You are here: Home / Archives for kimbo

The Ultimate Fighter: Season 10 – Episode 10: “Gut Check”

November 18, 2009 By

9136-TUF10_Group

Leading up to tonight, Roy Nelson won a controversial decision over Justin Wren. Dana visited the house to check up on Matt Mitrione, causing people to wonder who might take Matt’s place versus James McSweeney. Tonight, Brendan Schaub takes on Jon Madsen.

The show begins with Team Rashad arriving at the gym for training. Rashad discusses the good energy and camaraderie the team has. But Matt breaks the happy mood by telling Rashad that he now has a migraine, has been throwing up, etc. There is serious concern over whether or not he will fight. He wants to, but it might not be wise. The words “concussion,” “swelling of the brain,” etc. are thrown around, but the doctors have not told him that he can’t fight. The coach even calls him out on it – if he really had swelling of the brain, the doctor would’ve told him he couldn’t fight. He’s clearly making it up, and the coaches question his desire to fight.

Even back at the house, the guys discuss it. James puts it perfectly, “If you can’t swim, stay out of the water.” He’s not brain-damaged, he’s not concussed. He clearly doesn’t want to fight. Scott reiterates the idea, and throws himself out as a possible replacement.

Matt is even the topic of discussion at Team Rampage training. Rampage believes that if Kimbo ends up fighting James, he can win. But…apparently he was rolling around with Damico and his weight did damage to his knee. Rampage knows that James will kick at his knees if they fight; James is more experienced at kicking legs than Kimbo is at not getting kicked (it’s scary, but even in Rampage-speak, that makes sense).

The next day, Brendan is preparing for his fight with James. Brendan sees stand-up as his advantage, being that Jon’s strength is wrestling. His only fear then is the takedown. As they are working out, they call Rashad in for practice, but he says he can’t help (he said previously that he wouldn’t specifically work with anyone as it’s not fair). Instead, Roy gets in and helps him out. After the workout, Brendan complains a little about who he drew to fight, but he just wants to win.

Kimbo is being seen by a doctor who tells him that he is missing cartilage that coats the bones, called a “kissing lesion”. He equates it walking around on hard pebbles without a shoe on. He has worn out the cartilage and it was replaced with fluid that needs to be drained. Kimbo seems more afraid of the needle than fighting!

And then the moment I’ve been waiting for: the coaches’ challenge, beach volleyball between two coaches who’ve never played! I love it! Teams will be Ramapge and Tiki vs. Rashad and Mike Van Arsdale. They will be playing for $10K in cash with each fighter winning $1500. Wow…where do I sign up???

The game begins and actually looks good. Team Rampage is winning to start and the guys are all pretty hyped up. Rampage is just happy that Rashad is pissed and has no smart-ass comments. No sooner does he say that that Rashad and Mike start winning Game 2. Now they are tied 1 game apiece with one more to go. Rashad and Mike take the first point, and like Dana says, Mike starts looking/acting like a pro. Game 3 is continually tied right to the end, but Team Rashad pulls it together for the win. Rampage is seriously pissed, but with pain in his face he shakes the hands of Rashad and every player. However, the peace is shortlived as Rashad “rubs” the money in Rampage’s face and it gets him all sorts of riled up.

A sad looking Kimbo discusses how disappointed he is with his knee. James offers a solution – a tub of ice-freakin-cold water. The look on Kimbo’s face as he sits in the tub is absolutely priceless. Even as he struggles to get out, James pushes him right back in. Come on, if Wanderlei Silva can do it, the Uber-Macho Kimbo can do it, no? And then jumps right into the hot tub!

Later, Jon is training, and with Rashad no less. This irks Brendan, as Rashad really didn’t do much for him. He understands that both Jon and Rashad are wrestlers, but it’s really not fair. Jon’s gameplan is to change his level frequently so that Brendan doesn’t know when he’s going to shoot. He knows that Brendan will want to keep it standing, but that’s not where he’s comfortable.

