Last week on TUF, Ben Saunders from Team Serra used his range and accuracy to knock Dan Barrera out of the competition and hand Team Hughes another loss. Matt Hughes (Pictures) has been growing livid with his team's lack of wins. This week he focuses his anger on the two members of his team who haven't fought.
Hughes has been seething. "Am I frustrated that Team Serra has five straight wins? Yeah I'm pissed," he says. "It's the first time I've wished I wasn't on the show."
Using his usual tact with words, White advises Hughes to "punish these f------ for not listening" and to "b---- slap them." He concludes, "You know what the answer is? Beat the s--- out of them."
Oh Dana, you lovable scamp.
Hughes takes White's advice. He puts his guys through a hellish workout and more preaching. Speer and Rollins haven't even fought yet; they're not sure what message Hughes is trying to send. Mac Danzig (Pictures) is especially perturbed: "Hughes is letting the whole competition of him versus Serra take over the show."
After getting checked out at the hospital, Barrera walks through the fighter house doors. The first person to greet him is Danzig, who picks him up and tells him what a good job he did for such a newbie.
Not too long ago Danzig was pretty harsh with his treatment of another fight newbie in Blake Bowman, but to be fair it was Bowman's effort that had Danzig so upset. At least he's consistent; it was Barrera's effort that has him reaching out.
Serra just loves to see Hughes squirm, and the Team Hughes strife amuses him. He thinks that Hughes isn't using tough love but instead is letting his ego get in the way of his squad's success. Serra points to Hughes' bruised-and-battered team and their record as evidence of errors in Hughes' coaching style.
Serra is also excited about his boy George Sotiropoulos (Pictures) finally getting a chance to fight. "He's definitely a favorite in this thing," Serra says. "He has the best work ethic on the team."
Although Serra extols his fighter's virtues, the rest of the team isn't so hot on Sotiropoulos and his refusal to wake them up in the morning.
Apparently Sotiropoulos isn't too friendly to his roommates. His concern is fighting. "I think about it daily, nightly," he says, adding that he's addicted to training.
"He came here for one reason -- to win -- and more power to him, but you don't have to be a dick," Saunders says of his teammate.
Sotiropoulos may be one, but he is also focused on the task at hand: "I came here to win and I'm a pretty strong candidate for that."
While Sotiropoulos prepares, Jared "JRoc" Rollins seems to have injured his rib during drills with one of his coaches. He fears the worst. After consulting with an EMT, he sheds some tears, worried that his injury may send him home early. Luckily, though, his ribs are only bruised -- the fight is on.
Hughes likens this matchup as his technician versus Serra's technician. Everyone comments on how well rounded both fighters are and expects a war.
Indeed, an awkward staredown during the weigh-ins suggests a war is what we will have. The staring contest between Sotiropoulos and Rollins lasts a few minutes, with neither wanting to back down.
"Do I sense a little insecurity?" Serra asks Sotiropoulos about his opponent's puffed-chest posturing. "Tough guy's not going to end up in the cage. … He's staying right there on the scale."
The next morning "JRoc" and Sotiropoulos sit next to each other during breakfast. Rollins has to laugh at how strange it is eating next to your enemy only hours away from go-time. They laugh about it and make casual plans to fight that day at 4 p.m.
Finally it's fight time. After a rather lengthy feeling-out process, Sotiropoulos starts taking some swings that connect. The Team Serra fighter shows some good aim, as several of his odd-angle punches find Rollins' head.
Rollins shows his explosive speed with a jab that snaps his opponent's head back and a kick to the legs that buckles him for a moment.
Sotiropoulos goes for a leg and puts Rollins down for a split-second. Rollins athletically rolls back to his feet and misses wildly with a kick.
Shortly thereafter Sotiropoulos finishes the fight by landing a left uppercut-hook that turns out Rollins' lights.
Afterward Serra and Sotiropoulos celebrate yet another win, making it six straight losses for Hughes' team. Again Rollins is in tears, this time struggling with the fact that he'd been knocked out. White steps outside to give him a pep talk. "Chuck Liddell (Pictures) just got knocked out," the UFC president says. "Everyone gets caught."
Rollins sees his point. They head back toward the gym, and we are left with some funny parting words from White, who warns Rollins that he's about to walk his mohawked head into a tree branch: "Watch your head, watch your head!"
It's good to laugh again, people.