In the 11th episode the regular-season run of "The Ultimate Fighter 11" comes to an end as we determine two finalists from this week's semifinal fights: Brad Tavares (Team Liddell) vs. Court McGee (Team Liddell) and Kris McCray (Team Ortiz) vs. Josh Bryant (Team Liddell).
The episode begins with Rich Franklin, a replacement coach for injured Tito Ortiz, getting a tour of the gym from UFC president Dana White. Franklin admits the show has grown and matured a lot since his "TUF 2" coaching days.
In a confessional, Franklin also admits he thought he was coming into the show to supplement Ortiz's coaching and hype the upcoming fight with rival coach Chuck Liddell. He said he didn't realize Ortiz had been kicked off the show.
After signing his bout agreement in Dana's office, Franklin meets with his team and introduces an All-Star cast of assistant coaches: Forrest Griffin, Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard, all Las Vegas-based fighters who are top contenders.
All of their focus turns to the remaining Team Franklin fighter, Kris, though the eliminated cast members also get instruction from the new coaches.
Kris says the transition to a new coach is pretty seamless and that he's learning a lot.
At a Team Liddell session, assistant coach John Hackleman chuckles at the quickness in which Rich's photo replaces Tito's on the gym walls.
"That doesn't look like Tito," he jokes.
John says it's a bit awkward simultaneously training three fighters for two tourney slots but that the coaching staff will manage. Chuck says they'll be good fights and that Brad, Court and Josh are all ready for the pivotal bouts. The semifinalists all agree.
Back at the house, Court and Josh lead a group of cast members who are ready to enact their payback on Jamie Yager, Kyle Noke, Kris and Brad, who have ruined countless nights of sleep with loud noises and partying.
Silly string and air horns are the weapons of choice, and as a group, they blast awake the quartet of trouble-makers and shower them with brightly colored webs of string.
Everyone seems to take the payback in stride except for Brad and Jamie.
"I didn't mess with anyone's sleep like this," Brad says. "Even when I made loud noises, if they asked me to stop, I stopped."
As revenge, Brad destroys the guys' coveted chess board and suggest further retaliation may be on the way.
But before anything additional is broken, the teams return to the gym for the first-fight official weigh-ins. Brad weighs 185 pounds, and opponent Court weighs 185.5.
The fighters are split on their predictions, and after forcing himself to pick a winner, Dana ultimately sides with Court.
Prior to the bout, the fighters share a dressing room and even some words of encouragement.
"I'm afraid of jabbing a needle in my arm and overdosing on heroin," Court, a recovering drug addict, says. "But when I step in the cage, I'm not afraid of my opponent."
After final prep, the competitors head to the cage for pre-fight introductions. We've got:
(Team Adam's) Court McGee VS. (Team Roy's) Brad Tavares
Round 1: Court throws some early low kicks and paws a jab. The fighters trade combos, though neither lands much of anything. Court again moves in but doesn't connect. He then throws a front kick that partially lands but is slowed by a low kick from Brad. Court resets and misses on a head kick, charges in, ducks under a punch, and clinches with his opponent against the cage. Brad looks to stay upright, but Court is relentless and forces the fight to the mat after getting underhooks. Court falls into half guard, but Brad teases him with a possible guillotine attempt before pulling him into full guard. Court looks to posture up, but Brad kicks his way free and gets back to his feet. The fighters swing wildly as Court looks for a clinch, but Brad gets the better of the exchange before they break. Court throws low kicks and again uses his left jab to set up a clinch against the cage. Court works short punches to the body before Brad backs off the cage and resets. Brad lands a nice counter shot as Court again looks for the clinch. Court fires off some kicks that don't land, and the fighters take turns shooting and ducking under counter shots before resetting. Court shoots again and presses Brad into the fence before picking him up and slamming him to the mat. Brad gets back up quickly, but Court presses him right back into the cage to close out the round. It's a strategic first round, but Court clearly got the better of it and gets the round, 10-9.
Round 2: Brad strikes first with some lunging jabs and then counters with another. The left jab continues to score as Court sits in the pocket. Court throws his hands and feet but is too far away from his opponent to land. Court finally lands a nice low kick and then counters a leg kick with a stiff right that forces Brad to retreat briefly. Court unloads some more jabs and then rushes Brad into the cage and looks for the takedown. Court softens him up with knees to the legs, but Brad fends off the takedown and circles off the cage. The fighters trade jabs before Brad just misses on a potentially dangerous combo. Brad scores again with his left jab. Court finds success with lunging body shots and low kicks. Court moves in with a nice left-right combo and follow-up right, but Brad surprisingly shakes it off with no ill effects. Court throws more punches to get the clinch, but Brad escapes and pops his opponent on the break. Brad is now showing the quicker hands, but Court slows him with leg kicks. Court then catches a body kick, shoves Brad into the fence, and works for the takedown. Brad sprawls and fights it off before the round ends. It's a very close round, Court, 10-9.
