is nothing new, even Team Jones’ coaches have their doubts. They convene a little coaching panel and echo many of the sentiments Josh and others hold.
As for Gilbert himself, he feels that there is a lack of positive affirmation (man, if only he knew what they really thought!) and doesn’t appreciate all the criticism. It appears that the pressure of the situation is starting to get to him. Teammate Adam Cella thinks that Gilbert is mentally breaking down. So we’re off to a good start. In the Gym Things are a bit more positive in the world of Team Sonnen side. We cut to their training session and Chael introduces us to his coaching staff. He also informs us that he’s going to be participating in every workout his team goes through. He’s doing this so he can properly understand how the guys feel physically and mentally and figures the best way is to do it himself. Jimmy Quinlan says that the team, “is vibing very well.”
While camaraderie seems to be growing on Team Sonnen, Team Jones is already hitting the skids. As Gilbert leaves the room to check his weight, Bubba tells the assistant coaches that Gilbert is a wreck and doubts he’ll be able to perform in the Octagon. When Gil returns, his teammates confront him.
Considering past TUF outbursts, you might expect Gilbert’s reaction to include bunch of swearing and yelling, “Let me bang, bro!” but that does not occur. Instead, he responds with, “I’m not the one calling the shots” — not exactly the most convincing of denials. As the coaches listen outside the door, Jon Jones decides to walk in and take charge. He tells Gilbert that he believes in him, knows he can win this fight and he should ignore all the other noise.
Team Jones finally gets down to training. Coach Jones trains Gilbert to use his big overhand left punch to catch the taller Barnatt. As Gil starts getting in the groove and moving, a few teammates start to believe in him. Both Clint Hester and Adam Cella start to envision Gil beating Luke.
Back at the house, Chael Sonnen decides to stop by and say hello. While he may act as if he’s merely popping in for a spot of tea, Chael (shockingly) has ulterior motives. He pulls Uriah Hall aside and lets him know that his biggest priority as a coach is getting Hall on to the next round. Looks like Dana and Chael both have a soft spot for Mr. Hall.
Back at Team Sonnen training, we learn a little more about #1 pick Luke Barnatt. Born to a Jehovah’s Witness mother and “hippie” father, he has family dynamics that make Honey Boo Boo’s look like a Norman Rockwell painting. Coach Sonnen doesn’t appear to be too worried about Gilbert Smith negating the 6’6” Englishman’s reach.
Meanwhile, Dana White hears about the Team Jones controversy and agrees with them. He has no idea why Jon Jones would choose this matchup. With everyone (save Jon Jones) doubting him, can Gilbert pull it off? Fight Time Round one starts off with a groin shot. Once that uncomfortableness is out of the way, the fighters get down to business. Gilbert follows his training and uses that big overhand left to transition to a takedown attempt. He pushes Luke against the cage and then scores a single-leg. Luke immediately works his way back to his feet and scores a trip takedown of his own. Both fighters get back to their feet and clinch against the fence. Luke tries to work his knees, but Gilbert grabs one and forces him to the ground. Unable to hold him down, both fighters break up and move to the center of the cage with about 1:50 left. Gilbert quickly shoots in, but Luke winds up on top. Luke takes his back, but Gilbert reverses, scrambles and both are back against the cage with less than a minute left. After an ugly jump knee attempt from Barnatt, Gilbert closes the distance, but the round ends.
Gilbert grabs another single-leg attempt as the second round begins, but the two wind up pressed against the fence. Luke tries to scramble and winds up on his back, but Gilbert fails to hold him down. The two return to their feet and Luke answers with another outside trip takedown. He’s able to score a few punches and short elbows before they’re back standing. Gilbert tries to throw some haymakers, but his energy is gone. Remember Luke’s ugly jump knee from round one? He tries it again, and this time it lands perfectly as Gilbert rushes in for the takedown. Barnatt catches Gilbert flush and Luke scores a 2nd-round KO, Vick vs. Cruickshank-style.
Coach Jones is now eating all those nice words he mustered up for Smith. He criticizes him for letting Luke dictate the pace and adds, “Gilbert lost the fight before he even got there.” The light heavyweight champ also tests out a new T-shirt slogan when he tells his team that they have to be, “pissed off for greatness.” Josh Samman gives us the usual, “I told you so,” while Bubba McDaniel is a man of action — not content to let Team Sonnen decide his fate, he calls out Kevin Casey in the gym after the fight, hopefully goading him into a fight next week.
It doesn’t work, and Chael announces that next weeks match will pit teacher’s pet Uriah Hall against potential victim Adam Cella. Hall tries to give some pro forma “anything can happen in a fight,” but he doesn’t seem too worried.
The show closes with a sneak peek into next week’s action, which promises one of the craziest finishes in TUF history. Does Adam Cella shock the world? Can Team Jones find some continuity? Will Mrs. Barnatt usurp June Shannon for reality TV gold? Make your predictions in the TUF Fantasy tournament and then find out next week on The Ultimate Fighter! Season at a glance:
We open our first regular episode with the guys arriving at the house after the elimination bouts. Bubba McDaniel feels like a kid again, Luke Barnatt appreciates the upgrade from his budget lifestyle and Gilbert Smith is simply awestruck.
While most of the crew is just excited to be in a fancy house, Josh Samman is worried about the impending fight between Gilbert Smith and Luke Barnatt. He doesn’t believe it was a smart pick and seriously questions Gilbert’s cardio. Bubba agrees that Smith’s endurance seems to be lacking. While teammates sniping each other is nothing new, even Team Jones’ coaches have their doubts. They convene a little coaching panel and echo many of the sentiments Josh and others hold.
As for Gilbert himself, he feels that there is a lack of positive affirmation (man, if only he knew what they really thought!) and doesn’t appreciate all the criticism. It appears that the pressure of the situation is starting to get to him. Teammate Adam Cella thinks that Gilbert is mentally breaking down. So we’re off to a good start. In the Gym Things are a bit more positive in the world of Team Sonnen side. We cut to their training session and Chael introduces us to his coaching staff. He also informs us that he’s going to be participating in every workout his team goes through. He’s doing this so he can properly understand how the guys feel physically and mentally and figures the best way is to do it himself. Jimmy Quinlan says that the team, “is vibing very well.”
While camaraderie seems to be growing on Team Sonnen, Team Jones is already hitting the skids. As Gilbert leaves the room to check his weight, Bubba tells the assistant coaches that Gilbert is a wreck and doubts he’ll be able to perform in the Octagon. When Gil returns, his teammates confront him.
