Archive for the ‘UFC The Ultimate Fighter (TUF)’ Category

Report: Kimbo Slice vs Houston Alexander in the works for TUF 10 Finale on Dec. 5

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

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Kimbo Slice (3-1) will make his first official appearance inside the Octagon opposite Houston Alexander (9-4) in a 215-pound catchweight brawl booked for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale, which is slated for “The Pearl” at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5, according to NWITimes.com.

Apparently the only thing standing in the way is special clearance from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on Nov. 4. It’s merely a formality because of Alexander’s advanced age. He is 37-years-old.

Slice was invited to compete on the latest mixed martial arts reality series by company president Dana White. For years White had lambasted Slice while he competed under the Elite XC banner, feeling he did not deserve all the promotion and hype as a top fighter in the sport just because of his reputation as a backyard brawler in the mean streets of Miami.

So White was probably not surprised when Roy Nelson, arguably the best fighter in the house, took out Slice in episode three with a second round technical knockout. On the other hand, he was probably pleasantly surprised when the monster ratings poured in for the network — Spike TV set all-time viewership records thanks to the Slice factor.

And when he laces ‘em up on Dec. 5 the promotion and the network can expect more of the same. Slice has not competed since the infamous 14-second technical knockout loss to Seth Petruzelli at Elite XC: “Heat” more than one year ago (Oct. 4, 2008).

Alexander recently took out Sherman Pendergarst with a barrage of leg kicks and punches at Adrenaline MMA 4 in September, getting himself back in the win column after suffering three straight losses inside the Octagon.

The five-fight UFC veteran came up short against Eric Schafer, James Irvin and Thiago Silva, which was quite a twist of fortune after starting his career with the promotion with two big, and emphatic, victories over Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine.

With a high-profile opportunity to battle Slice — a fighter who he knows will likely stand and trade with him — the Nebraskan can get his name back in the mix literally overnight with an exciting performance.

TUF 10 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists from the Spike TV reality show, as well as a light heavyweight war featuring Jon “Bones” Jones as he inches his way closer to contention against Matt “The Hammer” Hamill.

Stay dialed in to MMAmania.com for more on TUF 10 Finale as it becomes available.

TUF 10 preview video: Rashad Evans is going to make Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson quit

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Interesting:

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10: Episode 6 recap and discussion

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

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Episode six of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 10 is now underway and in true TUF tradition Darryl Schoonover is drinking beer at 8am. At the gym, Coach Evans introduces guest trainer Phil Nurse (sans Vaseline) to his underlings. Nurse helps these guys mix it up in practice and Brendan Schaub throws hands with Schoonover in the ring.

The Evans gang does not like what they see from Shoonover in practice and his house mates rat him out regarding the liquor. Rashad tells him to put the bottle down and focus on training because he has the potential to shock Team Jackson.

Speaking of the coaching phenom, he runs into Schoonover during the gym transition and Rampage starts up with the insults, calling him “Titties” and making fun of him. Schoonover gets mouthy with the former champ and it gets ugly fast.

“Titties” points out that a street fight is a lot different than a cage fight and he admits to contemplating a future headbutt for Rampage.

During the fight selection, Coach Evans selects Schoonover to face Zak Jensen and following the pick, tempers boil over and Jackson and Schoonover have to be separated.

Rashad tries to resolve the dispute and naturally gets dragged right into it. Cooler heads prevail and Team Evans vacates the gym.

Kimbo relates Zak Jensen to Shrek’s younger brother. He also gets compared to Piggy from Lord of the Flies and the cast is convinced he’s going to blow a gasket and murder everyone in the house before the season is over — but proceed to taunt him anyway.

Wes Sims even accuses him of sniffing his underwear.

Not to be outdone, Schoonover gets his serial killer on and shows off his gruesome tattoos of people in peril and Coach Evans gets a weird vibe from him.

Despite the creepiness factor, Rashad is impressed with the power that Schoonover has in his hands and looks forward to the reaction from Team Jackson when he lets his gloves fly.

Assistant Coach Tiki Ghosn decides he’s not getting enough camera time and creates a collage of “Team Cocky,” featuring caricatures of each fighter training on Team Evans.