The following day, Matt strolls into the gym looking as sluggish as ever. Rashad questions him as to whether or not he wants to fight, which Matt claims he does. Rashad tells him that he doesn’t want him to do it for the wrong reasons and wonders if he thinks they’re forcing. Matt stutters a bit but finally admits that he does feel that way a little – which couldn’t be further from the truth. What it comes down to is that Matt better be 100% into it or else he could get hurt. And for Matt, he just wants to end the show and go back home….then why sign up in the first place?

Dana then decides to speak to the guys, trying to getting them to realize that their hearts need to be in this 100%. Dana will never force someone to fight if they don’t want to. If they don’t want to fight, they’re in the wrong place. He puts it well: to a real fighter, they’re invincible. There’s no question as whether or not they will fight. And Matt Mitrione is not that guy, and at the end of the day it’s up to Matt to decide whether or not he wants it, because if he doesn’t, someone does. My question is, isn’t there some sort of screening process to this show? There seems to be one of these guys EVERY season. There’s always someone who doesn’t really want to be there. Can’t they weed these guys out from the get-go?

At the weigh-in, Dana discusses each fighters’ chance at winning. Schaub is a stand up guy out of Greg Jackson’s camp while Madsen is a wrestler out of Matt Hughes’ camp. Basically, whoever can impose their will can win this fight.

FIGHT DAY

ROUND 1

No glove-touch, and Madsen almost immediately goes for a takedown which is fended off. The two dance around each other for a while (while I yawn). Finally, Madsen shoots, picks Schaub up and slams him. In Schaub’s half guard, Madsen alternates between knees and body shots. Madsen jockeys for position and Schaub tries to push him off. Schaub pushes off the cage with his feet to move them away. They are warned to advance position, but Madsen isn’t doing a whole lot. Finally they are stood back up. Schaub throws a weak jab and Madsen shoots. They clinch against the cage, where Schaub gets in a knee or two. Again, in the clinch not much happens. Schaub reverses and controls the clinch with knees and body shots. As Madsen backs up a little, Schaub lands a short jab that drops Madsen to his knees. Schaub tries to get Madsen in a guillotine, but Madsen picks up and slams Schaub. Back in half guard, Madsen lays on top while Schaub lands some body shots. Even with ground control Madsen has landed fewer shots than Schaub from his back. And the round ends dully.

ROUND 2

They start with a weak jab exchange and more dancing. Madsen fakes a shoot, but Schaub strikes and tries to go for his neck. They clinch and jockey for position. Madsen tries to get Schaub down, but is unsuccessful. Back to their feet, neither wants to be aggressive. Schaub keeps backing Madsen up and finally inches up on him. He catches him off guard and lands a big left-right, knocking Madsen out.

Winner: Brendan Schaub via KO

Post fight, Rashad admits that Brendan was using the fence a lot and probably should’ve been penalized. He actually wondered if Brendan would be able to pull off the win, but he did it. Not the most exciting fight, but at least it was a good ending. Dana was even impressed that Brendan could overcome Jon’s wrestling.

Next week: A two-hour special with the final four fights of the season. The quarterfinals are left: Who will fight James McSweeney: Kimbo or Matt? Will Big Baby pull off a win? Then the semi-finals – who will win to fight in the finale at the Palms?

(and according to a commercial after the end of the show, there will be a Kimbo twist that no one sees coming….yeah, like we haven’t heard that one before)

Filed Under: News, Opinion, The Ultimate Fighter, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Ultimate Fighter: Season 10 – Episode 9: “Rattled”

November 11, 2009 By

9136-TUF10_Group

It totally sucks that I missed last week’s fight, but I was seriously sick and slept right through it. Leave it to me to sleep through one of the best fights.

Previously, Matt Mitrione was rocked hard in his win, and Marcus Jones gave Team Rampage their only victory. Now the quarterfinals begin and Justin Wren takes on Roy Nelson. Can Wren score another big upset??

Tonight, the show just seems tense to start. Team Rashad, with its 7 wins, pulls up to the gym. The problem for Rashad is how do you train 7 teammates to fight each other? This has never happened on the show before. They decide to start some with some individual work with the coaches, and then they’ll do their cardio as a group. Basically, the coaches will be hands off and they’ll just be getting in their workouts. It is a little strange to see opponents training virtually side-by-side, and Justin does admit to peaking in on Roy’s training. Roy equates it to fighting a friend and wanting to get it over with.

