Sherdog.com’s Guide to TUF 9
Scott Holmes Jun 11, 2009
No time to chew the fat on this week’s episode of “The Ultimate
Fighter” with two fights on the docket.
Team U.S.A.’s Damarques Johnson has locked up the first finalist spot at welterweight. Next week, we will find out who will be facing him on June 20. That means we will have the lightweight finale pairing all sewn up by the end of this review. Exciting isn’t it? Now is the time to make yourself a hot pocket or perhaps pour a glass of something cold because you don’t want to miss this.
It’s time to lay it all on the line for the U.S. squad, and its
coach is feeling it.
“I want to make this Dana’s nightmare -- no UK guys,” says Coach Dan Henderson. “You heard it here Dana.”
First off, Dollar is nursing some sore ribs that have everyone concerned.
“I think fight time… it doesn’t matter what I think, by fight time they have to be OK,” says Henderson of Dollar’s issues.
Dollar was shaky before his last fight, but this time he seems ready to roll. Dollar expresses a desire to let his new standup skills unfurl against Winner, but Henderson remains cautious.
“I want you to bang with him, but I don’t want you to be stupid either,” says Henderson.
Hendo hopes Dollar uses his boxing to set up a takedown. Assistant coach Cyrille Diabate gives Dollar a pep talk about brushing off any pain from body shots.
Another minor horror unfolds before us, as the U.K.’s Winner gets some pre-fight scrutiny. Apparently Winner has done a superb job of hiding a rather unsettling habit from the cameras all season. In short, Winner sucks his thumb. It’s not like he walks around with a blankie on his shoulder and his hand crammed in his mouth, but much like nail biters, Winner absentmindedly slips his thumb in his mouth for comfort.
Winner’s housemates give him grief for his habit and he makes a few efforts to explain that he does it “only at night. However, the camera crew is kind enough to pretend to duck out of the room only to zoom in on Winner jamming that thumb in like a toddler. Winner says it’s a dying habit, likening himself to a chain smoker that now only indulges in one cigarette a day.
Winner’s secret would be more sinister if he wasn’t affable and forthcoming about it all, laughing at himself and admitting his mom will kill him when this all comes out.
As far as his fight goes, Winner’s coach Michael Bisping is keeping the game plan simple.
“Go out there and take the center of the Octagon and kick his ass” says Bisping.
For his part, Winner does just that. Dollar comes out swinging for the fences and connects several times with Winner, but the American gets it as good as he gives it. Winner puts some solid punches together and knees Dollar’s ribs, which sends him to a knee.
Dollar gets back to his feet and attempts a trip takedown, but Winner lands right on top of him. Winner quickly mounts Dollar and wraps his legs around the American’s head for the triangle choke.
Dollar struggles for a moment, but the hold was too secure, bringing the fight to an end with about a minute and a half left in the first round. Winner finds himself in the finals without too much effort.
“I’ve never been put on my ass. I ain’t going to start now,” says Winner confidently as he passes UFC President Dana White.
Winner is thrilled at the outcome and how he had conducted himself on the show, hoping he brought pride to the U.K. audience and his family by not acting like a screw up, “except for sucking my thumb every once and a while.”
Next up is Pearson and Dent. Pearson looks every bit the TUF finalist -- skilled, tough and ready to go. Dent has people scratching their heads. He wasn’t particularly impressive with his previous win.
“It seemed like he was just trying to play it safe,” says White.
Dent disagrees.
“Dana might not see it yet, but I’ve been fighting intelligently,” replies Dent.
Dent’s right about keeping himself intact and heads into this fight as healthy as anyone on the show. Coach Henderson talks about getting Dent to showcase more of what he knows in this fight and Dent seems eager to do the same.
When Dent and Pearson finally hook up in the cage, Dent shows his true colors and lets it all hang out. The American has flashes of brilliance, often putting together good combos and flurries with well-placed kicks. Dent is tough and never folds. The fight goes the distance, although Dent probably should have heeded Henderson’s advice when it comes to stealing the end of the
rounds with takedown attempts. For his part, Ross Pearson is Ross Pearson. The British bulldog was all over Dent for three rounds, putting constant pressure on the American. Often Dent covers up and allows Pearson to press him and push the pace and impose his will. Pearson also listens to his coach and avoids doing anything stupid in the final round. He is never in any jeopardy, even when Dent is able to catch him wading in. While he never has the firepower to put Dent away, Pearson hits him early and often, and runs away with the scorecards for a unanimous decision.
It’s really a shock to anyone that Pearson would win; he’s looked the part since day one. Pearson, Winner and Bisping are all more than happy with an all-U.K. lightweight final.
“The house really messed my mind up,” says Dent afterward, relieved to be leaving the reality world to head back home to reality. “If the UFC will have me, I’m definitely coming back to fight in the Octagon.”
Don’t be surprised to see his name of the fight night finale card since he wowed Mr. White, who was previously nonplussed.
“The kid that came in and fought Ross Pearson tonight is not the kid I saw on the show the entire season,” said White. “I was so impressed by Dent today. He’s gained more respect in this loss than he did on his previous two wins on ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’”
So the lightweight finale brackets are set. Next week, Damarques Johnson will get his final opponent. Frank Lester will be back in the cage with James Wilks, the man who has become Lester’s de facto dentist during the series. Wilks could give Bisping more to crow about with three of the four finalists hailing from his U.K. squad.
