We have a very exciting episode this week, which is great, since it more than makes up for the medicority that was the last one. There's a lot of things going on here that can keep viewers plenty excited.
The episode basically starts with Tito sitting his team down and addressing all the negativity going around, particularly with Kyacey Uscola’s stance that Tito’s training remains taxing even before a fighter has to enter the cage, so much so that they’re body’s still broken down before it has the chance to be a hundred percent before the fight. Tito addresses this by saying that, according to his observations, his training regimen works, since his fighters’ endurance, strength, speed, and so on, have all been increasing steadily for the past few weeks, and their skills are becoming sharper and sharper as well.
Tito chalks up all the negativity to the natural depression that fighters feel after they’ve lost, and with Chuck’s team leading in the game so far, Tito’s team definitely has their fair share. He tries his best to keep his team’s spirits up despite all this, but admits that it’s really very challenging.
The dodge ball coaches’ challenge was up next, and wasn’t nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. I mean, the idea by itself is pretty darn zany: Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz in a dodge ball deathmatch! Pretty insane, right? Well, not really. The segment zoomed by really quick and was more interested in Dana White narrating who won which round. Chuck, interestingly enough, sweeps Tito three to nothing, wins ten grand and each of his fighters wins a thousand bucks each. He dances around the stadium like he just won the championship belt back and leaves Tito with a depressed look on his face. Tito just can’t catch a break, huh?
The injured fighter, which was previewed last episode, was also revealed.
James Hammortree was carried out on a stretcher following a training accident, where he was dropped badly on his back. He seemed to be in really horrible pain and, hopefully, the next episode will reveal that it’s not as bad as it seems. There’s nothing worse than a severe back injury, after all.
The next fight was then announced, and was between Court McGee and Nick Ring.
The fight itself was very good because it was always back and forth, and was extremely close until the end. Both fighters’ stand up games were very good and, mopst of the time, seemed to neutralize each other. The fight went to the ground during the last few minutes of the first round, though, and Ring completely dominates McGee with his control and various submission attempts, though is unable to finish. Clearly, though, this round went to Ring.
The second round begins the same, with both fighters showing great stand up despite looking noticeably tired. The entire round was on the feet, but I personally thought that McGee was more active this time around, and had better conditioning. He looked to be the more active of the two fighters most of the round. I therefore gave this round to McGee and eagerly anticipated a third round.
Unfortunately, though, to Chuck’s dismay, the fight ends right there with a judges’ majority decision for Nick Ring. One of the judges scored the fight as a draw at the end of the second round like I did, but the other two thought Ring won both rounds. Even Dana White thought that McGee won the second round. Chuck becomes enraged, tries to pin the loss on Dana White, and storms back to the dressing room.
The preview, however, shows that Ring might also be out of the competition because of an injury aggravated during the fight. The last two fighters, Joseph Henle and Seth Baczynski, will also finally meet in the cage. Like I indicated at the top of my reviewer, I very much liked this episode and can't wait for the next!
Check out my reviews of the other episodes of The Ultimate Fighter season 11 here!