Oh boy, Matt. He says that his fight rattled his brain a bit and seems ditzier than ever. Though Justin believes he’s just milking it. Even in the van, Matt looks like he’s “passing out”. When they get home, Matt claims his head got worse and that he was dry-heaving. Dr. Brendan diagnoses it as a concussion. And then the K word gets thrown out there….*sigh* I wish they would just stop playing this “Kimbo might come back” game.

At Team Rampage training, Kimbo is shown while Rampage talks about the hopes of bringing Kimbo back. Kimbo then refers to himself as a “fight contractor.” (wtf?) Claims when he puts his “hatemakers” on you, you’re a “Dundadda.” (I repeat wtf?) Then news comes back that Matt was taken to the hospital and is not back yet. But Rashad is not worried about Kimbo coming back and instead finds the prospect exciting.

Tiki and Rampage then come rolling up in the parking lot looking like they’re up to something. To comment on Rashad’s “cocky attitude” they decide to feed up several chickens and leave them in the other guys’ backseats. Now that’s just wrong.

When the guys come out, they’re scratching their heads at first, but Rashad actually laughs at it (well, at first). However as Rashad puts it, not only are they smelly and nasty, they crapped all over the car! They proceed to open up the doors and let them out, and a chicken-chase ensued with Rashad and Tiki sitting in their truck yukking it up. Bottom-line though, Rampage’s joke backfired! Rashad actually seemed happy AND he got a better rental car! Rampage claims he will not give up on his pranks!

Back at the house, Matt is back, but is tight-lipped about his medical condition. He leaves Team Rampage scratching their heads as he wanders around cluelessly. Later that night, Dana shows up at the house, surprising the guys. When asked about how he’s feeling, Matt says he’s fine and wants to fight. The doctor has cleared him, so he’s good to go (though Scott Junk makes it known that he’s ready and willing to take Matt’s place – did he really need to touch that welt, it was nasty!). But Dana says that they will still have the doctors keep an eye on him just in case. There’s no way they’ll take a chance on a possible head injury.

In weighing on tonight’s fight, James believes that Wren will win, but Kimbo points out that Roy is well-trained and has all the tools needed to win. Justin, on the other hand, he says is the fat guy who gets caught by his mother eating powdered doughnuts and lying about it. Ok, that was wrong. Funny, but wrong!

At the weigh-ins, Dana jokes that Roy loves Roy more than anyone else and he’s waiting to be impressed by him. However, he was impressed with Justin’s first fight. Rashad is expecting the unexpected, because both guys are similar. Marcus doesn’t even wanna call it because Justin is just so likeable.

FIGHT DAY

Both guys are getting ready and talk about their mutual respect. But what it comes down to is youth versus experience.

ROUND 1

Wren strikes first with short jabs. Nelson just feels him out. Wren with a jab combo. Wren then charges at him with a couple strikes, but is blocked. Wren attacks again and has Nelson backing up. They wrestle against the cage, and Nelson is in control in the clinch. Nelson gets in some nasty knees. The ref restarts them. Finally Nelson strikes with some jabs which Wren returns backing Nelson up. Against the cage, Wren gets in a knee. Back in the center, they exchange more short jabs. Wren tries an overhand right but is blocked. Nelson sneaks in some jabs to the face, but Wren gets one in too that slightly rattles Nelson. They have a couple more short exchanges, but continuously circle each other. Nice leg kick from Nelson. Wren aggresses again and lands some nice shots to Nelson’s head. Another exchange with a leg kick from Nelson. Wren goes after Nelson and misses as the round ends.

ROUND 2

Nelson starts the round with a quick jab, but Wren is quick to return it. Wren goes with a combo and finishes with a leg kick. Wren with another set of jabs has Nelson backpedaling. More similar exchanges from the first round. Nice overhand from Wren is countered by Nelson’s left hook. HUGE swing and miss from Wren. Wren seems to be swinging wildly, but not landing much. Wren charges at Nelson and pins him against the cage, but Wren falls back and Nelson lets him back up. A good exchange has them clinching against the cage briefly, but they wind up back in the center. Nelson is now landing more shots, but he seems tired. Wren comes at Nelson with several good shots. Both seem tired. Great leg kick from Nelson leads to more solid exchanges. Powerful shot to Wren’s face. A good shot from Wren has Nelson doubled over into a clinch, but nothing comes of it. They stand back up and dance as the round ends.

