TUF 9 - Semi's Start

This episode started with TUF resident Benadict Arnold, Team USA's Jason Pierce, giving pointers to UK's David Faulkner about USA teammate Damaques Johnson. Pierce has consistently whined and complained throughout the season. Giving up training secrets to Team UK is downright dispicable.

Lightweight Richie Whitson overhears Pierce talking smack to Dave Faulkner and begins questioning his motives about not fighting. In the previous show, Pierce doesn't seem to care about fighting, and Dana White doesn't allow him in the cage. Pierce is questioned whether or not he is telling secrets by coach Dan Henderson, and Pierce denies. Liar!

Meanwhile, the match-ups for the next round are determined. The match-ups almost go Team v. Team after Cameron Dollar wants to fight Jason Dent. Dana White was intrigued but ultimately decided to keep with the UK v. USA theme.

WW- DaMarques Johnson (USA) vs. Nick Osipczak (UK)
LW- Cameron Dollar (USA) vs. Andre Winner (UK)
LW- Jason Dent (USA) vs. Ross Pearson (UK)
WW- Frank Lester (USA) vs. James Wilks (UK) - rematch

With the fights set, it is time for DaMarques versus Nick. This fight was incredible, as both fighters showed tremendous heart throughout the fight. In the first, both threw some serious punches and kicks before Damarques landed a great throw for a takedown.

After another takedown, DaMarques lands some ground and pound, and Nick almost sinks a triangle. With thirty seconds left, Nick gets to his feet and starts landing a slew of nasty punches stunning DaMarques, who barely gets to the end of the round.

In the second, it is all DaMarques, who gets a takedown and gets some brutal ground and pound. The fight is almost called near the bell, and Nick wobbles to his corner. Nick shows serious heart and continues to fight, even though dazed and tired.

The third round has both fighters throwing jabs and overhands, with DaMarques landing more shots. Near the middle of the round, DaMarques gets a takedown and starts landing some elbow post strikes. With one minute left, Nick sweeps and gets in DaMarques' guard. Nick tries to lay everything on the line, but comes up just short. DaMarques wins via decision and is the first fighter in the finale.


FINALS - DaMarques Johnson (USA)

TUF 9 - Ep 5 - Split

This episode featured two fights, one in the 155 and one in the 170 division. At this point in the show, Team USA is getting frustrated with the situation of living without family, friends, television, books, music, ect.

Team UK seems to be having fun, playing soccer in the backyard, or garden in Team UK talk. To make matters worst, USA teammate Cameron Dollar rubs most the wrong way and brags about sexual exploits and fighting skills. Dollar seems like a young guy who needs to be humbled.

The first fight features Andre Winner v. Santino DeFranco. DeFranco seemed to be landing kicks and working for a takedown to begin the round. Winner was content to throw counter punches and take his time. Near the end of the round, Defranco attempted a single leg and missed. Instead of regrouping, he pulled guard.

From there, DeFranco came close with a triangle, omaplata and armbar. Winner powered out, and started throwing punches. Instead of trying to get up or rolling, DeFranco did what he did in his first fight, sat there, covered up, and took punches. This time, the ref called a stoppage.

In the second fight, Dean Amasinger fought Damarques Johnson in the 170 pound division. Johnson was calm before the fight and really seems to enjoy his craft, saying a prayer inside the cage before the fight. Mysteriously, Team UK coach Michael Bisping was nowhere to be found.

During the fight, punches were thrown and Amasinger found himself in the same position as his first fight, nearly caught in a triangle. This time, Johnson finished off the triangle, forcing a submission in the first round.

As it stands, Team UK leads 2-1.

Second Round UK- LW Andre Winner, WW Nick Osipczak
Second Round USA- WW Damarques Johnson

TUF 9 Episode 4 - UK Strikes First

With the Team USA having the first pick, Dan Henderson chooses Mark Miller to face Nick Osipczak. It was learned at that point that it had been two weeks since the Team UK fights, while Team USA was running on 4 days rest. Miller had taken quite a bit of punishment in his fight, but Dan Henderson was impressed with him.

Team UK coaches were given the opportunity to watch Miller's fight as they hadn't seen it live. They were able to pick apart his fighting style while watching on video without the distraction of the other coach. Bisping found chinks in Miller's armor regarding him throwing jabs and the times he drops his hands.

Osipczak explained him being in Kung Fu for two years and dominating before getting into MMA. Osipczak was ready for a brawl and the two fighters delivered. Bisping believed the best plan would be for Osipczak to go for the takedown.

Miller and Osipczak slugged it out for two rounds. It seemed at times that Miller landed some power shots, but Osipszak took everything he had. When Osipszak got the fight to the ground in the first, Miller nearly got a kimura lock. After a scramble, Miller almost got trapped in a guillotine. He nearly tapped, but eventually got out of the move.

In the second, both fighters brawl against before Osipczak attempts another takedown. This time Miller goes for his own guillotine. However, Osipczak gets side control and gets out of the submission. From there, Osipczak gets some clean elbow shots in. After they get to the feet, Osipczak looks down and fires a leg kick to Miller's head knocking him out. He explains that it is the oldest trick in the book.

This was a very entertaining fight, but one Miller would sure like to do over. With the win, Team UK gets control of the fight selection for the next fight at 155 pounds.

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.