Rashad is wondering just how to coach and train his team when they represent seven of the remaining eight fighters. He doesn’t want to play favorites. I think this is what you would call a good problem to have, Rashad.
Rashad decides that he isn’t going to coach as much. He is going to separate the guys fighting each other and basically just run practices. They guys will be on their own when it comes to fight time. Justin admits it is weird training in the same facility as his opponent. He is able to scout Roy a bit and Roy is able to scout Justin.
Matt says his brain is still feeling bad after his fight with Junk. He puts on quite a show in the car on the way home from practice. Most of the guys think he is milking it and looking for attention or sympathy. Brendan wants to give him the benefit of the doubt and thinks Matt may have a concussion. If that’s the case, an alternate would be needed. Enter this week’s tease of Kimbo returning.
Rampage wants Kimbo to get back in the contest if Matt can’t go. I doubt he’s the only one. Everyone seems to concur and sees it as a forgone conclusion that Kimbo will be the replacement for Matt.
Training Session
Team Rashad begins training and Matt has not yet returned from the hospital, making the Kimbo rumors even stronger.
Team Rampage thought the poster prank was too beloved by Team Rashad. So they decide to do something they won’t like. They put cocks in the cars of Team Rashad. Chickens. They apparently smelled bad and crapped everywhere. Team Rashad seemed to be entertained by the prank. This confuses Rampage. Once again his plan to prank Team Rashad has backfired. They seem to enjoy chasing the chickens around the parking lot and have even named them. Rampage says he has one more trick up his sleeve and Team Rashad won’t be happy about it when it happens.
Matt comes home after staying the night in the hospital. He doesn’t give much of an answer to anyone regarding his status for his next fight. He just tells people his brain is rattled.
Dana White comes to the house and confronts Matt to get to the bottom of things. He asks Matt if he can fight and Matt says that he can’t say no. Dana notes that the doctors can say no. They leave the discussion with Matt intent on fighting as long as the doctors will clear him.
Training Session
Kimbo says that Roy has a lot of tools and is good on the ground as well as standing up. Kimbo says that Justin is the kid that ate all the donuts when he was a kid and denied it when his parents called him on it. Even though he had powdered sugar all over his face. What the hell kind of analysis is that? First off, if anyone is the sneaky donut eater here it’s Roy. Secondly, how do you take Roy’s assessment seriously and then compare Justin to a kid that likes donuts in the same breath? It doesn’t make sense, Kimbo.
Weigh-In
Roy 264
Justin 250
Dana says that Roy loves Roy more than anyone loves Roy. This could have been an old quote about Roy Jones Jr.
Fight Day
Roy and Justin have formed a bond while in the house and claim they will be friends after the show. Roy wants to win first and put on a show second. Justin feels his youth will help him push the pace against Roy. Roy says he must win two more fights or else his wife is going to be pissed off.
Roy Nelson vs. Justin Wren
Round 1
Glove tap to start. Justin feints. Roy lands a jab. Justin rushes in and Roy lands another jab. Justin comes in again and Roy backpedals. Justin lands some nice shots, including an uppercut. He lands two more hooks and Roy clinches. Those were some good shots landed by Justin but Roy took them well. They stay in a clinch against the cage until the ref restarts. More heavy shots from Justin land. I keep waiting for Roy to just collapse after one of these. Justin blocks a one-two from Roy. Justin feints a jab and lands another overhand right. He misses with a looping right. He chases Roy. Roy lands a good one-two. Roy lands two more jabs while Justin circles. Roy connects on a leg kick with one minute left. Some dirty boxing from Roy sees him land a glancing uppercut. Justin avoids a big right from Roy. They trade wild punches to end the round. Pretty close round.
Round 2
Roy starts off by landing a jab and then avoiding a right from Justin. More misses from Justin as Roy retreats. Roy lands some more counter shots after Justin misses. Just shoots but it turns into a clinch, kind of. Justin tries to retreat but falls. He gets back to his feet before Roy can capitalize. They clinch on the cage again and Justin throws some elbows. Back off the cage and Roy lands another right. Justin lands a punch flush on the chin of Roy. Roy gets inside and Justin swings away. Justin is getting tired with one minute to go. These guys look far better than any other pair that have gone two rounds, though. Justin misses more punches as Roy ducks. Roy with an uppercut in the final ten seconds as Justin shoots in.
No third round. Odd. No one believes that the scorecards should be read yet. I have Justin in the first and Roy in the second. Should be a third round here.
Winner: Roy Nelson by majority decision
Dana notes that Roy likely would have won the third round anyway, as he was in way better shape than Justin. Dana also says he will give Roy props for a good fight whenever Roy is the reason for the fight being good. That said, Dana doesn’t give Roy props after the fight.
Next Week
Matt is still non-committal about fighting. Rampage and Rashad have their coaches challenge. It’s volleyball this time. Brendan Schaub and John Madsen fight in the next quarterfinal bout.
