Not only did Kyacey Uscola find out last week that he would return to action after being awarded a wildcard spot, he also celebrated the birth of his son Charles “Champ” Uscola while the show was being filmed. The wildcard fight will feature a battle between the ProMMAnow.com TUF 11 blogger, Uscola, and his Team Ortiz teammate Kris McCray.
The show wastes no time getting to the first fight, with the wildcard fight between Uscola and McCray being the first of two matches for tonight’s episode.
Round 1 –
McCray starts with an inside leg kick, Uscola comes back with a jab and right hand combo that lands flush. McCray misses to the body with a kick. Uscola with a nice kick to the leg that scores.
McCray looks to establish his kicks, with Uscola countering with the right hand everytime McCray throws one. Uscola is now mixing up his kicks, then lands a push kick to the knee of McCray that hurts him.
McCray hesitates and Uscola comes forward. McCray clinches, locks up a bodylock and is looking for the takedown. McCray lands several left hands while maintaining the underhook with his right.
Knees to the thighs by McCray. Uscola comes back with a few of his own but is trying to defend the takedown. More knees from the clinch by McCray. The action has stalled against the cage, with both guys alternating knees but not much else, until McCray lands one to the pills of Uscola.
After a quick break to give Uscola his pills back, McCray lands another leg kick. Uscola counters with the right hand.
McCray is establishing his jab now. Exchange of kicks before McCray misses with a combo, but lands yet another leg kick.
After a brief exchange, McCray comes forward and gets a throw, but Uscola is up cquickly as both guys throw uppercuts and connect.
McCray gets a good shot and takes Uscola down, then quickly transitions to mount. Uscola rolls and gives up his back, and is now eating punches from the top. McCray looks for the rear naked, forcing Uscola to scramble again. McCray is maintaining a dominant position and now has the back of Uscola again as the bell sounds on Round 1.
Round 2
Uscola comes out hard with an overhand right, then clinches, putting McCray against the cage. McCray gets the takedown from the clinch and is now in side control.
McCray is working on an arm and has it isolated. McCray looking for the Americana, but Uscola is defending for the moment. The arm is extended now, and Uscola is in trouble. Uscola taps and it’s over, with McCray getting back into the hunt.
UFC president Dana White calls in the coaches to determine the quarterfinal matchups. Dana asks the coaches for their opinions on the top 4 guys to determine the matchups. Coach Ortiz gives his top 4 as Kyle, Brad, Ring and Yager.
The meeting turns into a shouting match with Coach Liddell arguing to Dana that Coach Ortiz is gets whatever he wants, while Coach Ortiz claims the same is true for Chuck. After the commercial break, Dana comes in and announces the first matchup for the quarterfinals, which will be Nick Ring vs. Cort McGee.
Here is how the Quarterfinals look:
Nick Ring vs. Cort McGee
Kyle Noke vs. Kris McCray
Brad Tavares vs. Seth Baczynski
Jamie Yager vs. Josh Bryant
Back at the house, Forrest Griffin comes in looking like a homeless man, but brings the UFC Undisputed 2010 video game for the guys to battle with. After being locked up in that house with no entertainment other than themselves, those two hours of virtual brawling had to be pure bliss for the guys, other than being creeped out by Forrest’s facial locks.
It’s off to the doctor’s office for Nick Ring and the news is not good. Ring’s ACL is torn again, and he may be facing a 3rd reconstruction on his knee. The doctor tells him that it is possible to keep fighting, but surgery is inevitable in the future. His decision is huge, as he faces choosing whether to continue fighting hurt and risk more serious damage to the knee, or to withdraw from the competition and get the knee repaired now.
UFC president Dana White visits the house to talk with Nick Ring to see what his decision is going to be. Dana reminds Ring that he is one of the favorites to win the show, but despite the vote of confidence, Ring elects to not fight and pull out of the competition, not wanting to risk further damage to his knee.
After the chat with Ring, Dana goes into the house to announce that Ring is out, and to let the fighters know that someone else will have another chance at getting back into the competition. Joe Henle believes that with all of the injuries to the remaining guys, he is a lock to be the guy chosen by Dana and the coaches.
As White walks out, Hammortree seizes the opportunity to chase down Dana White outside before he could leave the house and pleads his case to be the guy that gets back in. Dana comes back into the house and announces that it is official.
“This guy chases me out the door to tell me he wants to fight,” said White. “[Laughs], you are getting to [expletive] fight.”
The trend has been established. Henle tracks down White, and pleads his case as well, but the decision has been made. Henle reiterates to the UFC president that he wants a slot if another man goes down.
With Ring out and Hammortree in, the matchup is now James Hammortree vs. Court McGee. Both guys make weight and now it is time for the first quarterfinal matchup.
Round 1 –
Hammortree lands first with a right hand. McGee feinting then throws a combo that misses. Hammortree jabs, and McGee looks for the takedown but is stuffed.
Hammortree looks good with the jab, then goes with a right hand to the body. McGee lands with a combo of his own.
McGee looking to establish the jab, then goes high with a kick upstairs. Hammortree back to the body.
McGee doubles up the jab, then gets countered with a right hand by Hammortree. Hammortree back to the leg kick, but this one is caught by McGee.
McGee quickly locks up the body and goes for the takedown. McGee switches to a single, and works Hammortree to the mat. McGee transitions to the back of Hammortree but Hammortree stands back up quickly.
Both guys land jabs. McGee to the leg kick, then goes back to the double jab. Hammortree counters with a left hand.
McGee comes forward with a big right hand. McGee throws a jab and right hand then goes to the clinch, but Hammortree just pushes off and steps back. Nice straight right hand by Hammortree.
McGee to the body lock and gets the slam. McGee lands in sidemount. Hammortree stands and Mcgee takes his back and looks for a RNC, but Hammortree works out of trouble and seperates.
McGee throws his hands to setup his shoot and goes for a double. Hammortree to the headlock briefly, then lets go.
McGee goes for the slam but Hammortree retains his balance. Spinning back kick by McGee, and Hammortree takes him down. McGee is back up and looking for a double of his own with :30 to go in the round. McGee finishes the takedown, with seconds to go in the opening round.
Round 2 –
Big punches from Hammortree to start. Hammortree shoots for the takedown but is stuffed. McGee looks for the standing guillotine and he locks it in tight. The tap comes almost immediately.
Court McGee advances to the semi-finals with the submission victory. Next week the reveal comes, as Coach Ortiz as most fans and viewers know, walks away from the show and his fight with Chuck Liddell.
Stay tuned here at ProMMAnow.com for weekly recaps of all of the episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz,” and check out guest blogger Kyacey Uscola’s weekly blog exclusively here at ProMMAnow.com
the closed mouth don’t get fed
I’ve watched about 5 minutes of this season and mute was on.