Considering past TUF outbursts, you might expect Gilbert’s reaction to include bunch of swearing and yelling, “Let me bang, bro!” but that does not occur. Instead, he responds with, “I’m not the one calling the shots” — not exactly the most convincing of denials. As the coaches listen outside the door, Jon Jones decides to walk in and take charge. He tells Gilbert that he believes in him, knows he can win this fight and he should ignore all the other noise.
Team Jones finally gets down to training. Coach Jones trains Gilbert to use his big overhand left punch to catch the taller Barnatt. As Gil starts getting in the groove and moving, a few teammates start to believe in him. Both Clint Hester and Adam Cella start to envision Gil beating Luke.
Back at the house, Chael Sonnen decides to stop by and say hello. While he may act as if he’s merely popping in for a spot of tea, Chael (shockingly) has ulterior motives. He pulls Uriah Hall aside and lets him know that his biggest priority as a coach is getting Hall on to the next round. Looks like Dana and Chael both have a soft spot for Mr. Hall.
Back at Team Sonnen training, we learn a little more about #1 pick Luke Barnatt. Born to a Jehovah’s Witness mother and “hippie” father, he has family dynamics that make Honey Boo Boo’s look like a Norman Rockwell painting. Coach Sonnen doesn’t appear to be too worried about Gilbert Smith negating the 6’6” Englishman’s reach.
Meanwhile, Dana White hears about the Team Jones controversy and agrees with them. He has no idea why Jon Jones would choose this matchup. With everyone (save Jon Jones) doubting him, can Gilbert pull it off? Fight Time Round one starts off with a groin shot. Once that uncomfortableness is out of the way, the fighters get down to business. Gilbert follows his training and uses that big overhand left to transition to a takedown attempt. He pushes Luke against the cage and then scores a single-leg. Luke immediately works his way back to his feet and scores a trip takedown of his own. Both fighters get back to their feet and clinch against the fence. Luke tries to work his knees, but Gilbert grabs one and forces him to the ground. Unable to hold him down, both fighters break up and move to the center of the cage with about 1:50 left. Gilbert quickly shoots in, but Luke winds up on top. Luke takes his back, but Gilbert reverses, scrambles and both are back against the cage with less than a minute left. After an ugly jump knee attempt from Barnatt, Gilbert closes the distance, but the round ends.
Gilbert grabs another single-leg attempt as the second round begins, but the two wind up pressed against the fence. Luke tries to scramble and winds up on his back, but Gilbert fails to hold him down. The two return to their feet and Luke answers with another outside trip takedown. He’s able to score a few punches and short elbows before they’re back standing. Gilbert tries to throw some haymakers, but his energy is gone. Remember Luke’s ugly jump knee from round one? He tries it again, and this time it lands perfectly as Gilbert rushes in for the takedown. Barnatt catches Gilbert flush and Luke scores a 2nd-round KO, Vick vs. Cruickshank-style.
Coach Jones is now eating all those nice words he mustered up for Smith. He criticizes him for letting Luke dictate the pace and adds, “Gilbert lost the fight before he even got there.” The light heavyweight champ also tests out a new T-shirt slogan when he tells his team that they have to be, “pissed off for greatness.” Josh Samman gives us the usual, “I told you so,” while Bubba McDaniel is a man of action — not content to let Team Sonnen decide his fate, he calls out Kevin Casey in the gym after the fight, hopefully goading him into a fight next week.
It doesn’t work, and Chael announces that next weeks match will pit teacher’s pet Uriah Hall against potential victim Adam Cella. Hall tries to give some pro forma “anything can happen in a fight,” but he doesn’t seem too worried.
The show closes with a sneak peek into next week’s action, which promises one of the craziest finishes in TUF history. Does Adam Cella shock the world? Can Team Jones find some continuity? Will Mrs. Barnatt usurp June Shannon for reality TV gold? Make your predictions in the TUF Fantasy tournament and then find out next week on The Ultimate Fighter! Season at a glance:
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another network television edition of the Downes Side! This issue is particularly special because the UFC has recognized my accomplishments and has invited me to attend the live event. They’ve even set me up with five star accommodations (my parents’ house).
While I’m at the house Mr. Downes built, the UFC rolls into the house Jordan built for UFC on FOX 6. The main event inside the United Center in Chicago will decide the UFC flyweight champion as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson makes his first belt defense against TUF 14 winner John “The Magician” Dodson. The co-main event of the night takes places in the light heavyweight division as UFC/PRIDE legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson looks to derail the Glover Teixeira hype train.
Erik Koch (13-1) vs Ricardo Lamas (12-2) The main card kicks off in the featherweight division as former challenger Erik “New Breed” Koch looks to earn another shot at the title after being sidelined by two injuries in 2012. Standing in his way is a man who’s quietly moved up the ladder, local Ricardo “Bully” Lamas. Koch steps into the cage for the first time in 16 months and though he’s known for his striking, Koch actually holds more submission victories (seven) than KOs (three). A carryover from the WEC, Lamas is 3-0 in his UFC career with wins over Hatsu Hioki and Cub Swanson.
Lamas needs to bring this fight to the ground. He’s a capable striker and even has a flashy flying knee KO at WEC 47 on his resume, but he’s outclassed on the feet. Unfortunately for him, that task will not be easy. In his last fight against Jonathan Brookins, Koch defended 19 of 20 takedown attempts and holds a career defense rating of over 80%. Lamas will try to get in and bring it to the ground, but he’ll be unsuccessful. As the fight progresses, Lamas will tire and make himself vulnerable. Koch will pounce on this and earn a 2nd-round TKO. Lamas will be disappointed, but at least he has his famous last name to fall back on for support.
Anthony Pettis (15-2) vs Donald Cerrone (19-4) We move up to the lightweight division for what’s sure to be Fight of the Night. In one corner stands the WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. Another victim of the injury bug, Pettis hasn’t been inside the Octagon since UFC 144 last February. There he landed a left leg high-kick KO that added to his already impressive highlight reel. Believe it or not, there was even this one time when he jumped off the cage and kicked Benson Henderson (seriously). Opposite him stands another WEC alum, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone who secured a 1st-round KO of his own against Melvin Guillard in August.
