TUF 9 Finale - UK Domination

The TUF 9 Finale was a sold out show at the Palms in Las Vegas. Commercials were abundant in this three hour broadcast on Spike. Despite both being seen as slight underdogs, UK's Ross Pearson and James Wilks came out TUF 9 champions.

Diego Sanchez def Clay Guida via split dec- This fight was a bloody three round war. The first round was all Sanchez as he landed big uppercuts and combinations before he nailed Guida with a perfect high kick sending him to the canvas. Guida would never stop coming throughout the fight, despite blood pouring out of his wounds.

Guida would go on to storm back in the second, getting takedowns to secure top position winning the round with his ground and pound assault. The third round was very close, with Sanchez almost getting a guillotine. Then he unleashed some serious elbows from the ground. The judges gave Sanchez a split decision victory.
*Awarded Fight of the Night Bonus.

James Wilks def DaMarques Johnson via sub (rear-naked choke) R1, 4:54- James Wilks first got some strikes in before the fight went to the ground. From there, it was all Wilks as he transitioned from submission attempt to attempt. With time running down in the first, Wilks got the back of Johnson and sunk in the winning choke. *James Wilks wins the 170 pound TUF 9 Title.

(James Wilks pictured)

Chris Lytle def Kevin Burns via unanimous dec- Burns looked to dominate in the first round, landing an uppercut that nearly had Lytle out. However, in the second and third, Lytle came back, overwhelming Burns. In the third, Lytle opened up a gash on Burns' head, and blood started to pour. All three judges awarded the fight to Lytle.
*Awarded Fight of the Night Bonus.

Ross Pearson def Andre Winner via unanimous dec- Ross Pearson took the 155 pound title in a three round scrap against Andre Winner. While working mostly in the clinch, the fighters traded shots throughout the fight. Pearson seemed to control the fight more and was awarded the decision victory.
*Pearson wins 155 pound TUF 9 Title

(Ross Pearson pictured)

Joe Stevenson def Nate Diaz via unanimous dec- Nate Diaz nearly had a deep guillotine in the first round, but that was the closest he came to victory. Stevenson was the stronger fighter, landing shots and controlling the action on the ground. Stevenson credited the win to his 6 week training camp at Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico. "It's like having Chuck Norris in your corner, it's just unfair" remarked Stevenson post fight.

UNDERCARD

Melvin Guillard def Gleison Tibau via split dec
Brad Blackburn def Edgar Garcia via split dec
Nick Ospiczak def Frank Lester via sub (rear naked choke) R1, 3:40
Jason Dent def Cameron Dollar via sub (anaconda choke) R1, 4:46
Tomasz Drwal def Mike Ciesnolevicz via TKO (strikes) R1, 4:48
*KO of the Night Bonus

TUF 9 Finale Set

After the last TUF episode, the finale for TUF 9 which takes place this Saturday in Vegas has been set. Team USA's Damaques Johnson taking on UK's James Wilks, with an all-UK lightweight finale, pitting Ross Pearson against Andre Winner. TUF 9 had some great fights play out, especially in the early episodes.

The fight between James Wilks and Frank Lester played out much like the first fight. Lester was throwing bombs, with Wilks countering with his longer reach. Lester successfully defended numerous takedowns throughout the bout.

In the second round, Wilks' reach became more a factor, as he bloodied Lester's nose and started to work him over. In the third, knees to the face ended Lester's run. Lester should hold his head up, as he fought 4 times in 34 days and earned a spot on the undercard of the Finale.

The TUF 9 Finale will take place this Saturday. Here is the rumored Line-up:

Clay Guida vs. Diego Sanchez
Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner- TUF LW Final
DaMarques Johnson vs. James Wilks- TUF WW Final
Nate Diaz vs. Joe Stevenson
Kevin Burns vs. Chris Lytle

UNDER CARD

Jason Dent vs. Cameron Dollar- TUF 9 Fighters
Frank Lester vs. Nick Osipczak- TUF 9 Fighters
Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Tomasz Drwal
Brad Blackburn vs. Edgar Garcia
Melvin Guillard vs. Gleison Tibau


(Andre Winner pictured)

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 Debut - UK Edition

The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 debut featured 16 fighters from the UK trying to make Team UK and earn a shot to Las Vegas. Every fighter seemed ready to brawl and was hungry to get that ticket. The fights were staged at the Wolfslair which is coach Michael Bisping's home gym.

It was kind of awkward throughout the 8 fights as Bisping had 3 fighters from his gym trying out and a few more that he knew personally. As such, some fighters got a little more coaching than others. Regardless, I enjoyed the episode and the raw feel of a cage and only a few spectators.

These guys seemed to be matched up well. The only slight favorite to go down was Che Mills, who got a tough draw in the more experienced James Wilks. I had Che as a 2-3 seed, and Wilks around 4-5. Team UK's advancing lightweights might have more talent than the welterweights.

Matches-

Andre Winner def Gary Kelly via KO(knee) R1- Andre Winner completely dominated the Wolfslair trained Gary Kelly. Kelly got stuck in a Thai clinch and ate a vicious knee to the face. Winner followed Kelly as he crumpled to the canvas and the bout was called. An oxygen mask was needed, but Kelly was ok.

Jeff Lawson def James Bryan via Sub(armbar) R1- Judo ace Jeff Lawson showed off some skills in his defeat of the younger James Bryan. Lawson executed a nice hip toss to get the fight to the ground, then went to work. After some posteuring, Lawson locked in an armbar to defeat Bryan.

James Wilks def Che Mills via Sub(kneebar) R1- Wilks ate some serious punishment from Mills until the fight went to the ground. Wilks leaned back and sunk in the kneebar with Mills responding too late. Wilks stated that he had been training in the US for the past few years.

Martin Stapleton def Dan James via Sub(rear naked choke) R1- Stapleton controlled the action standing, sneaking in punches on James. Once the bout got to the ground, all James could do was try to grab Stapleton's gloves before the rear naked choke was in. Stapleton, a military man, declared it the fight of his life.

Ross Pearson def A.J. Wenn via KO(punches) R2- Pearson and Wenn spent most of the first round in the clinch trading shots before Pearson snuck in two vicious standing knees to close out the round. With Wenn wobbled, Pearson smelled blood and attacked in the second round landing a left right combination followed by punches.

Nick Osipczak def Tommy Maguire via KO(knee) R1- Osipczak controlled the action from start to finish as Maguire seemed to run out of gas about three minutes in. From there, Osipczak threw a flurry of punches before a knee knocked out Maguire.

Dean Amasinger def Alex Reid via decision- Amasinger won by getting the fight to the ground. Reid attempted a number of triangles, but none were sunk deep enough.

David Faulkner def James Bateman via Sub(kneebar) R1- Bisping's training partner Faulkner went for a takedown early before getting in the clinch. After eating a little punishment, Faulkner got the takedown, rolling into a kneebar.

TEAM UK Welterweights - 170

James Wilks
Nick Osipczak
Dean Amasinger
David Faulkner

Team UK Lightweights - 155

Andre Winner
Jeff Lawson
Martin Stapleton
Ross Pearson


*By the looks of the next episode, it appears one of the potential Team USA fighters will have issues making weight.