Vinc Pichel vs. Chris Saunders

Fun first round with both guys showing how evenly matched they are. Pichel was working for a take down against the cage and Saunders reversed the position, got the take down, but nearly ended up on the bottom. The rest of the round was a battle for position with Pichel getting the better of Saunders with inside striking.

Pichel most definitely won the second. Saunders was the one fighting better on the inside, getting his back, but not being able to take him down. Pichel was landing knees to the abdomen. Saunders was getting tired trying to hold on and let him go. Pichel immediately tagged him and it looked like it could be over. But Saunders fought back, but still lost the round.

Winner: Vinc Pichel by way of majority decision

Andy Ogle says it’s his time. Urijah Faber says Iaquinta doesn’t let on what he’s thinking.

Andy Ogle vs. Al Iaquinta

These guys came to throw hands. Ogle was having trouble keeping Iaquinta off him, but was holding his own with strikes. Iaquinta just kept stalking him though and was starting to land bigger shots. He put Ogle down and looked like he was trying to get his back, but they were back on their feet. Iaquinta used his left hand to hold Ogle’s head and just laid him out with an elbow. Nasty shot.

Winner: Al Iaquinta by way of 1st round TKO

The semis are going to be James Vick vs. Michael Chiesa and Vinc Pichel vs. Al Iaquinta.

Dana White announced that Urijah Faber would face Renan Barao. Dominick Cruz looked heartbroken.

Dana says Cruz will stay and coach his team. Cruz says he hopes Faber wins so he can whip him when he’s better. Faber says that he’s starting the rumor that Ronda Rousey tore Cruz’s knee.

James Vick vs. Joe Proctor

Vick is so long and he’s able to hit Proctor in the face all while not being hit. He bloodied Proctor’s face early on, but he also has a bloody nose. So he got hit as well.

Proctor got a takedown, but Vick quickly got up. Proctor tried a choke, but Vick was able to get him down and landed on top of him. Vick’s using his kicks to keep the distance, but Proctor has been able to decrease the distance better in this round.

Winner: James Vick by unanimous decision

I think I would’ve given Proctor the second round for sure and thought there should’ve been a third round.

Justin Lawrence vs. Michael Chiesa

Fast paced first round that was mostly on the ground, surprisingly. For whatever reason, Lawrence stayed on the ground with him and Chiesa was just destroying him off his back. He was going for a Kimura and nearly had a triangle when the round ended. While he didn’t have the triangle, he was nailing Lawrence’s head with elbows.

Like the opposite of the first round, this one was nearly all on the feet. Chiesa couldn’t get it to the ground. Lawrence threw two shots to the body and Chiesa went down, which suckered Lawrence to go to the ground and Chiesa nearly tore his shoulder off with a Kimura. Lawrence stayed on top of him surprisingly. Cruz didn’t want him there.

They’re going to a third round. I had Chiesa winning the first and Lawrence the second. They were on the mat and Lawrence was tired. Chiesa reversed him easily and Lawrence pretty much gave up on the bottom from exhaustion. Chiesa hit him a few times and the referee stopped it.

Winner: Michael Chiesa by way of 3rd round TKO

Dana White has next week’s fights as Vinc Pichel vs. Chris Saunders and Al Iaquinta vs. Andy Ogle.

In the coach’s challenge, they’re testing their marksmanship. They have to do an obstacle course which includes shooting pistols, rifles, machine guns, and a grenade launcher. This is nuts. This year, the coaches get $20,000 in cash and the team members each get $1500.

Cruz shot up the rope climb first and then hit all his targets with the pistol. He beat Faber through the turning over of the tire. Cruz shot through the rifle targets, carried the dummy quickly, and then went to the machine gun first. He was struggling with the second target and Faber caught him. They had to carry ammunition back and forth before getting to the grenade launcher stage. Faber got his first target and then Cruz hit his. Faber hit his second target to win the competition. Team Faber wins.

Ogle says that he has a big heart and Rio will have to kill him to beat him. Rio says he wants fight of the night. Wait, this isn’t a main UFC card fight.

Dana White brought Faber and Cruz together to help put the quarterfinals fights together. Faber is grating on Cruz’s nerves.