With the semifinal fights a mandatory three rounds, we enter the final frame. Before it starts, Chuck admits it's hard to watch the bout without offering both his fighters advice.
Round 3: Court opens the round first with quick hands, but Brad lands a low kick that catches his opponent in the groin. Court quickly shakes it off, and after an apology from Brad, we start again. The fighters trade a flurry of shots, and Brad gets the better of it. Brad then scores again with his left jab. Court works inside and outside leg kicks that score. After a scramble on their feet, the fighters nearly bump heads, which prompts a caution from the ref. The fighters trade punch for punch and then body kicks. Each has success as they stand and trade in the center of the cage. Court closes the distance and again looks for the takedown. Brad puts his back against the cage, sprawls, but eats some punches on the break. Brad lands a nice body kick, but Court wobbles him with a left-right combo that was aided by a slip. Brad quickly recovers, but he's against the cage and defending the takedown again. Court eats a knee but gets the fight to the mat. Brad, though, is quickly back up. Court then lands an accidental knee to the groin on the break. After a quick rest, Brad is good to go, and we've got 80 seconds to go. The fighters both score with punches until Court lands an obviously painful leg kick. He then follows with a nice right. Brad answers with jabs but then takes another kick to the cup. The ref tells Court he knows it's accidental but that a point deduction will come with the next one. Immediately on the restart, Court unloads a left hook that wobbles Brad and sends him against the cage. Court picks him up and slams him to the mat. Court takes his back, and though he can't get in his hooks, Brad goes to sleep from the rear-naked choke in the final seconds of the fight. The ref halts the bout with just seconds remaining.
-(Team Adam's) Court McGee def (Team Roy's) Brad Tavares by submission (rear naked Choke) in Round 3 for 8pts.
-Team Adam, Team Roxanne, Team Roy, and Team Tammy each earn 1pt for having Chuck Liddell as their coach.
The submission win makes Court this season's first finalist.
"This was a dog fight right from the beginning," a proud Dana says.
Chuck admits Brad is a tough guy and didn't want to quit.
"I really wanted this," says Brad, who said his young age didn't make him desire the UFC contract any less.
The following day, the fighters are told that Dana wants them back at the gym. He soon enters with a group of Marines, who are there to roll with the cast members and hang out.
Sgt. Paul Wright says he wants to show the guys why the "band of brothers" concept is so crucial to war prep. They also share some team-building workouts, how to de-arm someone with a weapon, and how to go to town on someone with a pugil stick. In exchange, the Marines learn some ground fighting and escape attempts.
After the team-building exercise, the fighters return home for a barbecue and some cornhole (a beanbag game popular in the Midwest) with their special guests and the coaches.
Kris, who comes from a military family, says his experience in the Army Reserves prepared him well for MMA.
The following day at a Team Franklin training session, the star-studded coaching staff works closely with Kris as he prepares for his fight. Josh won the first meeting, but even with the busy schedule, Rich thinks Kris can win the rematch.
"Five fights in six weeks is crazy," he says, astonished as Kris' record number of "TUF" bouts.
Rich thinks the key is for Kris to pace himself and not to blow his load early, which he did in the first fight.
"There's no doubt in my mind he's going to win this fight," says Rich, who thinks the coaching will make the difference.
After a commercial break, Jamie and Brad are plotting in the backyard and discussing ways to pull the latest prank. Jamie says he's considering stealing everyone's left-foot shoes, and Brad gives his support.
Jamie hides them in a bathroom window, and after meeting up with Brad in a bedroom, they decided to unleash a shower of beans and rice on James Hammortree and Clayton McKinney, who are poolside sunbathing. The toss works well and coats both guys.
"You guys are going to drive Hammortree to stab one of you mother fuckers," Seth Baczynski surmises while in the room with a few other castmates.
As James walks into the house, Brad then casually hurls a bag of flour his way. It doesn't hit James, but he immediately heads upstairs, takes a trash can, and dumps it on Jamie's bed. Jamie says it wasn't him and dumps some more food on James' bed in retaliation.
Things suddenly turn serious, and the fighters go nose to nose while trash talking. Neither wants to back down, but Jamie ultimately leaves the room. However, he then shoves Kyacey Uscola and calls him some choice words before the teammates break it up. Jamie keeps talking big as Kyacey and Clayton consider going after him.
However, they then pull the ultimate trump card and call Jamie a quitter. Jamie is still fresh off a loss to Josh in which he refused to answer the bell for the third round.
James makes his case for a live-finale fight with Jamie but says he's perfectly happy to take it outside.
James heads to the backyard and continually yells for his rival, but Jamie remains in his room and apparently won't come outside.
"Another fight he didn't show up for," James says. "I hope the guys in the UFC see this and give me a chance to smash his face in."
Clayton, though, gets in another argument with Jamie and wants his own shot at Jamie in the finale. Jamie says he'll probably have a long list of potential opponents from which to choose.
Cooler heads ultimately prevail, and Team Liddell heads to the gym for a final training session. Josh says he plans to use crisp striking for his fight, but he knows Kris won't underestimate him like he did the first time. Chuck thinks he can win again if he simply keeps a little distance and avoids the clinch.