Many guys call for a third round, which I would agree with, but I see that it’s only 10:57 :(
And the judges say it’s over – Rashad is shocked, as it should have been a third round fight.

Dana says that Roy was being destroyed by Justin in the first round (destroyed? HARDLY, Dana, seriously). But in the second round, Rashad noticed that Roy really picked it up and dominated Justin.

Winner: Roy Nelson via Majority decision

Before they even made the announcement, I called this one. I don’t know what fight Dana was watching, but I could’ve seen the first round going either way. If I were a judge, I would have given it to Justin, but it was not a dominating round for him. However, Roy completely controlled the second round. He won that round decisively. Without a third round, I could totally see the judges giving the fight to Roy.

A tearful Justin is disappointed in himself and expresses his regret about his choices during the fight. Roy then goes to Dana, asking if he made the fight more exciting. But, of course, Dana is his typical ass-self. Clearly Dana just DOES NOT like Roy. I get it, he’s not really marketable. But to badmouth him all season is just not right.

Next week: Matt’s health is questionable again, so all eyes are on Kimbo. Rampage and Rashad go head to head in the coaches’ challenge (volleyball…nice!). And Brendan Schaub is set to take on Jon Madsen in the next quarterfinal fight.

Filed Under: News, The Ultimate Fighter, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Episode 7: “Voices in my Head”

October 28, 2009 By

9136-TUF10_Group

In previous episodes, Matt Mitrione was found out to be a rat and later tested Rashad’s patience. Also, Darrill gets in Rampage’s face and the heat between Rampage and Rashad escalates.

From the start of tonight’s show, Rashad is mocking Rampage (mimicking how stupid he looked when he fought Wanderlei), but Rampage gives it right back. But the bottom line is that Rashad has 6 wins in a row to Rampage’s none.

At the fight announcement, they trade more barbs, but in between are still able to announce that Matt “Meathead” Mitrione will fight Scott Junk (who has fought in the UFC before). Dana puts his money on Junk simply because of his experience. That leaves Mike Wessel to fight Marcus Jones. Dana dubs it a “David vs. Goliath” and really doesn’t know what to make of it.

As soon as the announcements are over, Rampage and Rashad get in each others’ faces. Scott tries to break it up, but as soon as he turns away, they’re back at it. The tension between the two is unbelievable. I’d write about what the two are saying, but they’re talking so fast, I can’t! I just know it was an I’m-a-better-fighter-than-you or I’m-a-better-coach-than-you kind of fight. In the thick of it, their faces were literally inches from each other. Rampage keeps trying to egg Rashad to hit him, but Rashad wisely turns and walks away.

Back at the house, Matt is shown looking at a piece of paper that he later slips in his pants. Later, Scott reveals that it said that Mike was afraid to fight Scott and that’s why Matt is fighting him. However, Scott knew Mike before the show and tells him about the note. Apparently, the note was not true. So Matt’s a bigger rat than everyone thought.

At Team Rashad training, Matt discusses how he played football, but then found himself getting into MMA because of the athletic and training aspects of it. James gives the fight to Junk just based on his experience and Matt’s lack of training. James also tells Rashad about the issue with the note. Rashad’s theory is that Matt is projecting because he’s the one afraid of Scott, as this is the second fight he’s trying to get out of. Rashad confronts him, but he says he knows what he’s doing. Yeah. Sure.

Matt is later boring the hell out of Brendan talking about the peace in his head and how he feels when he’s fighting or doing something athletic. Basically, he’s just making himself sound like a crazy man.

Scott and Rampage train next, and they discuss strategy. Seems like they want to keep it fast and standing. According to Scott, he has come to the realization that Matt is a scumbag. It seems like no one really likes him, and everyone is picking Scott to win.

