Following tonight's episode, we're halfway through this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and now just six weeks away from the show's live finale.
In tonight's sixth episode, we start off with a look back at episode #5 as Team Ortiz laments about another loss: Kris McCray's decision defeat to Team Liddell's Josh Bryant.
On the van ride home, Team Ortiz's Kyacey Uscola says the team needs to amp down the intensity of their workouts prior to the fights. He says Kris' body and muscles were shocked from the constant work, and he puts the blame solely on Tito. His teammates remain silent but give no indication they disagree with his assessment.
As a Team Liddell training session, Chuck Liddell, who missed the fight because of a prior commitment, congratulates Josh on his win and says he think they'll take a 6-1 lead with their next fight.
Back at the house, Kris talks to Jamie Yager and says he doesn't think Tito overworked them.
"You went out there and did your dizzle," Jamie says in agreement. "As far as I'm concerned, Tito is doing a great job."
In follow-up confessionals, both James Hammortree and Nick Ring also say they don't believe they're being overworked. In fact, Tito says he has heard about Kyacey's gripes and decides to call a team meeting while they're at the gym. Tito confronts his fighter and pleads for his team to listen to him since he knows what he's doing. He also tells the detractor, Kyacey, that he was "sucking wind" in his elimination-round fight and that conditioning is hugely important even close to fight time. Kyacey doesn't really back down from his claim, but he at least hears his coach out.
After a commercial break, both teams enter a gymnasium with big smiles. It's the "Coaches Challenge" episode. Each season the coaches square off in a random sporting event, and this season it's good ol' dodgeball.
UFC president Dana White says the first team to win three games earns the winning coach $10,000. Each cast member of the winning team also receives $1,000.
"I'm just excited to hit Chuck with my balls," Tito declares.
In each game, we have teams of four going at it with four dodgeballs in play. Chuck quickly proves one of the hardest throwers, and in that opening match, Team Liddell has a three-on-one situation with Tito being the only member alive. They quickly take him out, but Tito complains he was never hit. He loses the protest, and we restart for the second game.
In the second game, three players from each team are eliminated, and it's soon down to Chuck vs. Tito. Chuck clips his rival to win the game and takes a 2-0 lead.
The third game is much like the second with only Chuck and Tito left. Each whiffs on some power shots until Chuck hits his opponent in the leg for the 3-0 sweep.
"He couldn't move his feet fast enough," Chuck says. "He's got the same problem in the cage sometimes too."
Dana laughs over Chuck's dominance and surmises that it must really be getting to Tito.
-Team Adam, Team Roxanne, Team Roy, and Team Tammy each earn 5pts for having Chuck Liddell as the winning coach in the coaches challenge.
Back at the training center, Chuck addresses both teams and announces the next fight. Team Liddell decides to pit Court McGee against Team Ortiz's Nick Ring. Ring playfully tells his opponent, "No you din't" and shakes his finger to provide some laughs.
Dana doesn't see Team Liddell pulling off the win, but he said if he's learned anything this season, it's not to doubt Chuck's game plan.
Back at a training session, Court talks about how much he loves the fight game and how much he wants to take out the other team's No. 1 pick. Chuck provides some one-on-one counseling and tells him to work leg kicks and stay at range. A Muay Thai fighter, Court agrees with the gameplan. Trainer John Hackleman says Court can hang with anyone.
Back at the house, Court talks about his past problems with alcohol, prescription painkillers and meth. He says it all led to heroin, which nearly cost him his life after an OD. He says it's now been "1,300 and some odd days" since he last used.
At a Team Ortiz training session, things quickly get off to a bad start when James it taken to the mat by Kris and instantly grunts in pain and labors for breath. James says his ribs are on fire with pain tingling in his legs. The medics quickly strap him to a stretcher with a neck brace and haul him to the hospital.
As Tito reminds viewers, James was a leading candidate for a wild-card spot into the quarterfinals and may now be out of the competition altogether.
After a commercial break, Nick talks about how his injuries have taken him out of the game for nearly three years and how "TUF" turned out to be a "real blessing" for him. Tito says Nick is his best fighter and should have an easy fight with a first-round submission or knockout.
"I have no pressure being a No. 1 pick," Nick confidently says. "I haven't lost a fight, and I don't plan on losing one here."
