The Ultimate Fighter Season 4 Finale Preview
Sell vs. Smith
Nov 10, 2006
Pete Sell (Pictures) came to TUF 4 with a respectable
1-1 record in the Octagon (7-1 overall as a pro and winner of the
Ring of Combat super light heavyweight title). He scored an upset
over Phil Baroni
(Pictures) in his debut, submitting
the heavily favored “New York Bad Ass” in the third round, and
seemed poised for a solid UFC career.
But upon returning six months, Sell suffered a disappointing loss to Nathan Quarry (Pictures). Pete tasted his first action this season when he beat McCarthy in a competitive three-round battle. Sell dominated the third round, took the victory for Team Mojo and proceeded to get plastered.
In the semifinals Sell opted to face Travis Lutter (Pictures) in an attempt to help his buddy
Patrick Cote (Pictures) make it to the final. It
backfired, as even coaching from reigning light heavyweight champ
Chuck Liddell (Pictures) couldn’t pull this one out.
It was Gracie jiu-jitsu versus Machado jiu-jitsu in the Octagon and Lutter scored the decision victory, albeit with little effort to actually finish the fight.
Scott Smith also fell victim to Staph infection and came to TUF 4 with just one appearance in the UFC, a somewhat controversial submission loss to David Terrell.
Smith earned the World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight championship by winning the WEC 17 four-man tournament. He has trained Muay Thai at the Fairtex Academy, jiu-jitsu at Casio Werneck’s BJJ and sparred at UFC veteran Cal Worsham (Pictures)’s school. Unfortunately Smith’s action on TUF 4 was short-lived as Lutter quickly submitted him.
Smith, though a jiu-jitsu practitioner, has not been able to figure out the riddle of combating a more accomplished ground fighter than himself. When faced with an opponent with equal or greater grappling ability, Smith makes poor adjustments and loses his advantage.
Though Sell too was dominated by a fellow grappler in TUF competition, he made strides to his game and appears more comfortable with the transitions from stand-up to ground fighting in real-fight situations.
Scott has come down from light heavyweight so he likely still packs a wallop of a punch, but he’ll need to stay busy and avoid the slick ground work of Sell to keep this one competitive. Sell by decision.
But upon returning six months, Sell suffered a disappointing loss to Nathan Quarry (Pictures). Pete tasted his first action this season when he beat McCarthy in a competitive three-round battle. Sell dominated the third round, took the victory for Team Mojo and proceeded to get plastered.
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It was Gracie jiu-jitsu versus Machado jiu-jitsu in the Octagon and Lutter scored the decision victory, albeit with little effort to actually finish the fight.
Scott Smith also fell victim to Staph infection and came to TUF 4 with just one appearance in the UFC, a somewhat controversial submission loss to David Terrell.
Smith earned the World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight championship by winning the WEC 17 four-man tournament. He has trained Muay Thai at the Fairtex Academy, jiu-jitsu at Casio Werneck’s BJJ and sparred at UFC veteran Cal Worsham (Pictures)’s school. Unfortunately Smith’s action on TUF 4 was short-lived as Lutter quickly submitted him.
Smith, though a jiu-jitsu practitioner, has not been able to figure out the riddle of combating a more accomplished ground fighter than himself. When faced with an opponent with equal or greater grappling ability, Smith makes poor adjustments and loses his advantage.
Though Sell too was dominated by a fellow grappler in TUF competition, he made strides to his game and appears more comfortable with the transitions from stand-up to ground fighting in real-fight situations.
Scott has come down from light heavyweight so he likely still packs a wallop of a punch, but he’ll need to stay busy and avoid the slick ground work of Sell to keep this one competitive. Sell by decision.
