As episode 11 of "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" opens, UFC president Dana White is looking for a potential replacement for a head-rattled Matt Mitrione. Speaking to the full crew of fighters, White says "someone" will possibly get a second chance. But with nobody clamoring to step in, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson is the obvious first choice. Only one problem: Slice doesn't want the fight. Slice's ailing knee, which has been diagnosed as arthritic, precludes him from stepping up.
"My thing is fighting on my toes," Slice tells White. "I haven't been on my toes. I can't fight on my toes. I'll get into there, and I feel like I won't perform like I want to perform." Slice isn't 100 percent, and he's honest about his concerns. "I don't want another loss on my record, to be honest with you," Slice says.
At the gym, Mitrione talks with his doctor and says he "feels great." The doctor says he can hear in Mitrione's voice that the fighter sounds better, and he offers to issue a medical clearance. Mitrione lets Rashad Evans know that he's been cleared, but Evans seems less than impressed. Evans believes the doctor wasn't going to stand in "Meathead's" way to begin with. It appears Slice's unwillingness to fight is irrelevant, and Mitrione is determined to carry on and face British striker James McSweeney in a quarterfinal matchup.
Back at the house, Scott Junk has a pair of massive shades on as he enters. Junk explains that following his preliminary bout with Mitrione spots in his eyes have been prevalent. The Hawaiian said he has been told two small tears in his left retina may prevent him from ever fighting again.
Junk has already undergone laser surgery for the injury, and the pain forced him to take refuge in a dark bedroom. Junk said the doctors have warned him of future blindness should he continue to fight, but the heavyweight says he'll seek another opinion.
On the van ride to practice, the members of Team Rampage find out about Junk's prognosis. Marcus Jones takes the news especially heavily, and his rage builds on the way to the gym. Once there, "Big Baby" explodes. Jones immediately confronts an unsuspecting Mitrione. Nose to nose, Jones fights back tears as he yells for Mitrione to swing at him. Jones says he'll kill Mitrione if just given the chance.
The guys get Jones under control, but it's not easy. Coaches and fighters alike let Jones know that Mitrione didn't intend to injure Junk and that there are inherent risks with the sport, but it takes some time for the massive fighter to calm down. Coach Quinton "Rampage" Jackson coaxes a promise of peace out of Jones, even as "Big Baby" says he wants to choke Mitrione within an inch of his life before pounding him with punches and breaking his arm. "I wanted some reason to take a piece of his body part and just crumble it so he can feel what Junk is feeling," Jones says.
With the drama over, it's fight time.
(Team Roxanne's) James McSweeney (Coach Rashad) vs. (Team CJ's) Matt Matrione (Coach Rashad)
Round 1: Referee Herb Dean starts the action, and McSweeney opens with a leg kick. As both fighters feel each other out, McSweeney lands another kick to the body. Mitrione finally attacks with a jab about 35 seconds in, but McSweeney scampers away. McSweeney returns with a few more leg kicks, though Mitrione counters well with a straight left that scores. Mitrione lands another left hand in a combo, but McSweeney avoids any serious damage. McSweeney lands a front kick to the chest, and a right hook scores to the chin. McSweeney lands a few more leaping blows, though Mitrione grabs a kick and counters with a few heavy punches.McSweeney backs away before closing the distance and looking to bring the fight to the ground. Mitrione resists well at first, but he loses his balance and is dumped to the canvas. Mitrione works for a knee-bar, then an ankle lock, and McSweeney is warned for grabbing the fence. Mitrione persists and finally drags McSweeney to the ground with him. McSweeney immediately escapes the lock and sets up in side control. Mitrione rolls to his knees and back to his feet, but he leaves his neck exposed. McSweeney sees the opening, grabs a guillotine choke and falls to the floor. Mitrione is on his back in half-guard, but he looks to tap almost immediately. Without even a hint of an attempt to escape, Mitrione taps out at the 3:38 mark.
Following the bout, Mitrione admits he "tapped like a bitch," but the fighters do bury the hatchet from their rivalry.
-(Team Roxanne's) James McSweeney def (Team CJ's) Matt Matrione by Guillotine Choke in Round 1 for 10pts.
-Team CJ, Team Roxanne, Team Roy, and Team Adam each earn 1pt for having Rashad as their coach.
The action now turns to Marcus Jones and Darrill Schoonover.
While there's no hard feelings between the two, both fighters are intent on victory. The gameplans are no secret. Jones will look to win the fight on the floor, while Schoonover will try to unload right hands.
The build-up is brief, and the two are in the cage quickly.
(Team Jon's) Marcus Jones (Coach Rampage) vs. (Team CJ's) Darrill Schoonover (Coach Rashad)
Round 1: Dean oversees the action again, and Jones opens with a leg kick. Jones then immediately closes the distance and powerfully trips Schoonover to the floor.
Jones immediately escapes Schoonover's half-guard and switches out to side control. Jones keeps Schoonover on his back while delivering a few right hands to the head. Jones reaches his long right leg over in brief stretches to trap Schoonover in a modified crucifix.
Jones maintains control as Schoonover tries to escape. A keylock looks deep for a moment, but Schoonover smartly rolls out of the position and to his knees. Jones quickly tosses his opponent again to his back in a scramble.
Schoonover recovers to guard. When Jones stands, Schoonover tries to shoot in. Jones avoids and reverses, and Schoonover is forced to pull guard. Jones postures and delivers six punches from the top, the fourth of which puts Schoonover to sleep. Dean rushes in at the 2:32 mark to pull Jones off.
