Sherdog.com’s Guide to the “Ultimate Fighter”
Scott Holmes Mar 29, 2005
One of the hardest fraternities to join holds its meetings in an
octagon. Most "pledges" have to spend a few years of hazing in a
smaller fight organization trying to make a name for themselves
before they are invited to join. Right now there are seven guys
waiting their chances to cut in line and sign up because frat
president Dana White is going to let them fight for a special
membership.
This is the part of the column where I introduce a clever frat nickname for the UFC like "Tappa Leg" or "Alpha Tau TKO" but those aren't funny at all, and this whole Greek society metaphor is kind of shaky anyway.
Bottom line is this: We've got three fights to go until the
Ultimate Fighter finale. Kenny Florian has secured his
spot with his win over Chris
Leben. Chris was dominating the fight until he got walloped
with an elbow that opened a cut about as long and thick as a
standard-issue gummy worm.
Chris took his loss like a man and showed that his character is starting to build. This show has obviously done things for him in his personnel life. While most of these contestants look at TUF as an opportunity to elevate their name in fight circles and to contend for a contract with UFC, I think Leben will be able to look back and see that he got more out of it than anyone since he was able to attack and defeat some personal demons.
Isn't it about time we retire the whole first-initial-abbreviated-last-name thing? Honestly, I'm so ready to see that disappear into oblivion like "bling bling," "fo’ sheezy" and Willa Ford.
Seriously where did the host of TUF go? I don't remember her having to fight anybody and I haven't seen her in a few weeks. I guess without the physical challenges, there isn't much use for her knowledge on the rules of each event. Oh well, hopefully she'll be at the finale, wearing a small cocktail dress with “Zuffa” written in sequins on the back.
Back to the show.
Dana decides that he needs to go find a place to have the UFC weigh-ins for the finals. Like all good reality shows this includes some nice cross promotion of the Hard Rock Casino. Dana, being a complete Vegas rookie, is guided around the Hard Rock stage and workout area and decides that it would be a great place to have the weigh-in. He's all wide-eyed, “oohing” and “aahing” the facilities. I find this funny since I'm sure that Zuffa has probably thoroughly researched just about every venue on the strip for these kinds of things by now (not to mention that Dana has probably pistol whipped a hobo or two in one of those rooms … just kidding, sort of).
Actually I need to go easy on Dana. He's done a pretty incredible job this year, and in the next two weeks he has the TUF finale to put on and UFC 52 the following week. I doubt anyone is stressing out as much as him this month. OK, maybe Michael Jackson.
So let's set the stage for last night's fight between Josh Koscheck and Diego Sanchez. Diego has shown himself to be the pick of the litter so far in the middleweights. He's fought twice and both fights he dominated with his ground skills.
Josh has fought once and was able to dominate with his superb wrasslin'. Diego admits that Josh is a better wrestler and notes that it will be the first time he won't be the better wrestler in the fight. While Diego is talking to Kenny Florian, Kenny notes that fighting someone you've trained with is like "giving them your playbook and then playing them." Very astute. Even more so in this fight since these two fighters have trained together the entire show.
Josh mentions that he wants to prove that he isn't one-dimensional. In the world of mixed martial arts we call this "career suicide." It makes me insane that because of pride a lot of fighters will take away their own advantages and just give them to the opponent. If your stand-up sucks but you are good on the ground, learn how to defend punches and set up your shots; if your ground game blows, learn how to defend takedowns. Don't try and prove anything. Beat them first and foremost.
After having said all of that I can tell you that I actually wanted Josh to stand and trade with Diego. Wrestlers that are new to MMA are horrible about keeping their arms extended, which is great for those jiu-jitsu boys.
Josh and Diego in a stand-up war is kind of a level playing field for both guys, but none of that matters because we are just speculating here. Let me tell you what actually happened.
In the first round Josh and Diego dance around and look for openings. Josh kind of has a Randleman thing going where he puts his left hand up and loads up the right. Diego is guarding his grill and looking for punches and keeping his distance from Josh's takedowns. Both guys throw some punches and Diego is able to hit Josh a couple of times with punches and knees. Josh gets a great takedown but is unable to keep Diego down. Diego finishes the round by securing a tight guillotine, but the bell saves Josh.
The next round Josh gets off some decent punches. Diego looks pretty solid standing and of course he's great on the ground; Josh, on the other hand, has three weapons at his disposal: wrestling skills, an overhand right and a pretty good right leg.
In this round Josh is able to land a few punches of his own and a couple of sweet inside kicks to Diego's knee. Josh tries a few takedowns and every time they hit the ground Diego is off and trying submissions. A few times Josh leaves his arms out and Diego tries for armbars, but Josh is always able to power out.
Toward the end of the round they are stalling on the ground and they are brought to their feet. Referee Herb Dean walks away, presumably to check the replay on that Tim Sylvia arm break, and Diego leaves his hands at his side. Wisely, Josh takes this moment to throw that overhand right and tags Diego with his best shot of the evening.
In the final round Diego takes it to Josh. They both exchange throughout the round with Diego getting off some solid punches and knees. Josh really begins to look gassed and he has a hard time getting anything other than takedowns going.
Diego keeps attacking him and Josh begins to look lost. Diego finishes out the round by hammering Josh in the ribs with elbows. I point this out because it's evidence of just how tired Josh was. How tired you ask? Well, tired enough to let someone keep elbowing you instead of trying anything to stop it.
The judges give a split decision to Diego and now he's ready to take on Florian in the finals. The split decision was a little BS since Diego outworked, out-punched and out-kneed Josh the whole fight.
Afterwards Josh has a puffy, purple forehead and two raccoon eyes. While he lost this fight, he's got too many tools to not come back stronger. He had some opportunities in this fight, but lacked experience to capitalize on them.
