Sherdog.com’s Guide to the Ultimate Fighter
Scott Holmes Oct 6, 2006
Last week on The Ultimate Fighter Matt Serra (Pictures) put himself in the semis by
putting Pete Spratt
(Pictures) away. This week Shonie Carter (Pictures) sees that his team is now
comprised of fellow welterweights he will have to face at some
point.
He's no longer feeling the "team" aspect of the TUF experience and decides to break off and train with Team No Love, which certainly has no love for Shonie after all his antics. Most of them don't want him near their van, but he jumps in anyway. Shonie wants to train with the opposite team.
Why? Well that's just Shonie being Shonie. I'm no Freud but I'd
guess that he's trying to make a non-verbal statement that he's
here to win and not make friends.
While that may be the case, Shonie entering Team No Love's van is like a Pepsi executive going on a "team building" exercise with the Coca-Cola bigwigs — people have worked to hard to see them together. It's a gutsy move to be sure, but also eyebrow-raising from both teams.
Jorge Rivera (Pictures) is probably the most perturbed and he lets Shonie hear all about it. However, since this is a show with some rules, most of Team No Love sits behind Shonie in the van with slight grins. You know the grin — some kid is talking noise to your teacher and you're slightly nervous but at the same time you're laughing on the inside. It was that kind of grin.
Since Shonie is blurring the lines between teams, Team No Love decides to stick around for the other team's training in order to let them deal with the awkwardness. Once Shonie's team catches wind of his actions, de facto leader Matt Serra (Pictures) confronts him and reminds him of the promises made between teammates to get each other into the finals. Shonie agrees and promises that this will be his only transgression.
Matt's not so sure about Shonie's sincerity and back at the house Team No Love informs Matt and his team everything that Shonie said about not caring about either team. After hearing of Shonie's lack of support the Jersey section of Team Mojo is convinced that Shonie's no longer one of their boys, especially Since Matt and his boy worked so hard to help Shonie win. They take all of this as a big insult and decide that Shonie is no longer their boy. Shonie might have bit off a Chicago-sized slice of more than he can chew. They decide that they won't be backing him anymore and they take it as a personal insult that he would turn his back on them.
Next we are shown a moment where Shonie is snoring loudly while holding his can in his hand. Who is this guy, Mr. Peanut?
The fighters are brought together at the training center to meet this week's new coach. The last coach, Rich Franklin (Pictures), was less than well received. This week was different as Chuck Liddell (Pictures) was brought in to help coach the guys.
Immediately Chuck settles in and starts showing the guys one of his overhand bolo punches. You ever get that weird feeling where you shudder for no reason? Well, I got that feeling while watching Chuck throw his overhand bolo. That hand could and probably will eventually kill a man.
Now I know that tomorrow I'll get e-mails from people asking, "Why didn't you clown Chuck's painted toenails?” You do it jerk wad. I don't need the trouble. America's number one trained killer is dating a chick on, "Dancing with the Stars."
Sure, jokes abound but I'm not willing to make them. Our country is full of jerks that date out of their league. Why shouldn't a Mohawked assassin date a high profile star? I call that true justice. It's about time that a guy that can snap a tank with his foot should hook up with a prime-time star.
OK, it's time to put all the aforementioned aside and focus on the meat of the show. Someone's got to fight tonight and since they start talking about Patrick Cote (Pictures) out of nowhere, it might as well be him. Here's the thing: I owe Canada an apology.
A few weeks ago I slightly made fun of Georges St. Pierre (Pictures)'s accent and I got lots of hate mail for it. I'm not apologizing for that, who cares? It was a joke, it's what prick Americans do.
Instead, I'm going to apologize to Canada for underestimating them as fighters. I love PRIDE for many reasons, but mostly because of its international flair. There is nothing better than seeing the best of Brazil meet the best of Japan.
The UFC is mostly comprised of American fighters, so you tend to see them bathed under the same light. Our neighbors to the north make for great comedians, enjoy free health care, and they make delicious syrup, so I hear.
In fact, my West Texas parents have enjoyed their Canada trips so much they've considered moving there, yikes. I'd raise a hand or at least a finger in protest but the bottom line is why bother? It's a beautiful country that has continued to turn out surprisingly tough fighters.
It shouldn't be a surprise anymore though since “Big Daddy,” Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Dave Loiseau have all established themselves as elite fighters, not just in North America but the world over.