-(Team Jon's) Marcus Jones def (Team CJ's) Darrill Schoonover by KO in Round 1 for 10pts.
-Team Jen, Team Jon, Team Tammy, and Team Tommy each earn 1pt for having Rampage as their coach.
With that the Semifinals are now set:
-(Team Jon's) Roy Nelson vs (Team Roxanne's) James McSweeney
-(Team Tammy's) Brendan Schaub vs (Team Jon's) Marcus Jones
As episode 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" opens, the four semifinalists are preparing to face off and determine the season's finalists for the famed six-figure contract.
Coach Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has just one horse left in the race, but he's emotionally invested in the fight. Jackson and Marcus Jones have a simple plan: Get Brendan Schaub to the floor.
Jones says he'll be able to track down his opponent with ease. After all, he once caught NFL great Barry Sanders in the open field during his football days.
While Jackson is busy working with Jones, assistant coach Tiki Ghosn has been planning the group's next prank. Ghosn has collected a dizzying assortment of plush pink stuffed animals, pink paint, a disco ball and a male blow-up doll. The group goes immediately to work on redecorating the Team Rashad locker room into a pink paradise that any 10-year-old girl would love.
The next morning, coach Rashad Evans is the first to walk in to his newly decorated locker room. Evans, obviously not a 10-year-old girl, is speechless.
There's a few laughs, but Evans quickly turns to preparing Roy Nelson, Schaub and McSweeney for their semifinal contests. While guaranteed one fighter in the finale, Evans believes it will actually be an all-Team Rashad final bout.
Back at the house, the crew notices Jensen is in a bad mood. To make matters worse, McSweeney decides to block Jensen in the bathroom by opening a set of drawers that prevent the door from opening. Jensen, who says he suffers from a touch at claustrophobia, tries to slam the door against the drawers and gain his freedom. McSweeney and Wes Wims watch the struggle briefly before closing the drawers.
When Jensen gets out of the bathroom, he immediately rushes McSweeney. It's not exactly the attack one might expect from a professional fighter, but Jensen does throw a right hand. Despite awaiting his semifinal fight, McSweeney answers with a kick and charges in to grab head control.
McSweeney grabs an arm-in guillotine that makes Jensen gargle briefly. McSweeney controls Jensen until he decides to calm down. McSweeney laughs off the skirmish, and later says he's actually impressed that Jensen stood up for himself. Jensen shares with us that he believes McSweeney is a "prostitute's used douchebag."
It's now fight time, and Team Rashad has put some green material over their locker room walls to cut down on some of the "My Little Pony" feel that was there before. Up first: McSweeney vs. Nelson.
(Team Jon's) Roy Nelson (Coach Rashad) vs (Team Roxanne's) James McSweeney (Coach Rashad)
Round 1: The pair touch gloves and prepare to strike. There's some traded jabs early, but McSweeney moves away well. Nelson sneaks in a few shots as the pair exchanges, but McSweeney answers, too.
Nelson shoots in, but McSweeney grabs a guillotine choke with his right arm. Nelson's own right arm is in the hold, and McSweeney quickly breaks the hold. The pair separate and set back up in the center of the cage.
McSweeney lands a few stiff jabs, and he smiles and motions for Nelson to come after his chin. Nelson does exactly that with a right hand that staggers McSweeney. Nelson observes the carnage briefly before shooting in for a double-leg takedown.
Nelson escapes McSweeney's half-guard and moves quickly to side control. From there he begins to look for a familiar crucifix position. Once secured, Nelson unloads a barrage of 21 left hands that score to the head. Mazzagatti warns McSweeney to fight out of the position, but he halts the bout with 49 seconds left in the opening round when the Brit is unable to do so.
A disappointed McSweeney rises to display a bloody nose, but he vows to come back stronger for his next fight. White admits Nelson finally did something to impress him.
-(Team Jon's) Roy Nelson def (Team Roxanne's) James McSweeney by TKO in Round 1 for 10pts.
-Team CJ, Team Roxanne, Team Roy, and Team Adam each earn 1pt for having Rashad as their coach.
(Team Tammy's) Brendan Schaub (Coach Rashad) vs (Team Jon's) Marcus Jones (Coach Rampage)
Round 1: Schaub lands a quick right hand, but Jones simply pushes forward and powers him to the floor. Schaub takes guard, but Jones quickly slides out to side control. Schaub is briefly trapped in a crucifix, but he works his right arm free.
Schaub works to regain half-gaurd, but Jones simply leaps into mount. Schaub bucks free momentarily, but Jones re-establishes himself in half-mount. Another wild buck by McSweeney sees him get back to his feet and unleash a flurry as Jones tries to stand.
Jones backs away and delivers a nice knee to the head that stops the attack. Schaub backs away and resets. Schaub beats Jones to the punch again, and a right hand floors the giant. Schaub pounces and delivers a flurry of left and right hands to the face. Rosenthal gives Jones every chance to defend himself, but the referee is forced to step in when "Big Baby" goes limp at the 2:11 mark.
Schaub is ecstatic, and he earns his way to a TUF 10 Finale date with Nelson.
-(Team Tammy's) Brendan Schaub def (Team Jon's) Marcus Jones by KO in Round 1 for 10pts
-Team CJ, Team Roxanne, Team Roy, and Team Adam each earn 1pt for having Rashad as their coach.
And with that the TUF 10 Finals will be:
(Team Jon's) Roy Nelson vs (Team Tammy's) Brendan Schaub
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