This episode shockingly begins with a recap of last week’s fight between Jorge Rivera and Patrick Cote. They show Jorge controlling the fight until Cote’s upkick changes everything. Jorge never seemed to recover from it.
Matt Hughes pops in to the training center. It seems like he is going to help coach the guys but no official announcement was made. Cote speculates that there could be some friction between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes since they are supposed to fight next. Maybe there is some friction, but GSP wears the ultimate ice-breaker on his head, a blinged-out hat made by Shonie Carter. St. Pierre doesn’t seem too keen on training where Hughes can observe him so he decides to call it a day at the training center and go off on his own. Serra picks Hughes’ brain a bit and thinks he is a nice guy but just a little cocky.
Semi-Final Interview – Middleweights
Dana brings the remaining middleweights to his office and asks each one individually who they would like to fight. Travis Lutter, the only Team No Love fighter to make it out of the second round, is first to respond. He says he will fight anyone and beat him. Boo! Call someone out, Travis. Patrick Cote gets in the hot seat and says he wants Bam-Bam, referring to Edwin Dewees. Edwin comes in next and wants Patrick. Finally, Pete Sell thinks Travis is the toughest fight for him but he also wants his friend Patrick to make the finals. Pete doesn’t think Patrick matches up well with Travis so Pete tells Dana that he wants to fight Travis. Matt Hughes thinks Pete is making a bad decision. He should ultimately, according to the welterweight champion, choose the easiest path for himself to the finals.
Given the interviews, the fights seem pretty easy for Dana and the gang to make. Sure enough, Dana announces that Pete Sell will fight Travis Lutter while Patrick Cote will face Edwin Dewees in the other semi-final matchup.
Semi-Final Interview – Welterweights
Matt Serra is first in the office and makes it clear that he wants to fight Shonie Carter. He says that he has fought everyone the UFC has asked him to and Dana agrees. This time, however, Serra is asking Dana to make the fight with Shonie so he can avenge the loss to the only man that has stopped him.
Din Thomas wants to fight Chris Lytle. Shonie Carter says he wants to fight Din Thomas. He claims he has already conquered the other lands, meaning he has beaten Lytle and Serra before. Shonie, of course, takes a lot longer to say all of that but the fellas seem to get a kick out of it. Chris Lytle is up now and says “it is what it is.” It’s safe to presume Chris doesn’t care who he fights. The coach consensus is that all the welterweight matchups are good.
Dana gets the welterweights together and announces that Din Thomas will fight Chris Lytle. That fight will be up first. This means that Matt Serra gets his wish of a rematch with Shonie Carter.
Hangin’ With Hughes
Matt Hughes takes all the guys out for sushi. In front of everyone, Hughes calls out St. Pierre from across the room for avoiding him at the training center. Hughes wants to know when he wants to work with the guys since GSP doesn’t want to be there with him. St. Pierre handles the situation as best as one could when confronted by a 170 pound monster. He says Hughes can come whenever he wants to and seems indifferent, even though you can tell he is steamed about it.
Din thinks Matt has a dominating personality and actually encourages GSP to beat Hughes’ ass when they fight. Hughes doesn’t let that little comment slip either as he tells Din “Big Lips” Thomas he can see what he said from across the room.
The van ride home provides the guys a nice forum for bashing Matt Hughes. Matt Serra leads the conversation off with a smooth intro of “Matt Hughes, what a dick.” Serra rips Hughes apart in the van. If Serra does win this competition, I think this little video clip will serve as the motive for his murder.
Team Mojo Trains
Din and Chris have been training with each other for the competition and decided to keep training with each other for their fight. That’s got to be weird. They feel they bring out the best in the other and there is no way it shouldn’t be an exciting fight. Neither has qualms about fighting a friend. Dana says he can’t pick a winner for this fine. Actually, he can. He’s just choosing not to.
Fight Day
Chris Lytle won’t be happy unless he wins. This is the biggest fight of his career but everyone always says that on this show. Meanwhile, Din rhymes angle, dangle, and mangle. He thinks he and Chris are the best two fighters and guarantees that they have the best fight of the season. Din feels he has an advantage because he has been training for Chris Lytle with Chris Lytle. I’m pretty sure that works both ways though, Din.
The semi-final fights will be three rounds long with a sudden victory fourth round should it be necessary.
Din Thomas vs. Chris Lytle – Round 1
Din feints some jabs to start but Chris has none of that and goes for the bomb. He misses. Chris misses a looping right hook and Din grabs him. They go down to the ground and Chris winds up in the mount. It’s REALLY quiet without Matt Serra yelling that the foot stomp is there or hammerfist elbow. Lots of laying and some pattycake-type stuff. Lytle lands a decent shot but the ref stands them up.
Chris goes for some jabs but Din avoids them with head movement. Another failed punch from Chris finds the two in a clinch. Lytle tosses Thomas down and winds up in Din’s full guard once again. Lytle repositions so that Din’s back is away from the cage. Din goes for a guillotine but nothing really comes from it. The ref stands them up with four seconds left in the round. The clock has stopped but they are still fighting. This clock sucks. Seriously. They trade some shots but nothing more than a glancing blow is landed before the round is finally stopped.
Apparently the official scorekeeper let the first round go six minutes. Dana says that is a first for the UFC. I guess they are just leaving it at that. The extra minute shouldn’t change much, although Din got the best of the exchange during the bonus minute.
Round 2
Lots more action and intensity to start off the second round. They both connect on some good leg kicks. Din goes for a body leg scissors takedown but ends up on his back. Chris scores with some punches and slides out of a second guillotine attempt. The ref stands them up. This fights really sucks when it goes to the ground. It’s only the second round and I’m getting tired of the same two minute sequences.
Din seems to go for more leg kicks with some scattered punches while Chris kicks a little bit but is looking to land some big punches. Chris lands a nice hook to the body but Din responds with a better straight right that forces Chris to back off. Din puts on the pressure but Chris has shaken off the punch and they are in a clinch. Din gets out of the clinch with a nice uppercut.
The clinch once more, this time against the cage. Din is in control and lands some body shots. Chris lands some nice combinations on the break as they drift back to the center of the octagon. They trade punches but Din follows with a left hook. Thomas is bleeding from the nose and mouth. Chris’ face is showing some signs of swelling as the round ends.
Round 3
They exchange jabs until Din spears Chris into the cage and then down to the mat. Din reaches back for his leg but that leaves his neck exposed for a guillotine. Chris puts it on and rolls over to the top. Din gets out and we’re back to where we’ve been six times already. Perhaps this can be chalked up to Din having a good guard but good guards don’t equal good fights. The ref stands them up.
They clinch into the cage where Chris lands some knees and inside kicks. Din flurries out with a combination. Contrary to Patrick Cote’s shouts, Din looks tired. Chris brings the clinch down to the mat. Din lands some elbows from his guard. The ref stands them up and Din needs to land a homerun shot according to his corner. Chris shoots for Din’s legs but Din lands some hammerfists as the third round expires.
The winner by unanimous decision is Chris Lytle.
Post-Fight
Din regrets picking to fight Chris but thinks Chris will win in the finals. Lytle says this tournament has been a dream come true.
Next Week
Matt Serra’s rivalry with Mark Laimon comes to a boiling point. Serra tells Laimon he can’t and shouldn’t fight. Shonie’s antics have finally gotten to Team No Love and it appears that it has caused Jorge to lose his mind”¦and clothes. The second welterweight semi-final match will take place as Matt Serra collides with Shonie Carter.
As always, head to the forum to chat about the episode or this season of Ultimate Fighter.