Next week we have the light heavyweight semifinals. Mike Swick takes on Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin battles Sam Hoger. Both fights will be all out wars, fo’ sheezy.
This is the part of the column where I introduce a clever frat nickname for the UFC like "Tappa Leg" or "Alpha Tau TKO" but those aren't funny at all, and this whole Greek society metaphor is kind of shaky anyway.
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Chris took his loss like a man and showed that his character is starting to build. This show has obviously done things for him in his personnel life. While most of these contestants look at TUF as an opportunity to elevate their name in fight circles and to contend for a contract with UFC, I think Leben will be able to look back and see that he got more out of it than anyone since he was able to attack and defeat some personal demons.
Now that I've gotten my Dr. Phil moment out of the way we can
discuss last night's show. Forrest Griffin returns to the
doctor's office to get some stitches removed. The cut looks to be
healing nicely, so hopefully we will be able to see him take on
Sam Hoger next week. If he
can't fight, Bobby
Southworth—make that "B South" as he called himself—is waiting
in the wings to fill in.
Isn't it about time we retire the whole first-initial-abbreviated-last-name thing? Honestly, I'm so ready to see that disappear into oblivion like "bling bling," "fo’ sheezy" and Willa Ford.
Seriously where did the host of TUF go? I don't remember her having to fight anybody and I haven't seen her in a few weeks. I guess without the physical challenges, there isn't much use for her knowledge on the rules of each event. Oh well, hopefully she'll be at the finale, wearing a small cocktail dress with “Zuffa” written in sequins on the back.
Back to the show.
Dana decides that he needs to go find a place to have the UFC weigh-ins for the finals. Like all good reality shows this includes some nice cross promotion of the Hard Rock Casino. Dana, being a complete Vegas rookie, is guided around the Hard Rock stage and workout area and decides that it would be a great place to have the weigh-in. He's all wide-eyed, “oohing” and “aahing” the facilities. I find this funny since I'm sure that Zuffa has probably thoroughly researched just about every venue on the strip for these kinds of things by now (not to mention that Dana has probably pistol whipped a hobo or two in one of those rooms … just kidding, sort of).
Actually I need to go easy on Dana. He's done a pretty incredible job this year, and in the next two weeks he has the TUF finale to put on and UFC 52 the following week. I doubt anyone is stressing out as much as him this month. OK, maybe Michael Jackson.
So let's set the stage for last night's fight between Josh Koscheck and Diego Sanchez. Diego has shown himself to be the pick of the litter so far in the middleweights. He's fought twice and both fights he dominated with his ground skills.
Josh has fought once and was able to dominate with his superb wrasslin'. Diego admits that Josh is a better wrestler and notes that it will be the first time he won't be the better wrestler in the fight. While Diego is talking to Kenny Florian, Kenny notes that fighting someone you've trained with is like "giving them your playbook and then playing them." Very astute. Even more so in this fight since these two fighters have trained together the entire show.
Josh mentions that he wants to prove that he isn't one-dimensional. In the world of mixed martial arts we call this "career suicide." It makes me insane that because of pride a lot of fighters will take away their own advantages and just give them to the opponent. If your stand-up sucks but you are good on the ground, learn how to defend punches and set up your shots; if your ground game blows, learn how to defend takedowns. Don't try and prove anything. Beat them first and foremost.
After having said all of that I can tell you that I actually wanted Josh to stand and trade with Diego. Wrestlers that are new to MMA are horrible about keeping their arms extended, which is great for those jiu-jitsu boys.
Josh and Diego in a stand-up war is kind of a level playing field for both guys, but none of that matters because we are just speculating here. Let me tell you what actually happened.
In the first round Josh and Diego dance around and look for openings. Josh kind of has a Randleman thing going where he puts his left hand up and loads up the right. Diego is guarding his grill and looking for punches and keeping his distance from Josh's takedowns. Both guys throw some punches and Diego is able to hit Josh a couple of times with punches and knees. Josh gets a great takedown but is unable to keep Diego down. Diego finishes the round by securing a tight guillotine, but the bell saves Josh.
The next round Josh gets off some decent punches. Diego looks pretty solid standing and of course he's great on the ground; Josh, on the other hand, has three weapons at his disposal: wrestling skills, an overhand right and a pretty good right leg.
In this round Josh is able to land a few punches of his own and a couple of sweet inside kicks to Diego's knee. Josh tries a few takedowns and every time they hit the ground Diego is off and trying submissions. A few times Josh leaves his arms out and Diego tries for armbars, but Josh is always able to power out.
Toward the end of the round they are stalling on the ground and they are brought to their feet. Referee Herb Dean walks away, presumably to check the replay on that Tim Sylvia arm break, and Diego leaves his hands at his side. Wisely, Josh takes this moment to throw that overhand right and tags Diego with his best shot of the evening.
In the final round Diego takes it to Josh. They both exchange throughout the round with Diego getting off some solid punches and knees. Josh really begins to look gassed and he has a hard time getting anything other than takedowns going.
Diego keeps attacking him and Josh begins to look lost. Diego finishes out the round by hammering Josh in the ribs with elbows. I point this out because it's evidence of just how tired Josh was. How tired you ask? Well, tired enough to let someone keep elbowing you instead of trying anything to stop it.
The judges give a split decision to Diego and now he's ready to take on Florian in the finals. The split decision was a little BS since Diego outworked, out-punched and out-kneed Josh the whole fight.
Afterwards Josh has a puffy, purple forehead and two raccoon eyes. While he lost this fight, he's got too many tools to not come back stronger. He had some opportunities in this fight, but lacked experience to capitalize on them.
Next week we have the light heavyweight semifinals. Mike Swick takes on Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin battles Sam Hoger. Both fights will be all out wars, fo’ sheezy.