Zak Jensen is mailing it during training and Kimbo blames it on a lack of self-confidence. Rampage asks Jensen if he wants him to call his Momma so she can come pick him up and rescue him from all this treachery.

No sooner does he try to turn up the intensity than an errant blow cuts him wide open. Off camera, Kimbo Slice lights up like a Christmas tree in anticipation of being a late replacement for the downed fighter.

Unfortunately for the eager beaver, Jensen isn’t about to just give his spot away. He takes his stitches and goes right back to fight prep. Rampage beams like a proud Papa.

The cut seemed to rejuvenate Jensen as he’s electric in practice, landing high kicks and scoring takedowns. A couple of fist bumps later and the coaches finally believe in him.

Rashad gets to the gym early and catches a glimpse of the “Team Cocky” collage and has a good laugh over it. He also thinks that Team Jackson being 0-5 is even funnier.

He disposes of the banner and rallies the troops, telling them to stay focused and keep winning fights while their opponents worry about the next big prank.

Both guys get through the weigh-ins without incident and on the day of the fight, Kimbo Slice lays out by the pool to work on his tan.

I wish I was making that up.

Rampage sneaks into the locker room and writes “Titties” on the sign under Schoonover’s name. Rampage has officially become that guy at the party — the one that keeps telling the same joke over and over until the sound of it causes physical discomfort.

Since editing in a laugh track is too obvious, some sack-toting suck-up lets out a forced giggle every time Rampage says “Titties.” I glance at the clock to see that only eight minutes remain in the show as we cut to commercial.

Someone is obviously going to sleep.

Heavyweight elimination fight #6: Darryl Schoonover (10-0) vs. Zak Jensen (7-2)

Round 1: Schoonover makes a really mean face, eats a combo and ties Jensen up before pushing him to the cage. They clinch and Schoonover unloads, landing right after left until a wobbly Jensen scores a desperation takedown. From guard, Schoonover immediately locks up a triangle. Hammer fists by Jensen land, but do no damage. It takes him what seems like an eternity but Schoonover finally gets it secured and Jensen goes to sleep.

Darryl Schoonover defeats Zak Jensen via submission (triangle choke)

Jensen mopes about after the fights while Schoonover keeps it in perspective, recognizing he still has two more fights to win before he can get to the Finale. Instead of worrying about the next fight, Coach Rampage is worrying about the next prank.

Stay tuned next week as Team Rashad turns on Matt Mitrione, who may have finally gone off the deep end. The final fight selections are made and once again, Rashad and Rampage bicker to no end.

And will we get what’s being billed as “The fight of the season?”

See you in seven!

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10: Episode 5 recap and discussion

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

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Episode five of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 10 gets underway and Coach Evans is celebrating his 4-0 start to the competition. He does the right thing and credits his fighters and thinks he’s gotten this far because he has better coaching than Team Rampage.

That’s not saying much. Rampage is so bad even maligned TUF 3 coach Ken Shamrock is watching this season and saying “Damn that guy’s a bad coach.

Matt Mitrione, last week’s songbird, starts looking for a cortisone shot to help with a shoulder he tweaked in practice. Rashad is not trying to hear about any shots and tells him to get a rubdown and some ice.

Marcus Jones storms into the Team Evans locker room and asks Rashad why he hasn’t been picked to fight yet. Rashad tells him to be patient and that when he picks him next, he’ll get his chance to lose just like everyone else on Team Rampage.

Speaking of Team Jackson, the BA boys start training in the Octagon and work on their grappling. Rampage continues to shit all over Zak Jensen, who aside from being picked last, has done nothing to indicate he has any business being inside the cage. Team mate Scott Junk is far from impressed.

Back at the house, Wes Sims unknowingly steps in a puddle of Zak Jensen’s albino tadpoles — or so he accuses — and proceeds to lay the ribbing on the sensitive wrestler rather thick.

Matt Mitrione gets to the gym and has Coach Evans tie him up in plastic wrap like a supermarket pallet stacked too high. He also claims to be ready to fight on a moment’s notice but Rashad thinks he’s a tough-talking phony.

