After a recap of the most recent episode and Team Ortiz fighter Nick Ring's controversial majority-decision win over Team Liddell's Court McGee, "The Ultimate Fighter 11" episode 7 picks up where we most recently off.
Despite this episode featuring first-ever "wild card" picks and an injury replacement, it's clear the fallout from that controversial fight isn't going to blow over.
After watching highlights of the back-and-fourth two-rounder, Chuck Liddell stands by his assessment that Nick didn't win the fight and didn't live up to the grand expectations.
Tito Ortiz, meanwhile, admits that Nick held back in the fight but is happy he got the win.
So why was he holding back? Nick admits he injured his knee prior to the fight and likely did more damage during it. He tells a doctor he needs something to keep the ligaments in his knee tight and secure. He calls them "loose" and said it's becoming a problem.
With the post-fight theatrics over, we return to the training center for additional announcements. The preliminary round is coming to a close, and before the quarterfinals open, we have one fight left: Team Ortiz's Seth Baczynski vs. Team Liddell's Joe Henle.
Dana predicts a lopsided fight and says he isn't impressed by Joe.
"I don't see how Seth loses this fight," he says in a confessional.
In a Team Ortiz training session, we learn about Seth's long journey to an 11-5 career record and his long-awaited UFC opportunity. Although he lost his opening-round matchup to Court, he got a second life when teammate and friend Chris Camozzi was forced out of the tourney due to injury. Tito says he's impressed with the fighter's eagerness and gratitude after he got a second shot in the tournament.
Joe, meanwhile, meets with teammates back at the house and says the whole "TUF" experience has been a bit overwhelming. He turned pro just months before his trip to Vegas and says he did so "for all the wrong reasons" after he and a buddy checked out a local gym. Joe says he simply got one fortunate break after another en route to a 3-0 record.
If anything, he's a bit concerned that things have gone too easily and that eventually his fortunes are going to change. And the fighter, who graduated with an MBA, says he knows everyone is favoring Seth in the matchup but that his heart and determination are as strong as anyone's. Coach Chuck reminds him he's more than capable of winning the bout.
Back at the gym, Nick is sparring when a simple step prompts him to drop to the mat in pain. Tito sees his knee slide and knows something is wrong. Nick, who says he's had three years of problems with the left knee, tells Tito he needs some help to get it straightened out and also needs help keeping it quiet since even his teammates are potential future opponents.
"Can anything else be against me?" Tito wonders in a confessional.
After the private conversation with Tito, Nick says he just wants to get it fixed.
With that matter unresolved, we head to official fighter weigh-ins, where both fighters weigh 185 pounds.
At a Team Ortiz training session prior to the fight, Tito's keeping all fighters busy in hopes at least one of his team members gets a wild-card spot. Unlike past seasons of the show, all of the losing fighters are anxious for a shot at redemption and are hungry for a second shot.
Back at the house, after some anxious pacing, Joe and Seth both head to the training center for their fight. Each is focused and confident before the walkouts and eventual pre-fight introductions, which show Seth with a height advantage but Joe with the edge in reach.
-(Team Roy's) Joe Henle VS. (Team Roxanne's) Seth Baczynski
Round 1: Joe strikes first with a low kick, shoots, works to drag his opponent to the mat, and then looks to avoid his opponent's triangle-choke attempt once they hit the mat. Joe's teammates scream instructions, but Seth secures the hold anyway. However, while pinned against the cage, Seth can't get the angle he needs and eventually releases the hold. Seth uses the opportunity to slap on a guillotine choke, drops to his back, and torques it. Seth works it for nearly a half minute but also has to give up that submission, too. Joe escapes full guard, moves into side control, and then moves into a north-south position. During a scramble, he briefly works a choke but gives it up. Again on his back, Seth looks for the triangle choke but eventually gives up his back while trying to improve his position. Seth successfully reverses the position, takes top control, and delivers elbow strikes while in his opponent's full guard. Seth delivers more elbows as Joe looks for better position. Seth delivers a couple more big elbow strikes before the round ends. Joe hung tough, but with the early submission attempts and late ground and pound, Seth earns the round, 10-9.
Round 2: Seth fakes a flying knee and takes a body kick. Seth answers and wings looping punches that partially connect. The fighters clinch and jockey for position against the cage. Seth gets the takedown, but Joe rolls to his side and eventually takes top position. Seth delivers elbows from his back and then looks for a kimura. Joe quickly moves to his knees and then grabs his opponent's back. He gets in his hooks and now has the position for a rear-naked choke. Seth tries to fight it off and won't allow Joe to lock the choke. Seth kicks off the cage and reverses the position, and during a scramble, he grabs Joe's arm for a potential armbar. There's nothing there, and Joe returns to top position and works from inside full guard. The pace slows. Seth looks for an escape, but Joe quickly covers him to avoid it. Seth tries to back out of the position from his side, but Joe passes guard into side control. Tito complains that Joe is just holding on, and he may have a point. However, Joe then moves into the north-south position and looks for a choke. Seth, though, escapes, and the fighters return to their feet. As Joe backs against the cage, Seth comes charging at him with a flying knee that Joe barely avoids. Seth crashes into the cage. Joe then dips for a takedown, but Seth sprawls. Joe, though, drags him to his knees and then puts Seth on his back. Joe frees a leg, takes his opponent's back, but loses the position and eats punches and must defend a rear-naked choke before the round ends. It's a close round, but it goes to Joe, 10-9, based on overall control.
As expected, the judges declare the fight a draw, and we head to a third and deciding "sudden-victory" round.
Both fighters labor for breath between rounds and get pep talks from their respective coaches. Dana yells and asks who really wants the fight.
Round 3: Seth comes out with guns blazing. He catches Joe with punches and then dips, shoots and scores the takedown. Joe rolls to his side and looks to grab an arm, but Seth uses the opportunity to free a leg. Seth works from the top position and looks for a choke. He gives it up but tries again shortly after. Seth looks for better position and then rains down a quick burst of punches. Joe reclaims full guard but eats more punches and elbows. The blows are sporadic but effective. Joe tries to defend, but the elbows continue to the head and body for the next minute. Joe rolls to his side, and Seth passes guard and then delivers more punches from half guard. Joe simply tries to pull Seth close, but Seth closes out the round with more ground and pound. The finale frame is all Seth, who takes the round 10-9 and 29-28 overall.
"He's definitely tougher than I thought," Seth said. "He has a lot of potential for the amount of experience he has, and I'm lucky to get out with the win."
Joe admits the loss is hard but says his heart remains in it and that he wants a wild-card spot.
-(Team Roxanne's) Seth Baczynski def. (Team Roy's) Joe Henle via unanimous decision for 7pts.
-Team CJ, Team Jen, and Team Jon each earn 1pt for having Tito Ortiz as their coach.
Soon after the fight, the competitors reconvene at the gym to find out just that: the wild-card picks.
Dana says he just wants the two best fighters, and after consulting with the coaches, he announces them: Team Ortiz's Kyacey Uscola (who dominated a fight with Rich Attonito but lost due to a controversial disqualification for an apparent illegal knee to a downed opponent) and Team Ortiz's Kris McCray (who dropped a hard-fought decision to Josh Bryant).
In addition to the wild-card picks, Dana announces who will replace Rich, who is injured and unable to continue in the tournament. Taking his spot is Court, who lost the controversial decision to Nick.
No comments:
Post a Comment