My apologies TUF fans. I know you've missed me and my award winning show synopsis. I've seen the overloaded message boards begging for my return. The masses of humanity that yearn for my comforting descriptions of pseudo reality television.
Since we last spoke plenty has happened. Seth Petruzelli (Pictures) bucked up to big Dan Christison (Pictures) and knocked him off the show. Then scrappy Luke Cummo outlasted Anthony Torres and pulled off a decision.
In last week's episode everyone was shocked as Rashad Evans (Pictures) completely dominated heavyweight favorite Mike Whitehead (Pictures). Mike was Matt Hughes (Pictures) teammate outside of the show and a definite big dog. Most expected Whitehead to end up in the finals. Mike just didn't seem to want it and never showed up in the fight.
Afterwards he was extremely disappointed in himself and told Dana that he may be through with fighting. With so much on the line the pressure had gotten to him.
Hopefully Mike simmers down a bit and gets his wits back. All fighters go through a period or even several periods of self-doubt. It's the same for all elite athletes but probably even more so since self-doubt and fighting scared can get you really hurt.
Almost 10 years ago I ran into Evan Tanner (Pictures) at a bar in our hometown. He had mauled his first few MMA opponents and then lost an upset to some guy named Heath Herring (Pictures). He was down on himself and really wondering whether it was worth going on. Imagine if he had actually quit back then? Good lord he's rattled off 25 wins since and had the belt for a while.
Everyone loses eventually. Unless you are a cold superhuman Russian, you should expect to lose sometime. There are just too many variables in the fight game, which is exactly what keeps our interest. Stick around Mike we need more good heavyweights.
After the fight Rashad is taken to get his wrist x-rayed. When he returns to the TUF house he's torn up because the prognosis is no good. He announces that his injury has brought an end to his efforts on the show. Everyone consoles him until he jumps up laughing. His wrist is only sprained and everyone shares a delightful laugh. Oh Rashad, don't turn your back on him guys he's a real ball buster!
During the regular training session Jason Von Flue gets an incidental cut on the middle of his forehead. It looks pretty serious, like someone tore off his unicorn horn. After a few stitches he's back in business but the threat of stoppage or possible doctor interference is now something he'll have to think about.
After the 900th reminder that you are a smelly man who should join the Army and beef up on supplements, we find Dana has brought the guys together for a bit of a twist on this year's plan.
He explains to the fighters that each one will appear before Dana, Matt and Rich to plead their case on which they want to fight for the semifinals. I'm not sure if this has any actual bearing on who will fight whom, but at least it allows us to see whom each fighter thinks they can beat up on.
Each guy appears before our fight panel of coaches and Dana, and afterwards they weigh the options. Most of the welterweights are ambivalent towards who they fight. Interestingly all of the heavyweights choose to fight Brad Imes (Pictures). I guess his inexperience outweighs his large size. I hope they know what they are doing because Brad's a seriously big boy.
Dana brings the men together and announces the brackets for the semifinals:
Jason Von Flue vs. Joe Stevenson (Pictures) (unorthodox striker meets badass grappler)
Keith Jardine (Pictures) vs. Rashad Evans (Pictures) (total package meets athletic brawler)
Brad Imes (Pictures) vs. Seth Petruzelli (Pictures) (giant meets giant killer)
Marcus Davis is brought back in as an alternate in case Von Flue's cut becomes a real issue.
I kind of like the idea of knowing who will fight whom. I like the Match-ups and look forward to seeing the finals. Anyone from either weight class could come out on top.
Thankfully someone had to fight tonight and Luke Cummo and Sammy Morgan got the nod. Making weight hasn't been an issue since the first episode so both men come out ready to fight.
Luke enters the Octagon wearing a ski mask and for a second I think that Cobra and G.I. Joe will be battling tonight. Both men are focused and when the bell rings they come out swinging. Cummo is able to take down Sammy and get side-mount but Sammy scrambles and gets out and back on his feet.
Luke is on his back and then Sammy tries a Sakuraba-esque leaping punch that misses but lands him right into side-mount. Luke is able to get out of trouble and they both end up on their feet.
More scrambling and reversals take place and Luke keeps getting into some good positions but Sammy is a little too savvy to get in trouble. As the first round ends Sammy secures an armbar but Luke is able to hold on for about five seconds until the bell sounds.
Neither guy received much damage but so far this fight has been all action. In the second round they come out and banging and once again do the position reversal thing.
Once back on their feet Sammy connects and rocks Luke but Luke fires back and tags Sammy hard enough that he drops to a knee. He quickly recovers but Luke ties up with him and smells blood. A few knees here and there and then they clinch again. Luke pushes Sammy's head down and connects with a solid left knee to the forehead that drops him for good.
Luke was the last man picked by the coaches in the beginning but he's proved to be the little engine that could. He's the first man in the finals and unlike last year, he fought his way there beating two salty opponents.
Next week Rashad and Keith will face off in what I'm predicting will be the fight of the season. Don't worry chums I'll make sure and tell you all about it. I'm not going to let that hot Xyience model and her chalky protein-filled demon shakes get the best of me again.