Soon after, James returns from the hospital with good news. Although his back isn't 100 percent, doctors ruled out any serious injuries. Although he's swollen and sore, he says he can heal from it and appears in suitable shape to rejoin the competition if given the chance.
Both teams soon convene at the training center, where the Nevada commission's Keith Kizer is overseeing weigh-ins. Nick is up first and weighs exactly 185. Court also comes in at 185, and the fight is good to go.
Prior to the fight, both competitors relax back at the house. Nick seems calm and collected. Court received encouragement from his coaches, who say Nick's undefeated record is deceiving since many of his opponents had losing records.
Soon, it's fight time, and both competitors make their way to the cage.
(Team Adam's) Court McGee VS. (Team CJ's) Nick Ring
Round 1: Court strikes first with a solid short right and then shoots for and gets the takedown. Nick pulls him into full guard and keeps Court tied up and unable to do much from the top. After inaction, the ref tells the fighters to get busy as Nick looks for an escape. He easily gets it, and we're back standing, where Nick connects on a leg kick. The second, though, is countered with a punch. The fighters then trade ineffective kicks but soon find their range with low and body kicks. After a clinch, Court looks for the takedown, but Nick fights it off and delivers knees to the legs of his opponent. Still clinched, Court throws and misses an overhand right on the break. Court dips and shoots, but Nick easily snuffs it out and collapses on top of him with a front choke. As Court works to his knees, Nick transitions to his back, throws a few punches, and then moves into half guard when Court rolls to his back. Nick looks to improve his position and uses some punches to create openings. Court, though, delivers some elbows from below. Nick can't improve his position but finds success with a series of punches before moving into full guard. Nick postures up and delivers some short punches, and Court uses butterfly guard to create some room to throw his own punches from his back. It's an extremely close round that could go either way, though I would have awarded it to Nick, 10-9, by the narrowest of margins.
Round 2: A few kicks whiff, and Court lands a nice right hand from distance. Nick answers with a low kick and another, but Court counters. The fighters trade more kicks that are mostly blocked. The fighters then trade jabs, and Nick uses the opportunity to land a solid inside leg kick. Nick fakes a shoot and eats a short uppercut, and Court slowly stalks him against the cage. After a clinch, the fighters battle for underhooks while trading knees. They opt to break, and Nick looks a bit confused as Court bounces with a bit of confidence. Nick throws another low kick but again eats a couple quick punches. Both fighters are slowing but continue pressing the action while mixing punches and kicks as they take the center of the cage. Court shoots, but Nick easily avoids it. Nick works more low kicks, but Court doesn't seem concerned and waits to counter. Nick is connecting, but Court seems unfazed and continues bouncing while appearing the fresher fighter. The fighters clinch again and wrestle for position, and Nick presses Court into the fence. Court quickly circles off the cage and delivers short punches to the gut while clinched. On the break, Nick delivers more low kick but eats a nice right as the round ends. I scored the second for Court, 10-9, in what appears a clear-cut round.
As both teams argue whether there will be a third round, Chuck verbally jabs with Team Ortiz members and says his guy won both rounds. Jamie said Nick controlled it with takedowns and aggression, but Chuck says Court won the first three minutes of the first round and earned it. The judges don't agree.
-(Team CJ's) Nick Ring def. (Team Adam's) Court McGee via majority decision for 7pts.
-Team CJ, Team Jen, and Team Jon each earn 1pt for having Tito Ortiz as their coach.
Tito is still peeved after the fight since Nick rarely listened to his instructions to circle to his left during the exchanges.
However, no one is angrier than Chuck, who complains that Nick did little but lie on Court in the first round. More importantly, he can't understand how Nick possibly won the second round and looks for any official who will listen to him.
In a confessional, even Dana says Court clearly won the second round but that you take your chances when leaving it to the judges. Dana tells Chuck the same thing, but "The Iceman" is still steaming. He then starts walking toward Dana, who asks, "What are you mad-dogging me? I'm not the judge."
Court walks to the dressing room but seems thankful his coaching is going to bat for him. But the sting of the loss is still tough to swallow.
And with that, Team Liddell gives up some ground and now leads 4-2 through six of the seven preliminary-round matchups.
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