Why do I bring up Canada? Well, Patrick Cote (Pictures) is up to fight Jorge Rivera (Pictures). Jorge's been having Shonie issues and is surely looking to take it out on Cote. Patrick Cote (Pictures) hit the UFC scene out of nowhere when he fought Tito Ortiz (Pictures) on a moment's notice and hung in tough through a decision loss. He's battled many tough UFC fighters and has always proven himself to be more than game. He's young and with training partners like GSP and Loiseau he seems primed to be a great TUF comeback success.
Cote's opponent is no joke as well. The Bostonian Rivera has fought a couple of tough opponents: Lee Murray (Pictures), Rich Franklin (Pictures) and TUF alumnus Chris Leben (Pictures).
Both Cote and Rivera have faced the best in their class and know what's expected of them to try and rise back to the top.
Their fight begins with a touch of the gloves and an immediate kick from Jorge followed by a missed right by Cote. Both men tie up and the Jorge tosses Patrick on his back. They work to get the right position and Jorge pushes Patrick into the fence.
Patrick listens to his corner and moves to Jorge's left side to try to secure an arm. Jorge rises to drop some bombs but is instead kicked in the face by a Cote heel. Jorge falls backwards awkwardly. Cote's corner is going nuts and he jumps up and lands on Jorge and starts punching away to take advantage of his stunned state. Jorge hangs on and despite eating a few punches is able to work his way back into keeping Patrick in his guard.
Jorge was in deep trouble for a minute there but is able to keep Cote off of him long enough to withstand the round. Patrick definitively takes the first round and Jorge seems to be stunned.
The second round begins and not much happens until Jorge falls back and Patrick is once again on top. For half of the round Patrick is maneuvering on top, without much progress and then out of nowhere Jorge reverses positions and puts Patrick into a guillotine choke. Patrick hangs tough and flips out of the bad situation, keeps working for hand control and eventual gets back on top of Jorge.
Referee Herb Dean (Pictures) stands the middleweights up and Jorge still looks sluggish as he eats a few punches before the fight goes back to the ground. Cote holds on to win an easy decision.
Jorge was never able to recover from the heel in the first round and admits to not remembering much in the second. It's tough to watch an actual badass get put through the ringer. I've always contended that there is room in the UFC for guys that may not make title runs but will always put up a fight; I consider Jorge to be that type of cat.
Next week Matt Hughes (Pictures) will be brought in an as a guest coach and if last year was an indicator, his abrasive style may not make for the best of relations.
He's no longer feeling the "team" aspect of the TUF experience and decides to break off and train with Team No Love, which certainly has no love for Shonie after all his antics. Most of them don't want him near their van, but he jumps in anyway. Shonie wants to train with the opposite team.
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While that may be the case, Shonie entering Team No Love's van is like a Pepsi executive going on a "team building" exercise with the Coca-Cola bigwigs — people have worked to hard to see them together. It's a gutsy move to be sure, but also eyebrow-raising from both teams.
Shonie announces to Team No Love that he doesn't give a F___ what
they think about him, how he fights, who he fights or what he's
done around the house. It’s one of those conversations that might
have been cut short if it weren't for the "no fighting outside the
Octagon" rules of the show.
Jorge Rivera (Pictures) is probably the most perturbed and he lets Shonie hear all about it. However, since this is a show with some rules, most of Team No Love sits behind Shonie in the van with slight grins. You know the grin — some kid is talking noise to your teacher and you're slightly nervous but at the same time you're laughing on the inside. It was that kind of grin.
Since Shonie is blurring the lines between teams, Team No Love decides to stick around for the other team's training in order to let them deal with the awkwardness. Once Shonie's team catches wind of his actions, de facto leader Matt Serra (Pictures) confronts him and reminds him of the promises made between teammates to get each other into the finals. Shonie agrees and promises that this will be his only transgression.
Matt's not so sure about Shonie's sincerity and back at the house Team No Love informs Matt and his team everything that Shonie said about not caring about either team. After hearing of Shonie's lack of support the Jersey section of Team Mojo is convinced that Shonie's no longer one of their boys, especially Since Matt and his boy worked so hard to help Shonie win. They take all of this as a big insult and decide that Shonie is no longer their boy. Shonie might have bit off a Chicago-sized slice of more than he can chew. They decide that they won't be backing him anymore and they take it as a personal insult that he would turn his back on them.
Next we are shown a moment where Shonie is snoring loudly while holding his can in his hand. Who is this guy, Mr. Peanut?
