After the obligatory recap from Episode 4, the current episode begins with Coach Koscheck reflecting on his own experiences on The Ultimate Fighter, and what it meant to him to be coached by UFC legend Chuck Liddell.
Coach Koscheck is still trying to instill in his team that the system works, but buy in is critical to success. That being said, Jon Fitch is introduced as a guest coach, and he wastes little time getting in the Octagon and showing the fighters first hand what it feels like to train with one of the best welterweights on the planet.
Last week, Alex Caceres continued to push buttons at the house by running his mouth nonstop. This week, it’s his pranks that are already pissing people off. Caceres tells Michael Johnson that he replaced the fabric softener with bleach, and it just so happens that it is Johnson’s clothes that are the ones that just may be ruined. The clothes end up being OK, but Johnson is not overly amused at the antics of “Bruce Lee-Roy.”
At the training center, Coach GSP brings in a true character in former Thai boxing world champion Jean Charles Skarbowsky. With tales of Skarbowsky sleeping a mere 3 hours a night, and drinking heavily before training sessions, actually seeing him is very deceiving. He looks like a guy you might see propped up on a stool at a bar, unshaven, and uncoordinated… until he kicks the shit out of you.
Skarbowsky gets too it with a sense of serenity, lazily kicking and kneeing Team GSP right out of the Octagon during the training session.
Caceres wastes little time at the TUF house, getting his mouth going once again, but you have to admit, he does know how to get camera time.
With Team GSP still undefeated and with control of the match ups still firmly in hand, Coach GSP picks Spencer Paige from Team GSP to face off against Team Koscheck’s Nam Phan.
Both coaches believe that there fighter have the advantage in the stand up department, so it will be interesting to see how this fight turns out.
Nam Phan uses his time at the house prior to the fight to get a couple of miles in, running laps in the backyard. Phan believes that if it comes down to cardio, that he will have the advantage in that department.
Coach GSP has nothing but praise for his fighter, and believes that Paige has the better stand up, specifically with his Muay Thai, quickness, in addition to his take down defense.
“The only place we don’t want him to be, is on the ground in a vulnerable position,” said St. Pierre.
At the training center, Team Koscheck shows up for a training session, and Team GSP fighter Cody McKenzie is still lounging around, and immediately gets the attention of Coach Koscheck.
The two trade some words, and Coach Koscheck warns McKenzie that he is out of his element.
“This ain’t Alaska no more homey,” said Koscheck.
McKenzie, who always seems to have a smile on his face, has his own words of wisdom.
“Yeah, If it was, I’d drown your ass,” said McKenzie.
Nam Phan looks more studious than dangerous with his glasses on. I almost want to go study physics or something with him.
“When someone meets me for the first time, you know, they tell I don’t look like a martial artist or a fighter whatsoever,” said Phan. “The most common response I get is, ‘Hey, you look like a college kid or something.'”
Coach Koscheck has a surprise for his fighters, as Chuck Liddell makes his way into the training center to give the guys some insight into his longevity in the game, some advice, and his future.
“Don’t forget to enjoy what you do, if you don’t like this, it’s not the job for you,” said Liddell. “If you don’t like fighting, you don’t like training, it’s really… this job would suck.”
“Train hard, train smart, yeah, and enjoy it, have fun.”
Liddell’s presence seemed to really inspire the yellow team, but will it translate in the Octagon?
Coach Koscheck uses the weigh ins to get some more jabs in on Coach GSP, who up to this point has yet to get under the skin of GSP, at least by appearances.
“Georgey if you kiss me now, I will leave MMA,” said Koscheck. “French kiss me now, you know you love yellow.”
“Stuff like that, it bothers me, deep down inside, you know” said St. Pierre. “For sure, sometimes I wanted to say something you know? Inside I’m enraged, I want to do something about it, I want to disrespect him, but I want to stay faithful to who I am.”
After the verbal exchange between the coaches, both fighters make weight for the next bout.
Coach Koscheck visits the locker room of Team GSP just in time to make fun of the chest hair and mystery drink of guest coach Skarbowsky. Skarbowsky has a laugh and a smile, and doesn’t seem to be bothered much by Koscheck’s continued “rein deer” games.
It’s fight time, enough of the words!
Round 1 – Herb Dean presiding over this one, early exchange from both. Paige is throwing kicks now behind his jab. Paige scores a big time inside leg kick, staggering Phan for a moment. Paige to the body with the kick, and Phan is starting to counter, and the next kick Paige throws, Phan drops him with a right hand.
Paige is immediately back to his feet. Phan swings wildly but paige is out of range. Paige is really punishing the legs of Phan, and the body… damn that was a nice kick. Paige is picking Phan apart on the feet, Phan may be wise to try to get this to the ground.
Phan goes up top with the kick but it’s blocked by Paige. Paige finally throws a combo, connecting with the left hand after a stiff jab. Phan comes back and scores with a nice right hand. Phan comes back and backs Paige up with a straight left hand.
Paige comes back with a body punch, then back to the kick to the body. Phan is coming forward now and looks confident.
Paige kicks to the body, and Phan catches the kick and connects with a right hand. Paige is down. Phan is standing over his guard and landing some nice punches from the top.
Paige is trying to kick him off, but Phan is relentless with his attack. Paige lands a couple of up kicks, but Phan is punishing him with just under a minute to go.
Phan stacks Paige, and Paige rolls, but gives up side mount by doing so. Paige is trying to hip escape, but he gives up an arm and Phan grabs it and is going for a kimura. He may run out of time. Paige is grimacing in pain, but is trying to survive. He does, the bell sounds on Round 1. Strong finish for Phan after Paige got the better of the first part of the Round.
Round 2 – Paige looks sharp out of the gate, but Phan lands a nice kick to the face as Paige ducks in. Paige is hurt, he’s limping on his leg, and his hand is also bothering him. Phan is trying to finish it now.
Paige with a spinning back kick. Phan comes back and lands a big kick to the body. Paige is trying to use his jab to keep the distance. Phan ducks in and punishes the body with a right hand, then a left hand.
Paige comes forward with a big left hand. Spinning back kick again whiffs by Paige and he slips and falls. He’s back up quickly.
Phan to the head with the kick, then right back to the body with some punches. Phan has taken control of the fight. Paige goes to the head for a kick and slips again, and Phan uses the opportunity to get the fight back to the ground.
Paige is on one knee against the cage, then stands and takes the center of the cage. Inside leg kick by Phan. Paige comes back with a spinning back fist. He has almost totally abandoned his jab.
Phan scores with another inside leg kick. There’s the jab from paige. Phan misses upstairs, and Paige counters with a big leg kick. To the head again by Phan with the kick, but he misses, but then steps in and lands a big right hand to the jaw of Paige. Another big right hand from Phan.
Paige with yet another wild spinning kick, and he falls again. Phan steps in and scores with a straight punch. He is landing the more significant strikes. Big round for Phan. Pro MMA Now scores both rounds for Phan, and the fight overall to Phan, 20-18.
The judges agree, and Phan advances.
The win immediately elevates the confidence of Team Koscheck, and they waste little time rubbing it in. Next week’s episode will feature two fights, and more of team yellow living up their first victory in the competition.