Team Rashad comes in for their training session. Rashad continues to talk about how much he likes and cares for his fighters. This seems like the perfect time for a Matt Mittrione moment. Matt tells the coaches that the doctors recommended light work, but he has nothing in writing to prove it. Matt says he had a little swelling in his brain and a migraine. Coach Wittman calls Matt out. If Matt had any swelling of the brain it would be life-threatening. Wittman is tired of Matt making excuses. The coaches think he is looking for a way out without looking like a wimp. His teammates also seem to be getting steamed by Matt’s antics. James, in particular, is annoyed because he’s the one scheduled to fight Matt. He wants to know just who he needs to be training for. Frankly, I’m tired of the will he, won’t he angle as well.
Rampage Training Session
Kimbo was wrestling with Demico and felt something awkward in his knee. Rampage is training Kimbo as if he will be the one to replace Matt and take on James McSweeney, should Matt opt out of fighting. There isn’t a person on this show that doesn’t think that Kimbo is the number one replacement for an injured fighter. This knee injury casts the first shade of doubt.
Brendan Schaub trains for his fight with John Madsen. He’s not worried about John’s hands and is only concerned about avoiding the takedown, as John is an accomplished wrestler.
James has taken to training Brendan in the absence of Rashad’s coaching. Rashad is still trying to avoid playing favorites so maintains his neutral stance. He’s basically running the practice but letting them train themselves.
A doctor comes in to check on Kimbo’s knee. He’s missing cartilage around his thigh and leg. He has worn out the cartilage and either needs his knee drained or a cortisone shot. Kimbo does not appear to be a fan of needles.
Coaches Challenge
Dana White is wearing a Pride T-Shirt. $10,000 to the winning coach and $1500 to each fighter of the winning team. It’s two-on-two. Rampage will be playing with Coach Tiki and Rashad will be playing with Coach Van Arsdayle.
Dana White is impressed with the level of play. Team Rampage won the first game 15-8. Team Rashad came back to win the second game 15-10. The third and deciding game is a close one. Team Rashad wins 15-13.
You know Rampage isn’t going to take this well. He’s a good sport afterwards, Rashad is not. Rashad once again calls out Rampage for not caring about his fighters. Rashad says Rampage should pay his fighters $1500 each of his own money. That’s not cool for Rashad to put Rampage on the spot like that. Rampage turns it around on Rashad and avoids opening up the checkbook. Well done, Rampage.
House Call
Kimbo is bothered by his knee. He’s bruised up but will not turn away from a fight. He has a battle with an ice bath that actually turns out to be pretty funny. He keeps trying to get out but James is coaching him up to stay in.
Training Session
John Madsen is trying to remain focused on Brendan Schaub. Brendan feels a little slighted that Rashad is spending a lot of time coaching John, thinking they have a bond as wrestlers. John is going to try to take Brendan down. Brendan knows this. It will come down to who can execute their gameplan the best.
Rashad confronts Matt about fighting. He wants a clear answer as to whether Matt wants to fight or not. Matt says he feels a little pressured to fight by his team. Matt says he’s tired of the drama and can’t wait to get home and back to his normal life. Sounds like he doesn’t want to win and be an ultimate fighter.
Rashad says he is going to call Dana and tell him that Matt’s out of the fight. Cue Dana’s seasonal “Do You Want To Be An F’n Fighter?” speech. Dana grabs the guys and lets them know there may be an opening to fight. Matt’s medical results will be coming in tomorrow, but Matt hasn’t really shown a desire to fight if he is cleared. Dana also questions Matt’s desire to fight. Dana concludes his speech with, “Have a good fucking day, boys.”
Weigh-In
Brendan Schaub 239
John Madsen 247
Schaub comes from Greg Jackson’s camp while Madsen comes from the camp of Matt Hughes. Good backgrounds here.
Fight Day
Madsen wants to be first to react and thinks the wrestler will win this one. James is doing a helluva job in psyching up Brendan. James is really coming out of this looking like he has some coaching in his future. He reminds me of Matt Serra when he was a fighter on Season 4 of The Ultimate Fighter. Only less annoying.
Brendan Schaub vs. John Madsen
Round 1
Madsen shoots and Brendan stops it. Madsen feints and then steps back out. Brendan is leery of the next shot attempt and is hesitant to engage. Jon shoots in and Brendan grabs a choke. John lifts Brendan up and body slams him down. Brendan ties him up on the ground but loses control when he tries to use the fence to get up. John misses a hammerfist and Brendan is able to tie him back up. The referee stands them up. John takes Brendan down to a knee but they get up into a clinch. Brendan lands a good shot before John makes a tighter clinch. Brendan throws some knees. Brendan is doing a lot of grabbing in this round, from the fence to John’s shorts. The ref is sending Brendan a lot of warnings. John with another body slam out of a single-leg shoot. They remain relatively inactive on the ground as the round comes to an end.
Round 2
Brendan presses John against the cage. John spins him and Brendan lands a good knee. John slips on a shot attempt and just sort of grabs at Brendan. They let go and restart. John is circling as Brendan comes in. Brendan with a straight right followed by another and John is out. Fight is over.
Winner: Brendan Schaub by KO
Dana is impressed with Brendan. John was getting fatigued and had his hands down. A lazy mistake against a quality opponent. It was as simple as that.
Next Week – Actually two weeks
Two hour special on December 2. Guess no show next week. Both quarterfinal fights will be shown as well as both semi-final fights. Will Kimbo fight or will it be Matt? The finalists will be determined.
