Sherdog.com’s Guide to TUF 9
Scott Holmes Apr 30, 2009
Episode five of “The Ultimate Fighter 9” picked up where its
predecessor left off -- with the UK team celebrating its win and
the Americans licking their wounds. Dan
Henderson’s team had control of the first matchup, and Nick
Osipczak ruined their party.
“You can’t win it any better than a knockout,” said UK Coach Michael Bisping, who described himself as “over the moon” with how his team has performed so far.
Henderson hoped the loss would serve as a wakeup call for his guys.
He need not worry; Americans always rally back and galvanize, do
they not?
“Let’s not be too disrespectful back at the house,” said Jason Dent during the van ride home, as he hoped to squash any potential trouble ahead. Most of the Americans nodded in agreement; it seemed important for them to maintain their composure and not show any weakness.
“You can do what you want to do,” he said. “I’ll do whatever the [expletive] I want to do.”
Damarques Johnson put the pending rift between Dent and Dollar in perspective.
“Everybody wants to talk about Team USA. We’re not a team; it’s not a secret” Johnson said. “Everyone is here for selfish reasons. We happen to be flying under the same banner for now, but we are definitely not a team”
Back at the house, Team USA lounged around, while Dollar bragged about his bed mileage.
“I am sorry to say, but I’ve humped so many girls. I’ve probably humped 70, if not 80” boasted Dollar, leading one of his teammates to call him the “Wilt Chamberlain of MMA.” It did not end there. Dollar also went on to explain that he even “humped” one of his best friend’s wives.
A disgusted Frank Lester jumped to his feet and playfully punished the modern Don Draper with some slugs to the arm. None of the older teammates seemed too impressed with Dollar’s claims; they stared at him like he just graduated from the Marlon Sims School of Statistics.
Per this season’s rules, it was the UK’s turn to choose the next matchup, and Bisping announced that International Fight League veteran Santino Defranco would meet Andre Winner.
Defranco told the story of how he was preparing for season two of TUF when he got a desperate call from UFC President Dana White imploring him to get to a hospital. The routine physical from the show’s doctors revealed two brain aneurysms that needed immediate attention. Initially, Defranco was told he could never fight again, but nine months after his surgery, he was cleared.
After a long road back to the Octagon, the journey did not get any easier for Defranco. A minute or two into his fight with Winner, it became clear that the Brit was bigger, stronger and more athletic and explosive.
Winner thwarted Defranco’s takedown attempts, but during one clinch, Defranco hurriedly pulled Winner into his guard. For a moment, as Defranco worked his leg up high for the rubber guard, it seemed like technique might just triumph.
Team USA cast.
Hope was short-lived, however, as Winner powered his way through,
postured up and rained down hard shots that forced Defranco to
cover up. After an unanswered baker’s dozen, referee Steve
Mazzagatti called the fight with about a minute remaining in the
first round.
“Two-nil” said Bisping, goading the Americans. “It’s not supposed to be this easy.”
Afterward, Henderson wondered about his team’s mental toughness.
“Team USA is now down two nothing, and we definitely need a big boost, a mental boost,” he said. “I need to make sure the next pick is something that will definitely go our way.”
Back at the house, Henderson’s team continued to splinter. Jason Pierce spent most of his time with the UK’s David Faulkner, bonding over soaks in the Jacuzzi, while his American teammates continued to snipe at each other. Dent and Dollar seem to be on a collision course.
“Why don’t you pull your stupid wiggity wack hat down over your dumb [expletive] face,” said Dent after voicing his opinion that he found it more enjoyable to hang out with the British team.
Things went from bad to worse for Team USA, as Dollar slapped Mark Miller’s rump, post workout, and set off a firestorm between the bickering team. Miller, in turn, slapped Dollar with some clothing items. That resulted in Dollar talking smack to Miller, Dent talking smack to everyone and Johnson being called a “showboater.” It was a veritable verbal Three Stooges act.
Finally, Henderson interjected some wisdom, but his even-keel temperament does not appear to be firm enough for this crew.
“If you’re going to bust somebody’s balls,” the two-time Olympian said, “bust the UK’s.”
Back at the house, members of the UK team played soccer, jumped on the trampoline and carried on like laughing gas victims. They get along just fine, thanks to there being “no egos,” according to Martin Stapleton.
Dean Amasinger agreed.
“We take it to heart that we represent the UK,” he said.
The teams later convened for the next fight selection, as Henderson pitted one of his best, Johnson, against Amasinger.
Johnson called his opponent “the house Mr. T with a bald spot.” As unkind as his words might have been, the situation grew worse for Amasinger when his coach, Bisping, was a no-show for the fight.
White explained that it was the first time in any season that a coach failed to show up, giving Amasinger one more thing to worry about before his bout.
A Cage Warriors and FX3 veteran, Amasinger soldiered on and looked strong against Johnson at the beginning of their fight, as he whipped out some great leg kicks. Johnson looked to end it quickly after they hit the ground but could not finish his submission.
Bisping had briefly warned Amasinger during training that Johnson was adept at triangle chokes. It might have benefited Amasinger to have his coach ringside when he stood up in Johnson’s guard.
Johnson wiggled his legs higher, as Amasinger struggled to posture up, only drawing himself further into the trap. Johnson held tight when Amasinger tried a last-ditch effort to lift and separate with a slam. The American tightened the triangle and forced Amasinger to tap out.