Team U.S.A.’s Damarques Johnson has locked up the first finalist spot at welterweight. Next week, we will find out who will be facing him on June 20. That means we will have the lightweight finale pairing all sewn up by the end of this review. Exciting isn’t it? Now is the time to make yourself a hot pocket or perhaps pour a glass of something cold because you don’t want to miss this.
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“I want to make this Dana’s nightmare -- no UK guys,” says Coach Dan Henderson. “You heard it here Dana.”
Hendo has a rough draw for his remaining two lightweights. Cameron
Dollar will be facing Andre
Winner and Jason Dent
faces off with scrappy Ross
Pearson. Winner and Pearson both looked great in their last
fights, so it won’t be a cakewalk for Hendo’s boys.
First off, Dollar is nursing some sore ribs that have everyone concerned.
“I think fight time… it doesn’t matter what I think, by fight time they have to be OK,” says Henderson of Dollar’s issues.
Dollar was shaky before his last fight, but this time he seems ready to roll. Dollar expresses a desire to let his new standup skills unfurl against Winner, but Henderson remains cautious.
“I want you to bang with him, but I don’t want you to be stupid either,” says Henderson.
Hendo hopes Dollar uses his boxing to set up a takedown. Assistant coach Cyrille Diabate gives Dollar a pep talk about brushing off any pain from body shots.
Another minor horror unfolds before us, as the U.K.’s Winner gets some pre-fight scrutiny. Apparently Winner has done a superb job of hiding a rather unsettling habit from the cameras all season. In short, Winner sucks his thumb. It’s not like he walks around with a blankie on his shoulder and his hand crammed in his mouth, but much like nail biters, Winner absentmindedly slips his thumb in his mouth for comfort.
Winner’s housemates give him grief for his habit and he makes a few efforts to explain that he does it “only at night. However, the camera crew is kind enough to pretend to duck out of the room only to zoom in on Winner jamming that thumb in like a toddler. Winner says it’s a dying habit, likening himself to a chain smoker that now only indulges in one cigarette a day.
Winner’s secret would be more sinister if he wasn’t affable and forthcoming about it all, laughing at himself and admitting his mom will kill him when this all comes out.
As far as his fight goes, Winner’s coach Michael Bisping is keeping the game plan simple.
“Go out there and take the center of the Octagon and kick his ass” says Bisping.
For his part, Winner does just that. Dollar comes out swinging for the fences and connects several times with Winner, but the American gets it as good as he gives it. Winner puts some solid punches together and knees Dollar’s ribs, which sends him to a knee.
Dollar gets back to his feet and attempts a trip takedown, but Winner lands right on top of him. Winner quickly mounts Dollar and wraps his legs around the American’s head for the triangle choke.
Dollar struggles for a moment, but the hold was too secure, bringing the fight to an end with about a minute and a half left in the first round. Winner finds himself in the finals without too much effort.
“I’ve never been put on my ass. I ain’t going to start now,” says Winner confidently as he passes UFC President Dana White.
Winner is thrilled at the outcome and how he had conducted himself on the show, hoping he brought pride to the U.K. audience and his family by not acting like a screw up, “except for sucking my thumb every once and a while.”
Next up is Pearson and Dent. Pearson looks every bit the TUF finalist -- skilled, tough and ready to go. Dent has people scratching their heads. He wasn’t particularly impressive with his previous win.
“It seemed like he was just trying to play it safe,” says White.
Dent disagrees.
“Dana might not see it yet, but I’ve been fighting intelligently,” replies Dent.
Dent’s right about keeping himself intact and heads into this fight as healthy as anyone on the show. Coach Henderson talks about getting Dent to showcase more of what he knows in this fight and Dent seems eager to do the same.
When Dent and Pearson finally hook up in the cage, Dent shows his true colors and lets it all hang out. The American has flashes of brilliance, often putting together good combos and flurries with well-placed kicks. Dent is tough and never folds. The fight goes the distance, although Dent probably should have heeded Henderson’s advice when it comes to stealing the end of the
rounds with takedown attempts. For his part, Ross Pearson is Ross Pearson. The British bulldog was all over Dent for three rounds, putting constant pressure on the American. Often Dent covers up and allows Pearson to press him and push the pace and impose his will. Pearson also listens to his coach and avoids doing anything stupid in the final round. He is never in any jeopardy, even when Dent is able to catch him wading in. While he never has the firepower to put Dent away, Pearson hits him early and often, and runs away with the scorecards for a unanimous decision.
It’s really a shock to anyone that Pearson would win; he’s looked the part since day one. Pearson, Winner and Bisping are all more than happy with an all-U.K. lightweight final.
“The house really messed my mind up,” says Dent afterward, relieved to be leaving the reality world to head back home to reality. “If the UFC will have me, I’m definitely coming back to fight in the Octagon.”
Don’t be surprised to see his name of the fight night finale card since he wowed Mr. White, who was previously nonplussed.
“The kid that came in and fought Ross Pearson tonight is not the kid I saw on the show the entire season,” said White. “I was so impressed by Dent today. He’s gained more respect in this loss than he did on his previous two wins on ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’”
So the lightweight finale brackets are set. Next week, Damarques Johnson will get his final opponent. Frank Lester will be back in the cage with James Wilks, the man who has become Lester’s de facto dentist during the series. Wilks could give Bisping more to crow about with three of the four finalists hailing from his U.K. squad.
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