Dana White follows a video package by saying the UFC heavyweight division has never been more exciting. He hopes that this season of The Ultimate Fighter can add to that excitement. The entire season will feature only heavyweights.
The cast will feature four former NFL players, three former UFC fighters, one IFL champion, and one street fight fighter. You may have heard of the last one.
The coaches for this season are Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. They don’t like each other. Evans said he was told to be confrontational in their infamous Octagon face-off. Rampage says that nobody told him that. Evans says that Rampage has a big head. Rampage says that Evans has a big mouth. This is going to be a fun season. They compare records and talk trash as big men walk into the practice facility.
The coaches marvel at the size of the fighters. Rampage says it is a show full of giants. The coaches seem more intent on hating each other than getting to know the fighters.
Dana White comes in and says there are 15 fighters here, and one more is to come. Dana introduces number 16, saying he has a lot to prove if he wants to be a UFC fighter. Dana also mentions that he has personally talked a lot of trash about this next fighter and his merits as a mixed martial artist. Rampage guesses Tank Abbott. Yeah, this is definitely going to be a fun season. Enter Kevin Ferguson as the 16th fighter, better known as Kimbo Slice. This comes as a slight to Roy Nelson as he thought he was the big announcement. Kimbo wants to prove himself as an ultimate fighter.
Rampage wants Kimbo on his team. Kimbo honestly shouldn’t want Rampage as a coach. Evans would do way more for Kimbo’s growth than Rampage would. Evans doesn’t seem to want Kimbo anyway, at least not as bad as Rampage.
Fighter Evaluations
Rampage calls dibs on Kimbo. Evans has Greg Jackson with him. Another advantage for Team Rashad. Evans knows James McSweeney and Brendan Schaub and that’s his main focus for his early fighter selections.
Rampage uses sparring sessions to judge fighters, making the astute observation that “bags don’t hit back.” Rampage turns into a quote machine as he assess the fighters. He says Roy Nelson has a “big ass belly.” Just in case you weren’t clear Rampage summarizes, “He was fat.”
Rampage turns his focus to Darrill Schoonover and notices that “He got titties.” But that’s not a bad thing as Rampage comforts him with “Be happy you got titties.”
Marcus Jones is a former NFL player and a big dude, as Rampage notices.
Team Rashad does their pre-ranks in the locker room. It almost looks like a fantasy football draft in there. Rampage gets his strategy game on. He knows that Evans is going after his two guys early so he wants to take advantage with his early picks.
Fighter Selection
The winner of the coin toss gets the option of choosing the first fighter or choosing the first two fights. The team must win both of the fights in order to retain control of the fight selections. Evans win the toss and chooses to pick the first fighter.
Rashad picks James McSweeney
Rampage takes Kimbo Slice
Rashad takes Brendan Schaub
Rampage takes Abe Wagner
Rashad takes Justin Wren
Rampage takes Demico Rogers, calling him Rashad’s big brother.
Rashad takes John Madsen
Rampage takes Wes Sims – He should be fun in the house.
Rashad takes Roy Nelson – Gotta look at that as a steal.
Rampage takes Scott Junk
Rashad takes Darrill Schoonover
Rampage takes Wes Shivers
Rashad takes Matt Mitrione
Rampage takes Marcus Jones
Rashad takes Mike Wessel
Rampage takes the Camera Guy.
Oh that Rampage. Rampage takes Zak Jensen with the last pick.
Rampage likes his team because its bigger. Evans likes his team because it is more skilled.
Moving into the House
Kimbo calls “dabs” on his bed. Alright, I’ll let this one go. Kimbo knows he has a bullseye on his back. Some of the guys in the house are already chomping at the bit to get at Kimbo. They think Kimbo has no takedown defense as a street fighter and a wrestler can dominate him. Plus they realize they can make a name for themselves by taking out Kimbo from the tournament.
Training Day
Evans meets his team for training. He has no idea who Rampage will pick to fight first. Evans thinks his team will win the fights regardless of the matchups.
Rampage tests the cardio and Marcus Jones did not impress in the drill. Marcus says he has the heart to be an ultimate fighter. It looks like he just might not have the stamina.
Fight Selection
Rampage wants to keep control. Then he does a quick shoutout to Janet Jackson. He picks Jon Madsen vs Abe Wagner. Evans loves the pick and thinks that Wagner has no ground game. That fits perfectly into Madsen’s game, who Evans says is the best wrestler on his team.
Jon Madsen trained with Robbie Lawler and Matt Hughes before he got to the show. He has a background in wrestling. Trevor Wittman is another assistant coach for Rashad. That’s another advantage for Team Rashad. Wittman is an experienced boxing trainer. Evans is still confident in his team. He thinks that Rampage will realize how bad his team is once the first fight is over.
Abe Wagner is a director of finance and operations. Rampage tests his math skills. Abe passes. Rampage is going to celebrate in the club after his team’s win. He said he’s going to be “doing the Stanky Leg like Evans did against Machida.” At least Rampage is winning the war of the words.
Fight Day
Abe pukes. He thinks his ju-jitsu is strong enough to counter Jon’s wrestling skills. Jon thinks Abe has to come down to his level and that’s when Jon will shoot and take him down, letting him take control of the fight.
The Fight: Jon Madsen vs. Abe Wagner
Round 1
They circle to start and Madsen gets a takedown 15 seconds into the fight. Abe has a very loose guard. It’s barely a guard at all. Abe grabs the back of Jon’s neck as Jon has Abe pressed up against the cage. It gets pretty dull here. Abe is doing nothing from the bottom and Jon is doing just enough to avoid a standup. Jon is starting to land some good right hands. Abe is bleeding from his forehead. This seems to be about the point that Rampage regrets making this fight choice. There’s a good amount of blood on the mat now and Abe has been in the same predicament for four minutes now. Abe is covered in blood. Ten seconds left. Madsen rains some more punches down. Abe sweeps and gets top position with one second left in the round! What the hell was that about? His corner wonders why that move didn’t come in the beginning of the round. The round ends as the other fighters gawk at the blood loss and speculate that Abe won’t even answer the bell for the second round.
Round 2
Rampage tells Abe he’s got to avoid the takedown. Jon shoots on the glove tap and takes Abe down. Rampage is pissed that Abe tried to touch gloves. They tell Abe he’s got to do something NOW. He does nothing. Mazzagatti does though, as he stands them up. No matter, however, as Madsen takes him right back down. Ref calls for action. Jon is having his way with Abe. Abe is a punching bag that’s laying on the ground. And as Rampage taught us, punching bags don’t punch back. Ref stands back up. Jon takes back down. Rampage tells Abe to get up. I don’t think that is happening, Coach. Jon punches a little more. Another stand up with 20 seconds left and Madsen takes him right back down. Rampage walks out before the fight officially ends.
Winner: Jon Madsen by unanimous decision 20-16, 20-17, 20-17
Rampage tells his team that no one touches gloves from here on out. Abe’s cut is nasty. The doctor says he can see skull. It’s pretty deep.
Next Week
Kimbo is a target. Rampage gets him ready to fight. Evans tries to straighten out Roy Nelson, who seems to joke around too much. The second fight will be announced. Evans and Rampage go at it again.