While burning through some of the UFC’s best lightweights in 2011 and ’12, Cerrone has been angling for this fight for awhile. He even went so far as to accuse Pettis of “ducking” him. Well, just like Tom Hanks learned in 1998, you should be careful what you wish for. Cerrone has a solid ground game, but he lacks the takedown ability and strength to get the dynamic Pettis to the mat. Cowboy’s aggression makes him entertaining, but getting knocked down in the Guillard fight showed how that tactic is a double-edged sword. Despite a reach disadvantage, Pettis will control the outside striking and beat Cerrone to the attack. This will force Cowboy to rush in and receive a hit harder than any of his horses can deliver. Pettis via 2nd-round TKO.
Quinton Jackson (32-10) vs Glover Teixeira (19-2) On to the light heavies as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson sets down his Playstation Vita long enough to fight Glover Teixeira. I’d like to say Rampage wants to redeem himself for such a poor outing against Ryan Bader at UFC 144, but he’s not exactly the easiest person to figure out (besides his love for Japan…and its women). Teixeira, on the other hand, is very easy to figure out — he hurts people. Last October he showcased that ability as he beat down of Fabio Maldonado and outlanded his opponent 85 to 10 in significant strikes.
No one can deny Rampage’s career credentials. He’s done incredible things and rightly deserves his title as a legend of the sport. Legacy doesn’t win you fights, though. When in shape, Rampage’s solid boxing technique and takedown defense makes him a danger. While it could be enough to finish Teixeira, it likely won’t. The Brazilian will utilize his aggressive style and pressure his opponent. By the time the third round comes about, Rampage will be too tired and damaged to put up a fight. Teixeira wins via 3rd-round TKO.
Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) vs John Dodson (14-5) Time for the main event of the evening! After running through all the bantamweights on the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter, Dodson dropped down to flyweight and earned wins against Tim Elliot and Jussier da Silva. Explosive with a powerful left hand, Dodson has never been taken down during his entire UFC career. Johnson was crowned champion in September after beating Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez in the inaugural flyweight tournament. Extremely quick with an incredible work rate, Johnson has greatly improved his striking since moving down a division.
This fight will be a barnburner. Both men have the athleticism and cardio to constantly attack. While Johnson never seemed to struggle with Joseph Benavidez’s power, Dodson’s striking will give him problems. The Magician’s left hand will be the difference maker and slow down the champ. Johnson will end Dodson’s perfect takedown defense, but he won’t be able to hold him down or advance position. This will allow Dodson to get back to his feet and tag Mighty Mouse. This will be a back-and-forth fight with a frenetic pace, but Dodson’s advantage on the feet will help him secure the unanimous decision win.
That wraps up another enriching edition of the Downes Side. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @DannyBoyDownes. Also, leave your own comments, thoughts, predictions or favorite place for a Chicago-style hot dog in the comments, too.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another network television edition of the Downes Side! This issue is particularly special because the UFC has recognized my accomplishments and has invited me to attend the live event. They’ve even set me up with five star accommodations (my parents’ house).
While I’m at the house Mr. Downes built, the UFC rolls into the house Jordan built for UFC on FOX 6. The main event inside the United Center in Chicago will decide the UFC flyweight champion as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson makes his first belt defense against TUF 14 winner John “The Magician” Dodson. The co-main event of the night takes places in the light heavyweight division as UFC/PRIDE legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson looks to derail the Glover Teixeira hype train.
Erik Koch (13-1) vs Ricardo Lamas (12-2) The main card kicks off in the featherweight division as former challenger Erik “New Breed” Koch looks to earn another shot at the title after being sidelined by two injuries in 2012. Standing in his way is a man who’s quietly moved up the ladder, local Ricardo “Bully” Lamas. Koch steps into the cage for the first time in 16 months and though he’s known for his striking, Koch actually holds more submission victories (seven) than KOs (three). A carryover from the WEC, Lamas is 3-0 in his UFC career with wins over Hatsu Hioki and Cub Swanson.
Lamas needs to bring this fight to the ground. He’s a capable striker and even has a flashy flying knee KO at WEC 47 on his resume, but he’s outclassed on the feet. Unfortunately for him, that task will not be easy. In his last fight against Jonathan Brookins, Koch defended 19 of 20 takedown attempts and holds a career defense rating of over 80%. Lamas will try to get in and bring it to the ground, but he’ll be unsuccessful. As the fight progresses, Lamas will tire and make himself vulnerable. Koch will pounce on this and earn a 2nd-round TKO. Lamas will be disappointed, but at least he has his famous last name to fall back on for support.
Anthony Pettis (15-2) vs Donald Cerrone (19-4) We move up to the lightweight division for what’s sure to be Fight of the Night. In one corner stands the WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. Another victim of the injury bug, Pettis hasn’t been inside the Octagon since UFC 144 last February. There he landed a left leg high-kick KO that added to his already impressive highlight reel. Believe it or not, there was even this one time when he jumped off the cage and kicked Benson Henderson (seriously). Opposite him stands another WEC alum, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone who secured a 1st-round KO of his own against Melvin Guillard in August.
While burning through some of the UFC’s best lightweights in 2011 and ’12, Cerrone has been angling for this fight for awhile. He even went so far as to accuse Pettis of “ducking” him. Well, just like Tom Hanks learned in 1998, you should be careful what you wish for. Cerrone has a solid ground game, but he lacks the takedown ability and strength to get the dynamic Pettis to the mat. Cowboy’s aggression makes him entertaining, but getting knocked down in the Guillard fight showed how that tactic is a double-edged sword. Despite a reach disadvantage, Pettis will control the outside striking and beat Cerrone to the attack. This will force Cowboy to rush in and receive a hit harder than any of his horses can deliver. Pettis via 2nd-round TKO.
Quinton Jackson (32-10) vs Glover Teixeira (19-2) On to the light heavies as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson sets down his Playstation Vita long enough to fight Glover Teixeira. I’d like to say Rampage wants to redeem himself for such a poor outing against Ryan Bader at UFC 144, but he’s not exactly the easiest person to figure out (besides his love for Japan…and its women). Teixeira, on the other hand, is very easy to figure out — he hurts people. Last October he showcased that ability as he beat down of Fabio Maldonado and outlanded his opponent 85 to 10 in significant strikes.
No one can deny Rampage’s career credentials. He’s done incredible things and rightly deserves his title as a legend of the sport. Legacy doesn’t win you fights, though. When in shape, Rampage’s solid boxing technique and takedown defense makes him a danger. While it could be enough to finish Teixeira, it likely won’t. The Brazilian will utilize his aggressive style and pressure his opponent. By the time the third round comes about, Rampage will be too tired and damaged to put up a fight. Teixeira wins via 3rd-round TKO.
Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) vs John Dodson (14-5) Time for the main event of the evening! After running through all the bantamweights on the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter, Dodson dropped down to flyweight and earned wins against Tim Elliot and Jussier da Silva. Explosive with a powerful left hand, Dodson has never been taken down during his entire UFC career. Johnson was crowned champion in September after beating Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez in the inaugural flyweight tournament. Extremely quick with an incredible work rate, Johnson has greatly improved his striking since moving down a division.
This fight will be a barnburner. Both men have the athleticism and cardio to constantly attack. While Johnson never seemed to struggle with Joseph Benavidez’s power, Dodson’s striking will give him problems. The Magician’s left hand will be the difference maker and slow down the champ. Johnson will end Dodson’s perfect takedown defense, but he won’t be able to hold him down or advance position. This will allow Dodson to get back to his feet and tag Mighty Mouse. This will be a back-and-forth fight with a frenetic pace, but Dodson’s advantage on the feet will help him secure the unanimous decision win.
That wraps up another enriching edition of the Downes Side. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @DannyBoyDownes. Also, leave your own comments, thoughts, predictions or favorite place for a Chicago-style hot dog in the comments, too.
As the 17th iteration of The Ultimate Fighter kicks off, it doesn’t take long to realize that it’s different than the previous incantations. Besides the production value, and shooting style Dana tells us that this time around friends and family will be around for the elimination fights.
He then goes into the story of UFC 151, the Pay-Per-View that never was, and not-so-subtly states that Jon Jones was scared of Chael Sonnen. The two coaches walk into the gym and meet each other. Sonnen does his usual pontificating about whatever goes on in his head and Jones sits by and politely nods his head and smiles. On the confession cam, Bones tells us, “I don’t really like the guy.”
There are 14 elimination fights to see, and no other time is wasted. Here’s a rundown of the fights. Jake Heun vs Adam Cella Jake Heun is a former University of Hawaii football player who trains with Chris Leben. He has a unique view on the job of a mixed martial artist and tells us, “What I do is put my fist on people’s faces.” Adam Cella’s childhood fists were preoccupied with stuffing faces as he admits to us that he is a former fat kid. Heun comes out aggressively and swings wildly. Cella goes for a knee, but Heun grabs it and uses it for a takedown. Right away Cella works his guard and throws up an armbar attempt. Heun goes for a slam, but it’s not enough as he’s forced to tap. Looks like Cella will be stuffing his face inside the TUF house. Zak Cummings vs Nik Fekete Nik Fekete describes himself as a “nightclub security guard.” Last time I checked they were called bouncers. Regardless of what he calls himself, he eats a huge right hand and gets bounced from TUF in about 5 seconds. Cummings crosses the velvet rope with only having to throw one punch.
Eldon Sproat vs Kevin Casey Training out of his garage, Sproat ticks off two TUF must-haves — Hawaiian and cowboy hat guy. Kevin Casey grew up in a single-parent house and looks to represent the Gracie family banner he’s trained under. He does the family proud as he easily scores the takedown and secures the rear-naked choke victory.
Scott Rosa vs Tor Troeng Scott Rosa trains out of his buddy’s garage because, “It comes natural to me.” A Swedish engineer, Tor views fighting as only an engineer would — a scientific problem to be solved. This time around, book learning beats out “The Natural” as Tor utilizes his ground game to earn the takedown and sink in the second RNC victory of the episode.
Clint Hester vs Fraser Opie I really hoped Fraser Opie made the cut. Not only would it make every TUF episode feel like a Guy Ritchie movie, but I also have tons of relevant Andy Griffith show references to make. Sadly, fortune did not favor me (nor Opie) as Clint works over Opie with body shots, takedowns and suplexes en route to a decision win. Both coaches are very impressed with his ability and Jones believes he could be the top pick. When asked about how he thinks things will be in the house, Clint responds, “I’ve never been to federal prison, but it’ll feel like being in federal prison.”
Ryan Bigler vs Bubba McDaniel From the tiny nation of Guam, Bigler passes the time leading up to the fight reading Churchill quotes. Bubba spends his reuniting with his sister and hoping that all the personal sacrifices he’s made have been worth it.The two spend a lot of the time against the cage and Bigler takes Bubba down in the first to possibly steal the round, but it won’t reach the judges’ scorecards. In the second, Bubba secures a takedown of his own and utilizes ground-and-pound to get the finish. A teammate of Jon Jones, Bones doesn’t exactly heap the praise on
Bubba. For once, he’s in agreement with Dana White as the UFC president
seems less than enthused by Bubba’s performance. Josh Samman vs Leo Bercier Trying out for the fourth time, Josh Samman looks to finally find his way into the house. Standing in his way is Leo Bercier, who talks about his life growing up on a Native American reservation. Samman takes Bercier down quickly, THEN…YELLS…EVERY…TIME…HE…PUNCHES! It takes much longer than it should for Samman to finish Bercier with what Dana dubs “double-fisted goofy shots,” but he finally (and mercifully) cinches up the TKO. Shockingly, Chael Sonnen enjoys Josh Samman and his antics. Jon Jones doesn’t appear to be as smitten, but says he might take Josh just to mess with Chael’s plan.
Kito Andrews vs Kelvin Gastelum Raised on food stamps, powdered milk and SPAM, Kito Andrews looks at TUF as a way to provide for his sons, who he recently won custody of after a lengthy dispute. Kelvin Gastelum is a 21-year-old bail bondsman who doesn’t really seem to be a very good employee.
Initially it looks looks like Kito will walk all over the younger Gastelum. As the fight progresses, conditioning comes into play and that works to Kelvin’s advantage. He uses his superior cardio and wrestling to lock up the judges’ decision.
Jimmy Quinlan vs Mike Persons We learn that Quinlan is a former wrestler while Persons comes from Stockton, CA, aka Diazland, USA. Any hope for another Stockton superstar soon goes out the window as Quinlan quickly slams Persons to the mat. Jon Jones calls his wrestling “dominating” and Quinlan soon finishes the fight with a first-round TKO.
Uriah Hall vs Andy Enz Every season of TUF, Dana picks out his favorite fighter on the first day. This season, that man is Uriah Hall. The UFC president can’t help but gush over Hall as he uses takedowns, submission attempts, power punches and spinning stuff en route to victory. Uriah Hall is the man to watch.