Afterwards, Amasinger refused to blame the loss on his missing coach. Henderson was not as kind.
“Maybe he just assumed his guy was going to lose and he wouldn’t have the opportunity to gloat after the fight,” he said. “I wouldn’t be too happy if my coach didn’t show up to a huge fight that could really do wonders for my career.”
“You can’t win it any better than a knockout,” said UK Coach Michael Bisping, who described himself as “over the moon” with how his team has performed so far.
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“Let’s not be too disrespectful back at the house,” said Jason Dent during the van ride home, as he hoped to squash any potential trouble ahead. Most of the Americans nodded in agreement; it seemed important for them to maintain their composure and not show any weakness.
Cameron
Dollar, the youngest fighter on the team, had his own opinion,
however.
“You can do what you want to do,” he said. “I’ll do whatever the [expletive] I want to do.”
Damarques Johnson put the pending rift between Dent and Dollar in perspective.
“Everybody wants to talk about Team USA. We’re not a team; it’s not a secret” Johnson said. “Everyone is here for selfish reasons. We happen to be flying under the same banner for now, but we are definitely not a team”
Back at the house, Team USA lounged around, while Dollar bragged about his bed mileage.
“I am sorry to say, but I’ve humped so many girls. I’ve probably humped 70, if not 80” boasted Dollar, leading one of his teammates to call him the “Wilt Chamberlain of MMA.” It did not end there. Dollar also went on to explain that he even “humped” one of his best friend’s wives.
A disgusted Frank Lester jumped to his feet and playfully punished the modern Don Draper with some slugs to the arm. None of the older teammates seemed too impressed with Dollar’s claims; they stared at him like he just graduated from the Marlon Sims School of Statistics.
Per this season’s rules, it was the UK’s turn to choose the next matchup, and Bisping announced that International Fight League veteran Santino Defranco would meet Andre Winner.
Defranco told the story of how he was preparing for season two of TUF when he got a desperate call from UFC President Dana White imploring him to get to a hospital. The routine physical from the show’s doctors revealed two brain aneurysms that needed immediate attention. Initially, Defranco was told he could never fight again, but nine months after his surgery, he was cleared.
After a long road back to the Octagon, the journey did not get any easier for Defranco. A minute or two into his fight with Winner, it became clear that the Brit was bigger, stronger and more athletic and explosive.
Winner thwarted Defranco’s takedown attempts, but during one clinch, Defranco hurriedly pulled Winner into his guard. For a moment, as Defranco worked his leg up high for the rubber guard, it seemed like technique might just triumph.
Photo Courtesy:
SpikeTV
“Two-nil” said Bisping, goading the Americans. “It’s not supposed to be this easy.”
Afterward, Henderson wondered about his team’s mental toughness.
“Team USA is now down two nothing, and we definitely need a big boost, a mental boost,” he said. “I need to make sure the next pick is something that will definitely go our way.”
Back at the house, Henderson’s team continued to splinter. Jason Pierce spent most of his time with the UK’s David Faulkner, bonding over soaks in the Jacuzzi, while his American teammates continued to snipe at each other. Dent and Dollar seem to be on a collision course.
“Why don’t you pull your stupid wiggity wack hat down over your dumb [expletive] face,” said Dent after voicing his opinion that he found it more enjoyable to hang out with the British team.
Things went from bad to worse for Team USA, as Dollar slapped Mark Miller’s rump, post workout, and set off a firestorm between the bickering team. Miller, in turn, slapped Dollar with some clothing items. That resulted in Dollar talking smack to Miller, Dent talking smack to everyone and Johnson being called a “showboater.” It was a veritable verbal Three Stooges act.
Finally, Henderson interjected some wisdom, but his even-keel temperament does not appear to be firm enough for this crew.
“If you’re going to bust somebody’s balls,” the two-time Olympian said, “bust the UK’s.”
Back at the house, members of the UK team played soccer, jumped on the trampoline and carried on like laughing gas victims. They get along just fine, thanks to there being “no egos,” according to Martin Stapleton.
Dean Amasinger agreed.
“We take it to heart that we represent the UK,” he said.
The teams later convened for the next fight selection, as Henderson pitted one of his best, Johnson, against Amasinger.
Johnson called his opponent “the house Mr. T with a bald spot.” As unkind as his words might have been, the situation grew worse for Amasinger when his coach, Bisping, was a no-show for the fight.
White explained that it was the first time in any season that a coach failed to show up, giving Amasinger one more thing to worry about before his bout.
A Cage Warriors and FX3 veteran, Amasinger soldiered on and looked strong against Johnson at the beginning of their fight, as he whipped out some great leg kicks. Johnson looked to end it quickly after they hit the ground but could not finish his submission.
Bisping had briefly warned Amasinger during training that Johnson was adept at triangle chokes. It might have benefited Amasinger to have his coach ringside when he stood up in Johnson’s guard.
Johnson wiggled his legs higher, as Amasinger struggled to posture up, only drawing himself further into the trap. Johnson held tight when Amasinger tried a last-ditch effort to lift and separate with a slam. The American tightened the triangle and forced Amasinger to tap out.
Afterwards, Amasinger refused to blame the loss on his missing coach. Henderson was not as kind.
“Maybe he just assumed his guy was going to lose and he wouldn’t have the opportunity to gloat after the fight,” he said. “I wouldn’t be too happy if my coach didn’t show up to a huge fight that could really do wonders for my career.”