Both teams then convene for the official weigh-ins. Josh and Kris both 186 pounds, and the fight is good to go.
Dana predicts another win for Josh.
The following day, the fighters head to their respective dressing rooms and get last-minute pep talks for their bout. Kris sounds calmer and more confident after working with his new coaches, and Rich does his best to pump him up. Chuck, though, does the same with Josh, and it's clear both competitors are coming to fight.
(Team Jon's) Josh Bryant VS. (Team Jen's) Kris McCray
Round 1: ref Steve Mazzagatti starts the action, and a high five and hug kicks off the bout. The fighters test their distance before Josh clips Kris with a quick left that drops him to his knees. It may have been more of a slip, and Kris is back up quickly and immediately clinches and looks for the takedown. Kris is clearly recovered, drags his opponent to the mat, takes his back, and tosses Josh to the mat when he gets back to his feet. Kris then presses him against the cage when Josh again gets to the standing position. A patient Kris works for and finally gets another takedown after he pops up again. Josh gets to his feet, bur Kris repeatedly pulls his ankles and takes him back down. Josh, though, finally gets up for good and eats a few knees before resetting. Kris circles as Josh peppers him with punches and then answers with a body kick. Josh lands a nice left but eats a few punches and kicks as he's forced to retreat. Josh answers with a solid leg kick but is again pushed into the cage, where he takes a knee to the stomach before resetting. Josh throws a left, but Kris is landing with more accuracy. Kris then lands a short uppercut before again shoving Josh into the cage. Once Josh breaks away, Kris puts him in a Muay Thai clinch for a couple knees to the body. After resetting. Josh lands a big left hook, but Kris shakes it off and delivers more knees to the body.
Round 2: Josh paws his jab, and the fighters trade straight punches. Kris clinches, puts Josh against the cage, but Josh circles out and away. Josh works the jab, but Kris answers with a quick flurry of punches from different angles, and Josh is forced to clinch. Josh dips for a single leg. Kris fends it off and then delivers a knee to the body. Josh continues pushing his opponent into the cage, but with no offense, the ref calls for a restart. Josh whiffs on a big overhand right, and the fighters then trade sloppy punches that mostly find their mark. Josh looks for a takedown but instead shoves Kris into the cage. Kris circles off, and we restart. Both fighters look a bit fatigued, but the hands continue flying. Josh lands some rights before he backs up to catch a breather. The fighters clinch and trade knees, and Josh again pushes his opponent into the cage. The action, though, again stalls. Josh delivers some punches to the body, and Kris does the same with knees. After resetting, Kris shoots, but Josh sprawls and fends off the takedown. Josh lands a couple lunging punches, puts Kris against the cage, and closes out the round in the position. It's another action-packed round, and it could go either way.
Round 3: The final frame gets underway, and Kris appears the slightly fresher fighter. The fighters trade jab. Josh works low kicks but doesn't have much behind then. The fighters trade punches wildly before Kris clinches and puts Josh against the fence. Kris looks for underhooks and dips, but Josh fends it off and eventually breaks free for a restart. The fighters again trade jabs and then wing power shots at each other. Josh tries a flying knee, but Kris takes his back and drags him to the mat. Josh quickly gets to his feet. Kris partially connects on an overhand right but then eats an uppercut. The fighters trade more punches and then some low kicks while trying to fight throw fatigue. Kris unloads a flurry with the little energy he's got left, and Josh clinches and puts Kris against the cage. Kris grabs the Muay Thai clinch and eventually breaks free to restart. The fighters trade single shots as their arms become heavier and heavier. Josh lands a big left hook that gets Dana's attention, but Kris takes his back and forces him against the cage in the standing position. Josh tries to control his hands and eventually frees himself. Josh lands another left hook during an exchange, but Kris lands a few finals hots of his own. It's another extremely close round, and it really could go either way.
After a commercial break, Keith Kizer brings the scorecards to Dana, who heads to the cage to make the announcement.
Surprisingly, the scores are lopsided, and Kris gets the unanimous decision via scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27.
-(Team Jen's) Kris McCray def (Team Jon's) Josh Bryant by unanimous decision for 7pts.
-Team CJ, Team Jen, and Team Jon each earn 1pt for having Tito Ortiz as their coach.
"We've never had an undefeated coach in the history of 'TUF,'" Franklin sheepishly says. "Until now."
Rich, though, says the credit really goes to Kris and the assistant coaches. Dana says Kris simply found a great game plan.
Dana then breaks down next week's live finale between Team Liddell's Court and Team Ortiz/Franklin's Kris, two guys who benefited from second chances.
"A lot of people were pissed off when I gave Court McGee (injured fighter Rich Attonito's) spot," Dana says. "But every time this guy fought, he got better and better and better. And Kris is just tough as nails. He lost, came back, and got to the finals.
"It's going to be a great fight."
And thus concludes the "TUF 11" regular-season run.