Gilbert Smith vs Eric Wahlin As we meet Eric Wahlin, he’s down on his luck. Unable to pay his bills and with his house in foreclosure, Wahlin sees TUF as his final hope to get his life back on track. He realizes that he’s not the most athletic, but he has “nothing to lose.” Gilbert Smith, on the other hand, doesn’t seem that worried. He tells us, “Worse case scenario, I lose my fight and I go home to a beautiful wife, beautiful kids and a good job.”
Smith’s carefree attitude serves him well. He rushes Wahlin and pushes him up against the cage. Smith soon earns the takedown and smothers his opponent from top position. He slowly works for an arm triangle choke and locks it in tight. The muscle-bound Smith then squeezes to the point where Wahlin starts spasming.
Nicholas Kohring vs Luke Barnatt Described as a “momma’s boy” by his mother, Kohring is a change of pace from the other fighters. In an episode filled with crying and emotional breakdowns, Kohring looks almost annoyed when his wife and girlfriend show up to wish him luck. All we find out about the 6’6” Englishman Barnatt is that his mother is a Jehovah’s Witness. That’s why I’m always polite whenever they come to my door: You never know which one has a giant MMA fighter for a son.
This fight is all Barnatt. Kohring swings for the fences, but just never finds a way around Barnatt’s reach advantage. The big Brit works Kohring over with a variety of punches, kicks, knees and a hip toss thrown in for good measure. Barnatt secures the decision win and Jones calls him a “top-three talent.”
Dylan Andrews vs Tim Williams The Ultimate Fighter always showcases interesting personalities. One such person is Dylan Andrews — a native New Zealander raised in a marijuana grow house. He’s not even the most intriguing person in his fight, though. That honor belongs to Tim Williams, who as Dana White puts it, “Looks like he’s got some bodies buried in a [expletive] basement.”
The closest fight on the episode, these two are very evenly matched. Williams opens the round with a double-leg attempt and eats a big right hand. He fights through it, and eventually scores the takedown. But he makes a tactical error when he goes for a lateral drop and allows Dylan to take top position. Andrews moves to full mount, throws some punches, and edges out the decision win. Collin Hart vs Michael Jesper The final elimination fight features another “nightclub security guard” named Collin Hart aka “The Dick” (seriously). His opponent is semi-pro quarterback Michael Jesper who will utilize his “mind and heart” upper hand. You always have to be suspicious of someone that says one of their biggest weapons is mind and heart…and this is no exception. Hart uses dirty boxing and a superior ground game to secure the first-round RNC submission.
Since Chael had first pick, that means Jon Jones chooses the first fight. He decides that he wants to send a message by taking out Chael’s #1 choice Luke Barnatt. The man he picks for the job is Gilbert Smith. Some members of Team Jones don’t agree with the choice, but more on that later.
As the episode ends, we get a glimpse into the upcoming season. How often is Chael Sonnen going to rhyme? Will Jon Jones alienate his team? Who produces one of the nastiest knockouts in TUF history? And how many times per episode will Chael casually mention Harley-Davidson? Looks like you’ll just have to tune into The Ultimate Fighter and find out!
As the 17th iteration of The Ultimate Fighter kicks off, it doesn’t take long to realize that it’s different than the previous incantations. Besides the production value, and shooting style Dana tells us that this time around friends and family will be around for the elimination fights.
He then goes into the story of UFC 151, the Pay-Per-View that never was, and not-so-subtly states that Jon Jones was scared of Chael Sonnen. The two coaches walk into the gym and meet each other. Sonnen does his usual pontificating about whatever goes on in his head and Jones sits by and politely nods his head and smiles. On the confession cam, Bones tells us, “I don’t really like the guy.”
There are 14 elimination fights to see, and no other time is wasted. Here’s a rundown of the fights. Jake Heun vs Adam Cella Jake Heun is a former University of Hawaii football player who trains with Chris Leben. He has a unique view on the job of a mixed martial artist and tells us, “What I do is put my fist on people’s faces.” Adam Cella’s childhood fists were preoccupied with stuffing faces as he admits to us that he is a former fat kid. Heun comes out aggressively and swings wildly. Cella goes for a knee, but Heun grabs it and uses it for a takedown. Right away Cella works his guard and throws up an armbar attempt. Heun goes for a slam, but it’s not enough as he’s forced to tap. Looks like Cella will be stuffing his face inside the TUF house. Zak Cummings vs Nik Fekete Nik Fekete describes himself as a “nightclub security guard.” Last time I checked they were called bouncers. Regardless of what he calls himself, he eats a huge right hand and gets bounced from TUF in about 5 seconds. Cummings crosses the velvet rope with only having to throw one punch.
Eldon Sproat vs Kevin Casey Training out of his garage, Sproat ticks off two TUF must-haves — Hawaiian and cowboy hat guy. Kevin Casey grew up in a single-parent house and looks to represent the Gracie family banner he’s trained under. He does the family proud as he easily scores the takedown and secures the rear-naked choke victory.
Scott Rosa vs Tor Troeng Scott Rosa trains out of his buddy’s garage because, “It comes natural to me.” A Swedish engineer, Tor views fighting as only an engineer would — a scientific problem to be solved. This time around, book learning beats out “The Natural” as Tor utilizes his ground game to earn the takedown and sink in the second RNC victory of the episode.
Clint Hester vs Fraser Opie I really hoped Fraser Opie made the cut. Not only would it make every TUF episode feel like a Guy Ritchie movie, but I also have tons of relevant Andy Griffith show references to make. Sadly, fortune did not favor me (nor Opie) as Clint works over Opie with body shots, takedowns and suplexes en route to a decision win. Both coaches are very impressed with his ability and Jones believes he could be the top pick. When asked about how he thinks things will be in the house, Clint responds, “I’ve never been to federal prison, but it’ll feel like being in federal prison.”
Ryan Bigler vs Bubba McDaniel From the tiny nation of Guam, Bigler passes the time leading up to the fight reading Churchill quotes. Bubba spends his reuniting with his sister and hoping that all the personal sacrifices he’s made have been worth it.The two spend a lot of the time against the cage and Bigler takes Bubba down in the first to possibly steal the round, but it won’t reach the judges’ scorecards. In the second, Bubba secures a takedown of his own and utilizes ground-and-pound to get the finish. A teammate of Jon Jones, Bones doesn’t exactly heap the praise on
Bubba. For once, he’s in agreement with Dana White as the UFC president
seems less than enthused by Bubba’s performance. Josh Samman vs Leo Bercier Trying out for the fourth time, Josh Samman looks to finally find his way into the house. Standing in his way is Leo Bercier, who talks about his life growing up on a Native American reservation. Samman takes Bercier down quickly, THEN…YELLS…EVERY…TIME…HE…PUNCHES! It takes much longer than it should for Samman to finish Bercier with what Dana dubs “double-fisted goofy shots,” but he finally (and mercifully) cinches up the TKO. Shockingly, Chael Sonnen enjoys Josh Samman and his antics. Jon Jones doesn’t appear to be as smitten, but says he might take Josh just to mess with Chael’s plan.
