(You call ‘at a breedge? Check out old Albert and get back at me, you tosser.)
And go figure, the British Team is already being called “cocky.” In case you had already forgotten, the “hit” reality show recently announced its coaches for both the 16th season of the show here in America and the second international season. Pitting the United Kingdom against Australia, TUF: Smashes began filming today, according to a report by yourmmatv.com. When asked how the first stages of shooting were going, UFC President Dana White told the Herald Sun that the British team, going against everything we have ever learned about them, are acting unnecessarily arrogant in the presence of their Aussie opponents:
Because MMA is newer here than it is to the United States and the UK, and this happened when the US fought the UK, the US were very cocky and that they felt like you know, `there’s not enough good guys over there.’ Well that’s the way the UK is acting right now and when you underestimate your opponent, that’s when you get your ass kicked.
TUF: Smashes will feature opposing coaches George Sotiropoulos and Ross Pearson, who will turn chicken shit into chicken salad with the Australian and UK teams, respectively, before throwing down in a lightweight contest at the show’s finale. Both men have the reality show to thank for their rise to popularity, as Pearson not only competed in, but won the ninth season of the show at 155, whereas Sotiropoulos made it to the semifinals of TUF 6 before being knocked out by Tommy Speer (you remember him?).
Having recently made the transition to featherweight, where he has gone 1-1, “The Real Deal” is coming off a tough second round knockout at the hands of the ever-improving Cub Swanson. Having gone loss-win in his last five appearances, a win over G-Sots would definitely help Pearson gain back some much needed momentum. Speaking of momentum, let’s hope the show’s return to a pre-recorded format will help it gain back some of the fans it lost last season. Word has it that five time Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus will make an appearance at some point this season to offer a few words of wisdom to his Aussie brethren, so we have that to look forward to as well.
Sotiropoulos, on the other, could just be the first coach in the show’s history to receive his walking papers following a TUF Finale match (Jason Miller having just lucked out), although it is highly unlikely. Having dropped his past two fights to Dennis Siver and Rafael Dos Anjos, G-Sots will be putting himself in a hell of a predicament if he drops a third consecutive fight to a struggling, though dangerous, fighter like Pearson.
Who do you like when they inevitably square off?