Team Jackson gets to the gym and Zak Jensen blackouts while rolling with Wes Sims. Rampage thinks it’s funny that he went to sleep so easily and understands if he’s completely embarrassed.

Rampage taking the “tough love” approach it would seem.

Matt Mitrione gives his shoulder the rest it needs by shooting hoops in the swimming pool. The gang at the house is calling bullshit and thinks he’s trying to sit out while the tougher fighters eliminate each other.

Brendan Schaub thinks “Meathead” should fight so they can just put the shoulder drama behind them.

It’s time for the fight announcement and Coach Evans picks his own Justin Wren to face Wes Sims. Rashad recognizes the experience factor of Sims but thinks he’s half the fighter Wren is.

Marcus Jones blows a gasket because he thought “Sugar” would be sweet enough to pick “Big Baby” for the next fight but alas, it was not to be.

Wren gets the requisite pre-fight biography and we learn he trains out of Travis Lutter’s gym and he’s only 22-years-old. He respects Sims’ accomplishments but also thinks the big man hasn’t evolved to keep up with today’s fighters.

Sims, who trains with the boys over at Hammer House, also gets his share of camera time and whoot! whoot! — Kimbo Slice is all aboard the Sims train in this fight. Slice also predicts he will fight again before the season is over.

During the commercial break we get a trailer for a movie that is based on a mysterious box: Push the button and you get one million dollars — however someone you don’t know will die as a result.

Make it someone from the telemarketing company that keeps calling me and I’ll push it for free.

It’s time for the weigh-ins. Wren and his purple panties come in at 247.5. A thong-sporting Sims registers 251. UFC President Dana White favors Sims in this match because of his experience.

Sims thanks Dana and the Fertittas on camera for bringing him back and promises many exciting fights — starting with this one.

Heavyweight elimination fight #5: Justin Wren (8-1) vs. Wes Sims (22-12-1)

Round 1: Considerable size advantage for Sims, who looks like a white Tracy Chapman with his mop-top. Wren charges and pushes him to the fence. Rapid fire Lord of the Dance-style foot stomps from both. Sims pushes off. Jab by Sims followed with a clinch but Wren uses the off balance move to score the takedown. He immediately swings into mount and transitions to an arm-triangle. Sims tries to gut it out but has nowhere to go and takes a nap. Fight over. Dana laughs at the performance of Sims.

Justin Wren defeats Wes Sims via submission (arm-triangle choke)

Rampage says he never thought in a million years that Wren could submit Sims. Hey Rampage — that might be why your guys keep losing. Team Jackson, for the second straight week, does not attend their fallen fighter inside the cage.

Wes Shivers says not to criticize Rampage because (by his own admission) he’s a fighter, not a coach. Dana compares Jackson to Ken Shamrock from season three.

Ouch.

Evans confronts him about being a terrible coach and Rampage admits to wanting to have nothing to do with the role. They continue to trade barbs and play it up for the camera which by now is meaningless since they aren’t fighting.

Stay tuned next week as Rashad tries to go 6-0, Darrell Schoonover gets in Coach Jackson’s grill and Zak Jensen gets caught sniffing Wes Sims underwear.

They also tease that someone gets hurt — will Kimbo replace him?

See you in seven!

Video sneak peak and teaser for episode five of TUF 10 on Spike TV

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Check out a quick preview of Wednesday’s episode after the jump.

TUF 10 Finale tickets at ‘The Pearl’ in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5, for sale soon

Monday, October 12th, 2009

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Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale, which is slated for “The Pearl” at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5, will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m. PT.

UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.

TUF 10 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists from the Spike TV reality show, as well as a potential light heavyweight war featuring Jon “Bones” Jones as he inches his way closer to contention against Matt “The Hammer” Hamill.

Will Kimbo Slice make his official Octagon debut that same night, too? We’ll find out soon enough.

Here is the TUF 10 Finale tickets sales schedule (all times are PT):

UFC Fight Club presale: Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m.
UFC Newsletter presale: Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m.
General tickets sale: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.

TUF 10 Finale tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is “sold out”). It will also be available to watch on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET on fight night.

For more on TUF 10 Finale stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out the latest fight card and rumors right here.