Kito Andrews vs Kelvin Gastelum Raised on food stamps, powdered milk and SPAM, Kito Andrews looks at TUF as a way to provide for his sons, who he recently won custody of after a lengthy dispute. Kelvin Gastelum is a 21-year-old bail bondsman who doesn’t really seem to be a very good employee.
Initially it looks looks like Kito will walk all over the younger Gastelum. As the fight progresses, conditioning comes into play and that works to Kelvin’s advantage. He uses his superior cardio and wrestling to lock up the judges’ decision.
Jimmy Quinlan vs Mike Persons We learn that Quinlan is a former wrestler while Persons comes from Stockton, CA, aka Diazland, USA. Any hope for another Stockton superstar soon goes out the window as Quinlan quickly slams Persons to the mat. Jon Jones calls his wrestling “dominating” and Quinlan soon finishes the fight with a first-round TKO.
Uriah Hall vs Andy Enz Every season of TUF, Dana picks out his favorite fighter on the first day. This season, that man is Uriah Hall. The UFC president can’t help but gush over Hall as he uses takedowns, submission attempts, power punches and spinning stuff en route to victory. Uriah Hall is the man to watch.
Gilbert Smith vs Eric Wahlin As we meet Eric Wahlin, he’s down on his luck. Unable to pay his bills and with his house in foreclosure, Wahlin sees TUF as his final hope to get his life back on track. He realizes that he’s not the most athletic, but he has “nothing to lose.” Gilbert Smith, on the other hand, doesn’t seem that worried. He tells us, “Worse case scenario, I lose my fight and I go home to a beautiful wife, beautiful kids and a good job.”
Smith’s carefree attitude serves him well. He rushes Wahlin and pushes him up against the cage. Smith soon earns the takedown and smothers his opponent from top position. He slowly works for an arm triangle choke and locks it in tight. The muscle-bound Smith then squeezes to the point where Wahlin starts spasming.
Nicholas Kohring vs Luke Barnatt Described as a “momma’s boy” by his mother, Kohring is a change of pace from the other fighters. In an episode filled with crying and emotional breakdowns, Kohring looks almost annoyed when his wife and girlfriend show up to wish him luck. All we find out about the 6’6” Englishman Barnatt is that his mother is a Jehovah’s Witness. That’s why I’m always polite whenever they come to my door: You never know which one has a giant MMA fighter for a son.
This fight is all Barnatt. Kohring swings for the fences, but just never finds a way around Barnatt’s reach advantage. The big Brit works Kohring over with a variety of punches, kicks, knees and a hip toss thrown in for good measure. Barnatt secures the decision win and Jones calls him a “top-three talent.”
Dylan Andrews vs Tim Williams The Ultimate Fighter always showcases interesting personalities. One such person is Dylan Andrews — a native New Zealander raised in a marijuana grow house. He’s not even the most intriguing person in his fight, though. That honor belongs to Tim Williams, who as Dana White puts it, “Looks like he’s got some bodies buried in a [expletive] basement.”
The closest fight on the episode, these two are very evenly matched. Williams opens the round with a double-leg attempt and eats a big right hand. He fights through it, and eventually scores the takedown. But he makes a tactical error when he goes for a lateral drop and allows Dylan to take top position. Andrews moves to full mount, throws some punches, and edges out the decision win. Collin Hart vs Michael Jesper The final elimination fight features another “nightclub security guard” named Collin Hart aka “The Dick” (seriously). His opponent is semi-pro quarterback Michael Jesper who will utilize his “mind and heart” upper hand. You always have to be suspicious of someone that says one of their biggest weapons is mind and heart…and this is no exception. Hart uses dirty boxing and a superior ground game to secure the first-round RNC submission.
Since Chael had first pick, that means Jon Jones chooses the first fight. He decides that he wants to send a message by taking out Chael’s #1 choice Luke Barnatt. The man he picks for the job is Gilbert Smith. Some members of Team Jones don’t agree with the choice, but more on that later.
As the episode ends, we get a glimpse into the upcoming season. How often is Chael Sonnen going to rhyme? Will Jon Jones alienate his team? Who produces one of the nastiest knockouts in TUF history? And how many times per episode will Chael casually mention Harley-Davidson? Looks like you’ll just have to tune into The Ultimate Fighter and find out!
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Brazilian version of the Downes Side. In the Midwest it’s getting as low as 8º F (-13ºC). In São Paulo Brazil it’s 79ºF (26ºC) and sunny. Good thing I’m in Brazil, er, that I have a warm jacket.
While your MMA Nostradamus of the North may not be in the Geraldo Jose de Almeida State Gymnasium, the world’s greatest MMA fighters will be tonight for UFC on FX 7. The main event of the evening takes place in the middleweight division as multiple-weight-class title challenger Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort looks to shut up English gentleman-person Michael “The Count” Bisping. The co-main event of the night features TUF Brasil finalist Daniel Sarafian as he looks earn his first UFC victory against C.B Dollaway.
Thiago Tavares (17-4-1) vs Khabib Nurmagomedov (18-0) The main card kicks off in the lightweight division as Thiago Tavares, a 12-fight UFC veteran, takes on Dagestan’s own fast-rising Khabib Nurmagomedov. Impressive in his last few outings, Tavares hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since beating Sam Stout in January of 2012. A capable grappler, Tavares likes to wear down his opponents and then finish them with his world class jiu-jitsu (he holds 11 career submission victories). A sambo world champion who is constantly on the offensive, the only real downside to Nurmagomedov is that I have to type his name so many times. We’ll just use his nickname from here on out, okay?
“The Eagle” was unable to secure takedowns in his last fight against Gleison Tibau, but that shouldn’t be a problem this time around. Tavares’ best chance to win this fight happens if it goes to the ground, so The Eagle should avoid taking it there. The Russian’s aggression and constant forward movement will wear down the the undersized Brazilian and ol’ Eagle Eyes will catch Tavares with a big right hand in the 3rd. That will be the beginning of the end and The Eagle guy wins it by TKO.
Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs Ben Rothwell (32-8) We bump up to the heavyweight division for Gabriel Gonzaga and “Uncle Ben” Rothwell. After his well-known head kick KO of Mirko Cro Cop, Gonzaga went 3-5 and was cut from the UFC roster. He returned triumphantly at UFC 142 and submitted Ednaldo Oliveira in the first round. With some disappointing performances to begin his UFC career, Rothwell showed up to UFC 145 in the best shape of his life. The training and lifestyle changes certainly paid off as he knocked out Brendan Schaub in only 70 seconds, securing Knockout of the Night in the process.
The Cro Cop head kick aside, Gonzaga isn’t the world-beating striker he’s been made out to be. Let’s put things in perspective: When Gonzaga knocked out Cro Cop, this guy was one of the most popular public figures (yeah, it’s been that long). That said, if Gonzaga gets this fight to the ground, Big Ben could be in big trouble. Still, I believe the new, trimmed-down Rothwell will use his reach advantage and superior boxing to keep “Napao” at bay. The Brazilian already has five career KO losses and Rothwell will make it number six in the 2nd round.
C.B. Dollaway (12-4) Daniel Sarafian (7-2) We drop down to middleweight as TUF Brasil finalist Daniel Sarafian takes on TUF 7 finalist C.B. Dollaway. Explosive and extremely well-rounded, Sarafian mowed through TUF Brazil opponents until an injury forced him to withdraw from the finale. Though relatively unknown here, he’s a massive star in his native Brazil, and he’ll be fighting in his hometown of Sao Paulo. After two KO losses to Jared Hamman and Mark Munoz, Dollaway returned to his winning ways against Jason “Mayhem” Miller at UFC 146 in May. An NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State, “The Doberman” also possesses some slick jiu-jitsu chokes, like his nasty guillotine of Joe Doerksen and his unprecedented-in-the-UFC 2008 Peruvian necktie win.
Dollaway’s last fight may have been lackluster, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that it marked his return from hip surgery. Sarafian (or, as my spellcheck seems determined to call him, Safarian) has a lot of promise and hype behind him, but he lacks the experience of his foe. He’s also a much better athlete, but numerous fights in the UFC have proven that athleticism can be stifled with strong wrestling. Dollaway has shown a susceptible chin in his losses to Hamman and Munoz, so he won’t waste his time trying to trade with “The Safarian.” He’ll close the distance, push his opponent against the fence, slowly work for the takedown and grind him out. As long as his cardio doesn’t fail him late in the fight, C.B. secures the decision victory. Vitor Belfort (21-10) Michael Bisping (23-4) Time for the main event of the evening! Even though it looked like these two were ready to fight at the press conference, they’ll settle their differences in a cage like responsible adults. Plus, it’s way more entertaining than hearing them talk it out on Dr. Phil (although…). In one corner stands Vitor Belfort, former UFC tournament winner and self-proclaimed “Young Dinosaur,” who almost finished the armbar heard round the world in September against light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. In the other corner stands MMA’s greatest heel (next to Josh Koscheck [and Chael Sonnen, when he puts his mind to it]), Michael Bisping. Winner of five of his last six and sporting a 13-4 career record in the Octagon, The Count most recently battled Brian Stann to a decision victory at UFC 152.
This fight could go two ways: 1) Belfort explodes out the gate and KOs Bisping early in the first round or 2) Bisping slowly erodes Belfort’s always-suspect conditioning and takes the decision. I may have picked against every Brazilian on this card…and that will continue to be the case. People like to accuse Michael Bisping of having a “glass jaw,” but he’s only been knocked out once in his career. Yes, it was one hell of a knockout, but one KO loss does not constitute a pattern. The Count will tactically move in and out and avoid prolonged engagements with The Phenom. He’ll nickel and dime Belfort the entire time and earn the decision win. Then, the true test begins. How the heck is he going to get out of the arena with the Brazilian crowd against him!?
That wraps up another sufficiently insulated edition of the Downes Side. Follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, be sure to add your own predictions, thoughts and mitten recommendations on the page.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Brazilian version of the Downes Side. In the Midwest it’s getting as low as 8º F (-13ºC). In São Paulo Brazil it’s 79ºF (26ºC) and sunny. Good thing I’m in Brazil, er, that I have a warm jacket.
While your MMA Nostradamus of the North may not be in the Geraldo Jose de Almeida State Gymnasium, the world’s greatest MMA fighters will be tonight for UFC on FX 7. The main event of the evening takes place in the middleweight division as multiple-weight-class title challenger Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort looks to shut up English gentleman-person Michael “The Count” Bisping. The co-main event of the night features TUF Brasil finalist Daniel Sarafian as he looks earn his first UFC victory against C.B Dollaway.
Thiago Tavares (17-4-1) vs Khabib Nurmagomedov (18-0) The main card kicks off in the lightweight division as Thiago Tavares, a 12-fight UFC veteran, takes on Dagestan’s own fast-rising Khabib Nurmagomedov. Impressive in his last few outings, Tavares hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since beating Sam Stout in January of 2012. A capable grappler, Tavares likes to wear down his opponents and then finish them with his world class jiu-jitsu (he holds 11 career submission victories). A sambo world champion who is constantly on the offensive, the only real downside to Nurmagomedov is that I have to type his name so many times. We’ll just use his nickname from here on out, okay?
“The Eagle” was unable to secure takedowns in his last fight against Gleison Tibau, but that shouldn’t be a problem this time around. Tavares’ best chance to win this fight happens if it goes to the ground, so The Eagle should avoid taking it there. The Russian’s aggression and constant forward movement will wear down the the undersized Brazilian and ol’ Eagle Eyes will catch Tavares with a big right hand in the 3rd. That will be the beginning of the end and The Eagle guy wins it by TKO.
Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs Ben Rothwell (32-8) We bump up to the heavyweight division for Gabriel Gonzaga and “Uncle Ben” Rothwell. After his well-known head kick KO of Mirko Cro Cop, Gonzaga went 3-5 and was cut from the UFC roster. He returned triumphantly at UFC 142 and submitted Ednaldo Oliveira in the first round. With some disappointing performances to begin his UFC career, Rothwell showed up to UFC 145 in the best shape of his life. The training and lifestyle changes certainly paid off as he knocked out Brendan Schaub in only 70 seconds, securing Knockout of the Night in the process.