The fighters are brought together at the training center to meet this week's new coach. The last coach, Rich Franklin (Pictures), was less than well received. This week was different as Chuck Liddell (Pictures) was brought in to help coach the guys.
Immediately Chuck settles in and starts showing the guys one of his overhand bolo punches. You ever get that weird feeling where you shudder for no reason? Well, I got that feeling while watching Chuck throw his overhand bolo. That hand could and probably will eventually kill a man.
Now I know that tomorrow I'll get e-mails from people asking, "Why didn't you clown Chuck's painted toenails?” You do it jerk wad. I don't need the trouble. America's number one trained killer is dating a chick on, "Dancing with the Stars."
Sure, jokes abound but I'm not willing to make them. Our country is full of jerks that date out of their league. Why shouldn't a Mohawked assassin date a high profile star? I call that true justice. It's about time that a guy that can snap a tank with his foot should hook up with a prime-time star.
OK, it's time to put all the aforementioned aside and focus on the meat of the show. Someone's got to fight tonight and since they start talking about Patrick Cote (Pictures) out of nowhere, it might as well be him. Here's the thing: I owe Canada an apology.
A few weeks ago I slightly made fun of Georges St. Pierre (Pictures)'s accent and I got lots of hate mail for it. I'm not apologizing for that, who cares? It was a joke, it's what prick Americans do.
Instead, I'm going to apologize to Canada for underestimating them as fighters. I love PRIDE for many reasons, but mostly because of its international flair. There is nothing better than seeing the best of Brazil meet the best of Japan.
The UFC is mostly comprised of American fighters, so you tend to see them bathed under the same light. Our neighbors to the north make for great comedians, enjoy free health care, and they make delicious syrup, so I hear.
In fact, my West Texas parents have enjoyed their Canada trips so much they've considered moving there, yikes. I'd raise a hand or at least a finger in protest but the bottom line is why bother? It's a beautiful country that has continued to turn out surprisingly tough fighters.
It shouldn't be a surprise anymore though since “Big Daddy,” Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Dave Loiseau have all established themselves as elite fighters, not just in North America but the world over.
Why do I bring up Canada? Well, Patrick Cote (Pictures) is up to fight Jorge Rivera (Pictures). Jorge's been having Shonie issues and is surely looking to take it out on Cote. Patrick Cote (Pictures) hit the UFC scene out of nowhere when he fought Tito Ortiz (Pictures) on a moment's notice and hung in tough through a decision loss. He's battled many tough UFC fighters and has always proven himself to be more than game. He's young and with training partners like GSP and Loiseau he seems primed to be a great TUF comeback success.
Cote's opponent is no joke as well. The Bostonian Rivera has fought a couple of tough opponents: Lee Murray (Pictures), Rich Franklin (Pictures) and TUF alumnus Chris Leben (Pictures).
Both Cote and Rivera have faced the best in their class and know what's expected of them to try and rise back to the top.
Their fight begins with a touch of the gloves and an immediate kick from Jorge followed by a missed right by Cote. Both men tie up and the Jorge tosses Patrick on his back. They work to get the right position and Jorge pushes Patrick into the fence.
Patrick listens to his corner and moves to Jorge's left side to try to secure an arm. Jorge rises to drop some bombs but is instead kicked in the face by a Cote heel. Jorge falls backwards awkwardly. Cote's corner is going nuts and he jumps up and lands on Jorge and starts punching away to take advantage of his stunned state. Jorge hangs on and despite eating a few punches is able to work his way back into keeping Patrick in his guard.
Jorge was in deep trouble for a minute there but is able to keep Cote off of him long enough to withstand the round. Patrick definitively takes the first round and Jorge seems to be stunned.
The second round begins and not much happens until Jorge falls back and Patrick is once again on top. For half of the round Patrick is maneuvering on top, without much progress and then out of nowhere Jorge reverses positions and puts Patrick into a guillotine choke. Patrick hangs tough and flips out of the bad situation, keeps working for hand control and eventual gets back on top of Jorge.
Referee Herb Dean (Pictures) stands the middleweights up and Jorge still looks sluggish as he eats a few punches before the fight goes back to the ground. Cote holds on to win an easy decision.
Jorge was never able to recover from the heel in the first round and admits to not remembering much in the second. It's tough to watch an actual badass get put through the ringer. I've always contended that there is room in the UFC for guys that may not make title runs but will always put up a fight; I consider Jorge to be that type of cat.
Next week Matt Hughes (Pictures) will be brought in an as a guest coach and if last year was an indicator, his abrasive style may not make for the best of relations.
