After the Fight
Bobblehead post-fight analysis tells us what we already knew – Andy had a game plan but abandoned it in order to bang. Brandon gets the belt and Team Pulver keeps the hammer.
Training – Team Penn
B.J. is frustrated because his team keeps losing. Noah’s a joker which is pissing off Tony, while B.J. likes the seriousness that Joe brings to training. Tony’s solution to knock some sense into Noah? A grappling match where he basically stretches the rookie. They also figure that Gabe’s fighting next, and they really need him to make weight – he’s walking at 176lbs now. Back at the house there’s ice cream cake and Gabe eats it. Great discipline there buddy.
Fight Selection
Before fight selection, we get the updated “standings”:
| Team | Penn | Pulver (H) |
|---|---|---|
| Fighters | Gray Maynard | Corey Hill |
| Matt Wiman | Nate Diaz | |
| Gabe Ruediger | Brandon Melendez | |
| Joe Lauzon | Marlon Sims | |
| Manvel Gambaryan | ||
| Cole Miller | ||
| Brian Geraghty | ||
| Wayne Weems | ||
| Trainers | Rudy Valentino | Matt Pena |
| Tony DeSouza | Kirk White | |
| Tony DeSouza’s beard | Jeremy Horn | |
| Regan Penn | Taisei Kikuchi |
Since Dana’s not here, Jens again runs the proceedings, and it’s going to be Corey vs. Gabe, who brings a box to the mat so they can see eye to eye. B.J. figures that Corey’s just gonna throw, and the issue for Gabe is how he performs IF he makes weight. His strategy? Sleep and think positive.
Corey’s a family guy at heart, and has been wrestling since he was a kid.
Training – Team Penn
Gabe starts the session out at 173.5. Everyone is training, Gabe is cutting and weights 169.25 with 16 hours to go. In the morning, he’s 163.5 with three hours to go. B.J. notes that he’s doing the least amount possible to cut weight.
We cut to Corey sitting in the Sauna in the house, and with two hours left, Gabe is still 7 pounds over (although in truth he only needs to get to 156). Rob is also in the sauna cutting weight as an alternate, and B.J. sits in there as well. Gabe keeps popping out of the sauna, and eventually Gray stands outside the door to make sure noone gets out. He weighs himself again, and he’s at 159. Gabe wants to quit, and lies around the pool buck naked. I’m pretty sure that a lot of this is just drama on Gabe’s part – he’s pretty much shown that he’s doing a lot just for camera time. But cutting weight does take a lot out of a person, so I’m sure that some of it is real – just embellished a lot.
Weigh-ins
Over at the gym, Corey weighs 155.5, and Jens tells the team that they’ve got to go back to the house. By the time they get back, they see an ambulance leave with Gabe, and both teams basically rip on him. Gabe gets back and Brian lays into him about as much as I’d expect from the guy. Gabe takes Corey aside and apologizes for not making weight. Rob is still pissed at Gabe, and Team Penn (aside from Gray and Andy) seems to be shunning him, and for good reason.
Both teams are back at the gym, and Dana’s back, so we’re in for some bleepage. Dana cuts a pretty good promo on Gabe (but only 6 bleeps) and Gabe – yer fired!
Wait, wrong show. But Gabe is eliminated from the competition altogether, and I assume gets to sit by himself in sequestered silence.
Obviously, Gabe was good for the “Reality” part of the show, but he was never serious about making weight (even though he fought at 155 before) and in the long run, that could spell problems for his fight career. The Fertitas co-own the Big Two promotions in Pride and the UFC, as well as WEC, and as long as Dana’s around you’re effectively blackballed from all three. I’m sure Gabe can catch on with IFL, EliteXC or BodogFight (if Ayre still has money to throw around) but whoopdedoo, unless you’re Gina Carrano, Brock Lesnar, a Gracie or one of the IFL coaches, you’re Just Another Fighter.
Back to the show. After another profanity-laced speech (I counted 11 bleeps – Dana must be getting soft), Dana announces that there are no free passes, and that Rob Emerson is back in the competition. But Team Penn is penalized, and no matter what happens, Team Pulver will pick the next two fights. Emerson has a shit-eating grin on his face because of his second chance.
Fight Selections – Take Two
Here’s the updated “standings”:
| Team | Penn | Pulver (H) |
|---|---|---|
| Fighters | Gray Maynard | Corey Hill |
| Matt Wiman | Nate Diaz | |
| Brandon Melendez | ||
| Joe Lauzon | Marlon Sims | |
| Robert Emerson* | Manvel Gambaryan | |
| Cole Miller | ||
| Brian Geraghty | ||
| Wayne Weems | ||
| Trainers | Rudy Valentino | Matt Pena |
| Tony DeSouza | Kirk White | |
| Tony DeSouza’s beard | Jeremy Horn | |
| Regan Penn | Taisei Kikuchi |
First fight sees Brian pick… Wayne? Oh, he’s just kidding – he wants Joe. Joe thinks this will be a good fight as Brian’s arguably the best guy left to fight on Team Pulver.
Second fight has Corey fighting Emerson in the “hammer” match, and in what is somewhat of a classic striker vs. grappler bout. Both fights happen next week.