The Cro Cop head kick aside, Gonzaga isn’t the world-beating striker he’s been made out to be. Let’s put things in perspective: When Gonzaga knocked out Cro Cop, this guy was one of the most popular public figures (yeah, it’s been that long). That said, if Gonzaga gets this fight to the ground, Big Ben could be in big trouble. Still, I believe the new, trimmed-down Rothwell will use his reach advantage and superior boxing to keep “Napao” at bay. The Brazilian already has five career KO losses and Rothwell will make it number six in the 2nd round.
C.B. Dollaway (12-4) Daniel Sarafian (7-2) We drop down to middleweight as TUF Brasil finalist Daniel Sarafian takes on TUF 7 finalist C.B. Dollaway. Explosive and extremely well-rounded, Sarafian mowed through TUF Brazil opponents until an injury forced him to withdraw from the finale. Though relatively unknown here, he’s a massive star in his native Brazil, and he’ll be fighting in his hometown of Sao Paulo. After two KO losses to Jared Hamman and Mark Munoz, Dollaway returned to his winning ways against Jason “Mayhem” Miller at UFC 146 in May. An NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State, “The Doberman” also possesses some slick jiu-jitsu chokes, like his nasty guillotine of Joe Doerksen and his unprecedented-in-the-UFC 2008 Peruvian necktie win.
Dollaway’s last fight may have been lackluster, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that it marked his return from hip surgery. Sarafian (or, as my spellcheck seems determined to call him, Safarian) has a lot of promise and hype behind him, but he lacks the experience of his foe. He’s also a much better athlete, but numerous fights in the UFC have proven that athleticism can be stifled with strong wrestling. Dollaway has shown a susceptible chin in his losses to Hamman and Munoz, so he won’t waste his time trying to trade with “The Safarian.” He’ll close the distance, push his opponent against the fence, slowly work for the takedown and grind him out. As long as his cardio doesn’t fail him late in the fight, C.B. secures the decision victory. Vitor Belfort (21-10) Michael Bisping (23-4) Time for the main event of the evening! Even though it looked like these two were ready to fight at the press conference, they’ll settle their differences in a cage like responsible adults. Plus, it’s way more entertaining than hearing them talk it out on Dr. Phil (although…). In one corner stands Vitor Belfort, former UFC tournament winner and self-proclaimed “Young Dinosaur,” who almost finished the armbar heard round the world in September against light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. In the other corner stands MMA’s greatest heel (next to Josh Koscheck [and Chael Sonnen, when he puts his mind to it]), Michael Bisping. Winner of five of his last six and sporting a 13-4 career record in the Octagon, The Count most recently battled Brian Stann to a decision victory at UFC 152.
This fight could go two ways: 1) Belfort explodes out the gate and KOs Bisping early in the first round or 2) Bisping slowly erodes Belfort’s always-suspect conditioning and takes the decision. I may have picked against every Brazilian on this card…and that will continue to be the case. People like to accuse Michael Bisping of having a “glass jaw,” but he’s only been knocked out once in his career. Yes, it was one hell of a knockout, but one KO loss does not constitute a pattern. The Count will tactically move in and out and avoid prolonged engagements with The Phenom. He’ll nickel and dime Belfort the entire time and earn the decision win. Then, the true test begins. How the heck is he going to get out of the arena with the Brazilian crowd against him!?
That wraps up another sufficiently insulated edition of the Downes Side. Follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, be sure to add your own predictions, thoughts and mitten recommendations on the page.
Speaking of dominance issues, back at the house we learn that Uriah Hall has a short fuse. Sitting around the bonfire talking with the housemates, Hall calls someone a “professional cooker.” Josh Samman corrects him, “You mean chef?” We assume Samman didn’t mean it maliciously, but Hall isn’t quite that sure. Now, he doesn’t jump up and scream “Let me bang, bro!” but he does talk about his childhood as a Jamaican emigrant. He struggled to learn English, and other kids would make fun of him and call him stupid. Samman’s correction seems to have brought this to the fore. Initially you feel a sense of pathos, but then you hear him talk about his rage and you’re terrified. Note to Josh Samman: Don’t correct Uriah Hall’s grammar, bro. 
We cut to Adam Cella who goes on a humble brag-a-thon about how his friends and family always get angry at him because he finishes his opponents in the first round. He also talks about the heating and cooling company his family owns and explains he doesn’t need fighting. “I want to do this, I don’t have to.”
It’s finally fight day and the combatants have a few more words. Cella realizes the task that lays before him and knows Hall is an intimidating and dangerous opponent. Despite having the odds stacked against him, he believes in himself since, “I always rise to the occasion.” Meanwhile, Hall doesn’t go the normal route of false modesty and states, “I’d be scared of me, too.”
They trade another couple jabs. Then, with six seconds left, Uriah Hall throws another cool spin kick… that will live forever in TUF highlight reels. Cella is out before he hits the ground. Dana White screams, “Holy [expletive]!” before Cella hits the ground, too. After the initial jubilance subsides, things get very quiet. Cella is still out on the ground and you see the concern on everyone’s faces. Eventually he sits up, but he has no recollection at all about what just happened. As Adam heads to the hospital we see the kick replayed again and again and it still doesn’t get boring. 
Team Sonnen (2-0)
While most of the crew is just excited to be in a fancy house, Josh Samman is worried about the impending fight between Gilbert Smith and Luke Barnatt. He doesn’t believe it was a smart pick and seriously questions Gilbert’s cardio. Bubba agrees that Smith’s endurance seems to be lacking. While teammates sniping each other is nothing new, even Team Jones’ coaches have their doubts. They convene a little coaching panel and echo many of the sentiments Josh and others hold. 
Fight Time
Gilbert grabs another single-leg attempt as the second round begins, but the two wind up pressed against the fence. Luke tries to scramble and winds up on his back, but Gilbert fails to hold him down. The two return to their feet and Luke answers with another outside trip takedown. He’s able to score a few punches and short elbows before they’re back standing. Gilbert tries to throw some haymakers, but his energy is gone. Remember Luke’s ugly jump knee from round one? He tries it again, and this time it lands perfectly as Gilbert rushes in for the takedown. Barnatt catches Gilbert flush and Luke scores a 2nd-round KO, Vick vs. Cruickshank-style.
Team Sonnen (1-0)
Ryan Bigler vs Bubba McDaniel
Uriah Hall vs Andy Enz
Dylan Andrews vs Tim Williams