TUF 9: UK Domination

This episode featured the two lightweight semi-final fights to make the live finale. From the start, UK's Andre Winner has been a favorite to win the entire show. Ross Pearson has been looked at as a solid brawler who favors the clinch.

In contrast, USA's Jason Dent hasn't adjusted to the house at all. He has routinely gone out of his way to make situations awkward. Cameron Dollar has been kind of crazy, getting emotional at many turns. It appears he has a rib injury before his fight that hampers his training.

Once again, USA's Jason Pierce has given the UK team secrets on how to beat Team USA's fighters. In the Dollar fight, Pierce tipped off Team UK as to Cameron's love of the uppercut and ranging hook. Sure enough, in the fight Dollar uses both those punches.

Instead of sticking to the game-plan, Dollar looks to stand and trade. By the time he tries a takedown, he is out of position and tired. It doesn't take long for Andre Winner to lock in a triangle and secure the submission victory and his place in the finals.

In the Dent v. Pearson fight, Dent tries to be exciting rather than win the fight. He goes for big looping kicks, spinning back kicks and big punches and knees. Ross prefers to brawl and look for the clinch. For three rounds the fighters battled, but in the end, it was Pearson who got a couple takedowns to seal two rounds for the decision victory.


Finals- 155- Andre Winner(UK) v. Ross Pearson(UK)
Finals- 170- Damarques Johnson(USA)

TUF 9 Episode 6 - Dollar Bills Y'all

This episode featured two fights, the first between lightweights Cameron Dollar and Martin Stapleton and the second between welterweights Frank Lester and James Wilks. The episode featured some surprises and irony.

The episode begins with Bisping explains his absence during the Dean Amisinger v. Damarques Johnson fight. Apparently, Bisping has been dealing with jet lag and overslept. My question is why an alarm wasn't set or a coach banging on his hotel door. Bisping really let down Dean in that fight.

Before the fight with Stapleton, Dollar was again portrayed as an arrogant young guy, telling Dean how to escape from a triangle after his loss. Dollar then shows a more humble side, as he is very scared and nervous about fighting. His stand-up game is also suspect in training, as he routinely misses targets held by striking coach Cyrille Diabate.

Stapleton is portrayed as a battle hardened UK Marine with tremendous cardio. Bisping hypes him up, as does the team. Lester tells Dollar that while Stapes is a tough guy, tough guys have been beaten up before.

As the fight begins, the fighers circle and measure each other. As Stapleton comes forward and exchanges, Dollar nails him in the side of the head with a hook. From there, Stapleton was fazed and looked for a takedown. Dollar was able to get his back, took his time with strikes, then eventually got a rear naked choke. Dollar was humble in his victory, and with a good grappling game, may be a force in the tournament.

Before the second fight, shadow boxer Frank Lester is profiled. Frank is slightly crazy and liked by most of the team. Coach Dan Henderson attempts to clam him down, but Frank can't seem to contain his sudden hatred for Wilks. Wilks meanwhile is pretty calm, boasting a BJJ game and decent stand-up skills. Before the fight a $100 bounty is offered by Team USA for a Wilk's tooth.

The first round was an absolute war, with each fighter landing big shots. Frank is winding up his punches though, and eating too many knees and punches. As they clinch during the end of the round, Wilks nails Frank in the face with a knee. That knee knocked out the front fake teeth of Lester, which he lost as a young kid.

During the break, Henderson tries to pry the teach out of Lester's mouthguard but they don't come easy. After Bisping complains, Lester gets his mouthguard and is a totally different fighter. He drops his hands and has no energy left. Maybe too much shadow-boxing. Wilks takes advantage and brutalizes Lester before getting an armbar. Team UK now has a 3-2 on Team US.

(Cameron Dollar pictured)

Team USA Second Round- LW- Cameron Dollar, WW- Damarques Johnson
Team UK Second Round- LW- Andre Winner, WW's- Nick Osipczak, James Wilks

TUF 9 - USA Edition

In this week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter, Team USA had its opening round to determine who made it into the house. The fights occurred after Henderson had beaten Franklin and was probably a week after the UK guys got to fight. That is a big advantage for the UK guys who get to lick their wounds for a greater amount of time.

At the start of the episode, we already have a guy fainting in Jason Pierce, who supposedly had just cut 11 pounds. Next we have John-David Shackelford being checked out by a doctor, informing him he has a contagious herpes legion on his forehead. Nasty. Moments later, Christian Fulgium fails at making weight.

Dana White is pissed by the start for the American team, drops about 25 f-bombs and remarks that Team UK is out to get them. I thought to myself that it sounded like a football coach saying something ridiculous to get you fired up. Finally the fights start.

Kevin Knabjian vs. Mark Miller- These were my two top 170 Team USA fighters, so it really is ridiculous they had to fight in the first round. On top of that, both are from Illinois and training partners.

The fight was very exciting as these two traded multiple punches, with Miller getting the better punches in. In the second round, Knabjian lands a big punch dropping Miller, but cannot capitalize after trying to get a heel hook. Miller makes it back up to his feet, lands a nasty uppercut, and then a bunch more punches to get the TKO. Awesome come from behind victory. Knabjian is pissed, not wanting to give Miller props.

Paul Bird vs. Richie Whitson- Whitson, donning red hair, was called "Shawn White" by Dana, referring to the famous snowboarder. Paul Bird is ready to fight,saying "this is my time to shine. I punch hard, I kick hard and I fight to the death. I'm going to kill this mother f*$@er.

As the fight starts, Bird is able to get a takedown and get the back, but Whitson bucks him off and gets to his feet. After wild punches, Bird fails to get a takedown and Whitson gets top position. From there he throws punches, gets Bird's back, then sinks in a rear naked choke for the victory.

Santino Defranco vs. Waylon Lowe- Waylon Lowe completely dominated the first round. Getting top position early, Lowe continuously rained down elbows and punches. However, Defranco was blocking all those punches. The second round was a different story, as Defranco connected perfectly with a knee as Lowe was shooting in. With Lowe stunned, Defranco eventually gets Lowe's back and sinks in a rear naked choke.

Steve Berger vs. Jason Pierce- This fight is reduced to a highlight reel as Pierce wins the first round by dropping Berger with a punch and trying to choke him out. In the second, Berger wins the round. In the third, Pierce wins the fight with a unanimous decision.

Cameron Dollar vs. Tom Hayden- This fight is also reduced to a highlight reel as Hayden gets the mohawked-Dollar's back and pounds on him for most of the first round. The second is more of the same until Dollar gets a reversal and submits Hayden.

Ray Elbe vs. Damarques Johnson- Elbe, a Muay Thai fighter, looked good in the first couple minutes, landing decent kicks. Johnson seems more confident with his hands, looking to punch. Elbe then tries for a takedown, but instead pulls Johnson onto him in the full mount position. From there, Johnson lays a beating on Elbe with elbows and punches, opening up a couple gashes on Elbe. From there the fight is called.

After the fights, it is announced that Jason Dent will now face Robert Browning for a spot on the show at 155. Kiel Reid will face Frank Lester for the final spot at 170.

Team USA WW's 170

Mark Miller
Damarques Johnson
Jason Pierce
*Winner of Kiel Reid and Frank Lester

Team USA LW's 155

Richie Whitson
Santino Defranco
Cameron Dollar
*Winner of Jason Dent v. Robert Browning