After the Fight
Brian, Butters, Andy, Brandon and Emerson break down what we saw last week. Dana thinks that both guys have a future in the sport.
Here’s the quarterfinal “standings”:
| Joe Lauzon | |
| Gray Maynard | Brandon Melendez |
| Nate Diaz | Corey Hill |
| Matt Wiman | Manny Gamburyan |
I’ll try to put together some sort of tournament bracket for the next episode.
Training – Team Pulver
Brandon hurt his hand in the last fight, and Jens works his guys hard. Brandon doesn’t seem to like Jens’ “one more thing” training, and wants to ride the Airdyne. He tells Jens and they have it out. Jens seems to try and be supportive (in a tough love sort of way) but Brandon seems to be past listening at this point. It doesn’t bode well for his fight, and Brandon considers switching teams.
Training – Team Penn
B.J. has a lot of confidence in Gray, because they’ve known each other for a while. They’ve got a lot of respect for one another, and they have a “good time” by sparring.
Training – Team Pulver
Brandon talks with the coaches and tells them that he wants to train with B.J. to “get as much as can out of the experience”. Jens is a bit upset about it, and doesn’t want to lose Brandon as long as he’s still on the show. In the end, Brandon stays, they hug it out, and there’s no more drama.
Training – Team Penn
B.J. brings in a guest coach in Gray’s Team Quest mentor, Randy “The Natural” Couture. Matt mocks Gray’s man-crush. Randy has a history with both fighters, and recalls his first foray into commentating during the Penn/Pulver fight. Which of course leads to more of B.J. and Jens talking trash about each other.
The House
Nate has been playing pranks on Cole while he’s sleeping, so Cole returns the favour with pinatas, silly string and a note. So they engage in some playful roughhousing. Cole is laughing the whole time. Somehow this ends up with both their beds in the pool, and a truce… until 3am, when Nate and Manny give Cole an ice bath and a talcum powder shower. The lesson – don’t try to outdo Nate in a prank war. Especially if he’s get the equally crazy Manny helping him out.
Meanwhile, Brandon needs to make weight (remember, he’s a natural welterweight) – he’s at 166 right now. Not Gabe Reudiger level, but still a lot of weight to lose. Andy’s helping him out, and keeping him motivated.
Weigh in
And the help works out, as Brandon comes in at 156. Brandon gives Andy all the credit for making weight. Gray, meanwhile, comes in at 155 with no problems. Dana notes that the fight comes down to Brandon’s takedown defence. If Gray takes him down, it’s all over. If Brandon can stuff him, he’s got a decided advantage. B.J.’s worried about Gray working so hard pre-fight and tiring himself out.
Quarterfinal Fight #1 – Gray Maynard (Penn, 3-0) vs. Brandon Melendez (Pulver, 11-5)
The referee is Steve Mazzagatti.
Round 1
Gray immediately shoots and takes Brandon down. He tries for a rear naked choke as Brandon gets up. Brandon drops to the ground but Gray still has his back. The RNC isn’t sunk in though, and Brandon is staying calm, eventually twisting and ending up in Gray’s guard. He lands some punches, but Gray manages to reverse into half-guard. Brandon is trying for a kimura, but can’t secure it. A guillotine attempt leads to both fighters standing up. Brandon gets taken down again, but manages to get a facelock. Gray gets Brandon’s back again, but Brandon manages to get out of it, only to end up with Gray on his back again, but not they’re sitting with Gray’s back to the fence, and the round ends.
10-9 Gray
Round 2
Brandon tries a flying knee, Gray stays back. Brandon lands some punches and Gray takes him down into half guard. Brandon gets back to his feet and gets Gray’s back. He starts pounding away but Gray gets back on top to side mount. Sweep fails and Gray is now in full mount, but Brandon gets him back to half-guard. They end up standing again, and this time Brandon gets a guillotine off the takedown. Brandon lets go, and tries some elbows from the bottom and puts Gray into guard. Brandon almost gets the triangle, but Gray slides out and gets a guillotine for the tapout.
Winner: Gray Maynard (Tapout -> Guillotine Choke, 4:04 R2)
Good fight from both guys. Brandon showed some skills off his back, and there was a lot of up and down action.
After the Fight
Dana thought it was a great fight. Gray was surprised at Brandon’s skill on the ground. Jens noted that all the weight cutting probably did Brandon in. B.J. thinks that Gray should have won easier.
Next week: The last two quarterfinal fights. Nate decides to train with Team Penn, and B.J. naturally takes a shot at Jens over it. And Karo Parysian shows up to help his cousin. His judo throws are the best, you know.