Junie Browning arrested for assault after drug-induced rage on hospital staff (Updated)

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

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Junie Browning was recently arrested for assaulting three nurses at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, after The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 alum was admitted for taking 16 pills of Klonopin — an anti-anxiety drug — “in an attempt to harm himself,” according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Browning, who was brought to the medical facility by two concerned friends, allegedly pushed a female nurse, as well as struck two male nurses, when attempting to discharge himself against their better judgment.

He then reportedly warned the staff:

“Do you know who I am? I will kill you and rape your family.”

Browning was labeled a “bad boy” after several drunken, and sometimes violent, episodes on the Spike TV mixed martial arts reality series. He was nearly kicked off the program several times; however, UFC President Dana White gave him numerous chances to redeem himself.

Until now.

Apparently the severity of this latest incident has forced White to part ways with Browning and release the troubled fighter from the promotion, according to Yahoo Sports.

From White:

“He was given an amazing opportunity, but he has some serious issues that are beyond me and what I can do. I’m there for guys and I realize nobody is perfect and guys are going to get into trouble. When that happens, I want to try to help and do something for them. But he needs more help than I can give him. I did what I could for him.”

The Kentucky native faces three counts of battery on a health care provider. He was released yesterday from the Henderson Detention Center.

Browning most recently lost to Cole Miller via first round submission (guillotine choke) at UFC Fight Night 18 back in April.

Dana White: Kimbo Slice vs Roy Nelson fight ’sucked’ on Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

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Props: Yahoo!Sports.com

Quoteworthy:

“It’s hard to say why, but some people have it and some don’t, and Kimbo definitely does…. The fight (between Slice and Nelson) sucked. I wasn’t happy with any of the fights the first three weeks, to be honest. I was disappointed by the way we came out of the gate in terms of the fights. But the fights really get better. By episode 8, believe me when I tell you, you’re going to be going wild…. Hang in there, man. The season’s not over yet. Stay tuned is all I’ll tell you.”

Despite an over-the-top (and shameless) media blitz earlier this week to promote episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 on Spike TV, which featured YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice fighting Roy Nelson, UFC President Dana White admits after that fact that what was billed as “the biggest fight in Ultimate Fighter history” actually sucked. Nelson used his size and superior ground skills to smother Slice for most of the fight, scoring a second round technical knockout via strikes. However, it appeared to be Slice’s inability to get off his back and not Nelson’s repeated marshmallow-like blows that forced the referee to stop the action. Nonetheless, the episode went on the score crazy ratings, attracting 6.1 million viewers to become the fourth most-watched mixed martial arts bout ever on television in North America. White assures fans that the season, which has thus far featured three lackluster heavyweight bouts, will get better. Do you believe it?

Kimbo Slice vs Roy Nelson Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 ratings are ’staggering’

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

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UFC President Dana White made a revised prediction that episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10, which featured a heavyweight showdown between Roy Nelson and Kimbo Slice, would attract a staggering 6 million viewers on Spike TV.

He was wrong.

The ratings are in, indicating that 6.1 million viewers actually tuned in at peak time to watch the former International Fight League (IFL) champion score a smothering second round technical knockout over the Miami-based bareknuckle brawler. It was the fourth most-watched mixed martial arts bout ever on television in North America.

In fact, Slice now occupies three of the top five slots, including the top position with his win over James Thompson on CBS under the Elite XC banner back in May 2008 (7.281 million viewers). Of course, last night’s telecast now “ranks as the most-watched episode of an original series in the six-year history” of Spike TV.

Remarkable.

Overall, episode three of TUF 10 scored a 6.9 in men aged 18 to 34 (2 million), a 5.4 in men aged 18 to 49 (3.1 million), a household rating of 3.7 and 5.3 million total viewers.

To check out our detailed recap of TUF 10 episode three click here.

Dana White and Kimbo Slice NYC media blitz continues for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 and more (Videos)

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Check out part two after the jump, as well as another teaser for Kimbo Slice vs Roy Nelson on Spike TV tomorrow night at 10 p.m. ET.

Scenes from tomorrow night’s TUF episode: