The Weekly Wrap: April 4 - April 10

Another Browning Joins TUF 9 Fray

The second week of season nine of “The Ultimate Fighter” produced several twists and turns, which resulted in only six of eight Team USA fighters being selected and the introduction of the brother of last season’s firebrand, Junie Allen Browning.

Week two’s episode drew a 1.1 share rating on Spike TV, which translates to about 1.5 million average viewers, according to MMAPayout.com. That figure is down from 1.8 million viewers for the season’s first episode, which marked the highest for a TUF season premiere since season five in 2007.

The latest installment began with UFC President Dana White decrying the dismissal of two fighters, one for having a herpes lesion on his forehead and another for failing to make weight. The turn of events meant only 12 fighters were available to fight for a spot on Team USA in front of White and coach Dan Henderson.

Chicago-based International Fight League veteran Mark Miller defeated his training partner, WEC veteran Kevin Knabjian. The two welterweights battered each other with punches before Miller overwhelmed Knabjian with hooks and uppercuts in the second round and forced the referee stoppage. Henderson called White a “wrecker of friendships” after Knabjian shunned Miller in frustration.

Also securing spots were lightweights Richie Whitson, Cameron Dollar and Santino Defranco, along with welterweights Jason Pierce and Damarques Johnson. Defranco -- who tried out for season two in 2005 but was disqualified due to a brain aneurysm -- made an amazing comeback after he took a pounding from Waylon Lowe in the first round; he came out with a flying knee and rear-naked choke to get the submission.

Kiel Reid and Jason Dent were left as participants who had yet to fight to get into the house. The UFC brought in Frank Lester and Robert Browning, the younger brother of Junie Allen Browning, to face them; Dent will battle Browning, and Reid will face Lester.

The airing of episode two was not the only “The Ultimate Fighter”-related news. The UFC also held tryouts for season 10 in Seattle, and three NFL veterans were among the participants. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Marcus Jones, Indianapolis Colt Rex Richards and Green Bay Packer Herbert Goodman tried out for heavyweight slots.