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!
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