No surprise, the dislike is not limited to the opposition. Matt goes into the fridge and proceeds to drink Jon’s OJ (the one with his name on it). When Jon confronts him about it, Matt feels like he did nothing wrong. After some few choice words, Matt leaves the room and Jon threatens to slap him, but Matt didn’t hear it. Of course, James had to run and tell him. The big baby didn’t take it very well.

Lo and behold, Matt and Jon are paired together to spar at practice. Both start going at 100% and the anger is evident. Jon decides he’s done, causing Matt explode at him and begin screaming. Rashad gets him in the back room to straighten him out. Though his speech is nearly entirely bleeped, the gist of it is that Matt shouldn’t care what anyone says and that he should save his aggression for his opponent. But with Matt it goes in one ear and out the other. Rashad finds the truth of it though – his focus is all messed up.

And so a new pool develops in the house. When is Matt going to snap? Inspired, Sims sees Matt playing basketball alone and decides to sneak up on him “ninja-style.” Hiding in the trees, he waits for Matt to walk off and pounces on him trying to scare him. But it doesn’t quite phase him. Soon after, they are in the house playing pool and Sims stays nice and close to Matt, despite his pleas for Sims to not touch him. Matt keeps his composure. For now.

FIGHT DAY

In the morning, Scott seems pretty stoked to shut Matt up for everyone. Even Marcus makes a good point: there’s an issue if people on your own team don’t like you! In talking to Matt, Matt reveals that he has talked to his wife. But this can’t be, because they’re not allowed to receive phone calls! And then he points to his head…. Ooooooookkkaaaaaayyyyy….

ROUND 1

(P.S. What’s with the 8” reach difference? Does Mitrione have monkey arms or what??)

Both feel each other out, but Junk swings first with a kick. Both seem tentative. Junk kicks and it’s caught, so he falls back but Mitrione doesn’t know what to do. Junk gets up and they have some weak exchanges. Junk is slightly rocked and falls, but Mitrione again does nothing with it. Junk kicks again, gets caught and Mitrione connects, but can do nothing with it. Junk gets up and Mitrione rocks him with another punch. Partially down, he’s not really fighting back. He lays down and the ref directs Mitrione to let him up. Again, Mitrione connects with another solid shot and rattles him. Mitrione keeps landing several combos. Junks falls and grabs Mitrione’s leg, but can do nothing. They continue to exchange, but Mitrione looks tired and Junk is looking beat up. They both land a few good jabs and overhands. Junk rushes Mitrione into the cage and they clinch. Neither makes progress, so they go back to stand up. Mitrione is winded and has dropped his guard allowing SJ to connect a few. SJ backs him up against the cage and is relentless with several unanswered shots. As the round ends, their punches look like slow motion.

(Dana is awfully excited! True, this is the best fight yet, but that’s not saying much…)

ROUND 2

The round starts the way the first ended – both are exhausted and throwing shots my grandmother could throw. They connect with a couple, but not enough to knock anyone out. Mitrione decides to throw a leg kick, followed by another which is checked. Mitrione keeps throwing backhands that Junk fends off. The only good thing is that Mitrione keeps backing up. Finally, Junk charges and takes Mitrione down. Holding Mitrione down with one hand, he lands a couple jabs to the face. In full guard, he tries to punch Mitrione’s body and head. Both are SO tired this is comical. Eventually the ref stands them up and Mitrione lands a great straight kick. But then Junk lands a weak superman punch. Mitrione keeps connecting with weak shots, but at least they’re connecting. They continue walking and swinging around the cage, but at one point, they’re even on opposite sides of the cage. The round FINALLY ends.

Winner: Matt Mitrione by Majority decision (one judge called it a draw)

Rampage is thoroughly pissed, as Junk was supposed to be guy to get him a win and get the team on track. He responds by going into the back and literally tearing the door to shreds. Wow. Nutjob.

Next week: Marcus Jones begins to lose it. Darrill stands up to Rampage. And the final preliminary fight: can Marcus Jones defeat Mike Wessell and prevent a Rashad sweep? These days, I’m not counting anyone out!

Filed Under: News, Opinion, The Ultimate Fighter, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Older Posts