Andy Ogle vs. Mike Rio

Ogle moving around the cage, landing punches one at a time. He wasn’t really sitting on his punches and wasn’t throwing combinations. Rio took him down quickly and easily, but then it went back to Ogle’s one-punch shots.

In the second round, it was more of the same until Rio took him to the ground, but Ogle had the better position. Rio had Ogle’s back, but couldn’t do anything with it and was being pounded on until he gave up his neck and Ogle sunk in a rear naked choke to submit him.

Winner: Andy Ogle by way of 2nd round submission

Dana White gave two quarterfinal fights for the next show. It’s going to be James Vick vs. Joe Proctor and Justin Lawrence vs. Michael Chiesa.

Cruz brought Ronda Rousey to train with his team. She was throwing guys all over the place. Faber came in while Cruz and Rousey were leaving and they started trash talking. Cruz told Faber to teach his team overhand rights and guillotines. Faber said he was going to teach one-armed guillotines which Cruz knew so well.

Rousey came to the house to watch Jones vs. Evans. None of the guys were spitting game to her except for Tickle. Faber said they blew it.

Faber wants Saunders to stick and move because Sicilia throws haymakers. Cruz wants Sicilia to keep a fast pace.

Team Faber lubed themselves up and brought in some of the workout equipment into Team Cruz’s team room and trained and sweated in the room. That was interesting to say the least.

Sam Sicilia vs. Chris Saunders

Best shot of the round was Saunders kicking Sicilia right in the head and Sicilia going down and nearly out, but bounced back up. Faber was right. Sicilia is swinging for the fences. Sicilia had two guillotine attempts and is starting to use his strength to his advantage.

Damn good round. Sicilia was throwing bombs, but Saunders never quit. He was in good position on every exchange and wouldn’t quit. He was rocked a few times, but continued to come back. Hard round to score, but probably Sicilia’s round.

Winner: Chris Saunders by way of split decision

How is it a split decision? Maybe majority decision? It probably should’ve gone to a third round.

The final fight of the first round is Andy Ogle vs. Mike Rio.

Andy Ogle is letting the cameras get to him and he’s mentally and physically breaking down.

Pichel wants to keep the fight standing. He says the judges will not decide the fight.

Sam Sicilia is frustrated and trying to over perform. He’s putting more pressure on himself because he was the second pick and doesn’t want to let Cruz down.

Ogle is getting frustrated at Mike Chiesa’s relationship with Sicilia because he knows they’re best friends and think Chiesa is leaking information.

Faber says Cofer is going to use his wrestling because Pichel doesn’t have good wrestling.

Chiesa talks to Ogle and clears up the situation. Ogle says he trusts him.

Dana White tells the guys that this is the longest anyone has ever been on The Ultimate Fighter. He tells them to suck it up and stick it out and they’ll be better fighters and better men after it’s all over.

Vinc Pichel vs. John Cofer

Pichel said that if they stood up, he’d own him. Well, not quite. It’s clear that Pichel hits harder but Cofer was doing a better job of being in and out and hitting him with shots. Pichel started to get him really late in the round, but Cofer may have taken that first round.

The second was Pichel’s round all the way. He dominated the standup and ended up on top of Cofer at the end of the round, mostly in the north-south position. This thing is probably going to a third round.

Pichel came out on fire in the third. He was caught in a guillotine, got out of it and finished Cofer with an arm triangle.

Winner: Vinc Pichel by way of 3rd round submission

Cruz picks Sicilia to face Chris Saunders for Friday.

Justin Lawrence and Mike Rio went at it in sparring and there looked to be some heat in there. Cruz tells Lawrence that when he doesn’t dominate he takes himself out of it by being frustrated at himself.

Proctor talks about growing up with an alcoholic father. Faber says he’s quiet with a big heavy punch. Faber says Tickle’s standup isn’t all that technically sound and Proctor’s is.

Tickle triggered the door to spill water on Team Faber and it was Proctor who was soaked after walking through the door first.

The guys must be super board. They created a slip-n-side to goof off with. It’s Easter Sunday and Tickle is making turkey. He loves to cook. He says that mixed martial arts saved his life. He’s got two kids and is engaged to be married.

