The episode starts with the breakdown and recap of last week’s fight between Team Cruz’s Jeremy Larsen and Team Faber’s Mike Chiesa, which Chiesa won via unanimous decision.
In the locker room, Chiesa reflected on what it meant to win the fight for his family who has gone through a tough year with the passing of his father. Larsen hoped that he made his family proud in a losing effort.
In the Team Cruz locker room, Chris Tickle appears to have been drinking prior to coming to the fight as he was very loud and talking smack towards some of Team Faber. Coach Cruz is clearly frustrated after back to back losses and verbally tells Tickle to stop talking so much and to concentrate on his fight coming up.
During the fighter profiles, Proctor talks about training with Joe Lauzon and how he’s a submission guy but likes to stand and bang. He mentioned that both of his parents with alcoholics and drug users which forced his grandparents to take him and his siblings in so they would not be sent away into foster care. However, he mentioned his father has been clean for four years and that they are really close nowadays.
Chris Tickle talked about how he was different than the other fighters in that he is engaged and has two children. He says that he fights for them and that he’s a self trained fighter, only having a real coach for the last three months. Also, he says that standing and brawling is his ‘gravy’ and that he trained himself in jiu-jitsu by watching Youtube videos.
In the house both Tickle and Proctor are cordial with one another even though they know they are going to fight. Tickle even pulled a cool prank by cutting one of Proctor’s water jugs in half and placing it over the door full of water. Ironically, it was Proctor who was nailed by the water as the door opened and the jug spilled water everywhere. Proctor got a good laugh and didn’t take it personal.
At the weigh-in’s, both guys make weight easily as Tickle stepped on the scales eating food.
Team Cruz – Chris Tickle vs. Team Faber – Joe Proctor
Round 1 – The fighters touched gloves and Tickle started out really aggressive with leg kicks and head kicks. It’s clear that he has power and Proctor is concentrating on footwork and making Tickle miss. However, Tickle lands some nice punches as they break from the clinch, but Proctor didn’t seem to be in any real danger. Proctor throws some punches to close the distance and lands a knee in the clinch prior to the fighters separating. Tickle landed a solid hook as Proctor came forward. It was a close fight at this point with Tickle landing the harder strikes, and even his coach has to tell him to calm down with his aggressiveness. Proctor hasn’t tried for a takedown yet, but that’s about to change. Tickle came forward with punch and Proctor ducked underneath with perfect timing to get in deep on Tickle with a double leg and takes him down to the mat. As soon as they hit the ground Proctor works to take the back of Tickle and goes for a rear naked choke. Tickle is working hard to defend and keeps peeling off Proctor’s hand as he attempts to cinch the choke. It’s clear Proctor is underneath the chin and it’s only a matter of time. Proctor re-adjusts the choke and Tickle is fighting desperately not to tap but has no choice and Proctor locked the choke in.
Official result: Joe Proctor wins via submission(rear naked choke)
With Team Faber’s third consecutive win, Faber maintains control of the fight pick. He selects John Cofer from his team first, and then names Vince Michel from Team Cruz and those two fighters will battle next.
See you next week.
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