Cruz and Faber went back and forth a bit at the weigh-in, but there wasn’t much to say. Neither guy really has beef right now. Tickle weighed in while eating pizza.

Chris Tickle vs. Joe Proctor

Tickle got the better of the standup early, but looked to gas himself out a bit with all kinds of kicks and lunging punches. As the round was coming near the end, Faber yelled at Proctor to watch out for the takedown, but also to get a takedown so he could win the close round. He shot in, slammed him down, and while Proctor was worried about getting up, he gave up his back. Proctor sunk in a rear naked and Tickle fought it, but tapped.

Winner: Joe Proctor by way of 1st round submission

Faber chooses Jon Cofer to face Vinc Pichel for next week.

Chiesa says he’s loyal to his team, but his friendship with Sam comes first. Sam says he’s not going to compromise the type of person he is for his team. Cruz tells Sam that his job is to get his team wins, not to worry about people’s friendships.

Chris Tickle says he might have gout. Cruz brings Tickle in and says that he needs to stop complaining and stick around or to go home. Tickle was upset and will stick it out, though says he’s in a ton of pain.

Chiesa says that people would understand if he bowed out because of his father passing away, but he says he instead uses it as motivation.

Tickle tries to get out of sparring because he’s not feeling well. Cruz calls his bluff and makes him stick it out, but when Cruz walks away, Tickle sneaks away to get to the restroom.

Cruz says he and Larsen were friends when they were younger because their mothers were friends, but then they went their separate ways and now MMA has brought them back together.

Tickle goes to the doctor and he doesn’t have gout. After just saying that he was in so much pain, he now says that he’s feeling good.

Jeremy Larsen vs. Michael Chiesa

Chiesa worked for the takedown immediately and eventually got it. Larsen worked hard to get up and finally did. Chiesa got another one. He’s really working hard for them. Larsen was up on a knee and Chiesa kneed him, which was sort of Faber’s fault as he was calling for it, but Chiesa should’ve known better. They took a point from Chiesa so it’s probably a 9-9.

Chiesa doesn’t give up on takedowns. He got another one. But he looks so uncomfortable when he’s not shooting. His opportunities come because he’s flexible with his legs and is good at trips. Larsen couldn’t keep him off.

Winner: Michael Chiesa by way of unanimous decision

Larsen must’ve thought he won the first round because after the point being taken away, he thought they were going to a third.

Faber picks Goutless Chris Tickle to face Joe Proctor next week.

The episode had an intriguing story with friends who are on opposite sides, but it didn’t really go anywhere after Cruz tried to get Sicilia to give up the goods on Chiesa and he said he wouldn’t. And most of the rest of the episode was about Goutless Chris Tickle. How did they know he was going to fight next?

Myles Jury and Mike Rio were sparring and Jury hit him with a spinning back-fist, causing Rio to tweak his knee. He’s probably going to be okay, but it looked scary for a second.

Iaquinta told Faber that he wanted to be on the aggressive and not on the defensive. Faber said Iaquinta has great coaching with Matt Serra and then called Cruz “The Decisionator”.

Cruz says Rio’s knee is going to force him to make a decision on whether to give it up or suck it up. He looks like he’s in a lot of pain.

Andy Ogle wants Rio. Sam Sicilia says that Jury is focused and tells him he doesn’t think it’s going to be that hard of a fight.

Myles Jury vs. Al Iaquinta

Jury was doing a good job counter-striking early on. Iaquinta was the aggressor like he wanted to be. Iaquinta was doing a good job keeping the pressure on him, but then was taken down. He had Jury in some crab-like maneuver and then got his back before the round ended.

Jury immediately kicked Iaquinta in the ball-sack. Jury caught him with a straight punch that caused him to fall backward. As Jury tried to followup, he was rocked himself. Iaquinta is doing a much better job of cutting off the cage and landing shots. If Jury won the first round, Iaquinta won the second. Jury landed a nice uppercut that looked like it was coming in slow motion. Then he finished the round with a takedown.

It’s going to a third round. Round is pretty tight. Iaquinta is trying to set up the big right while Jury is trying to set up running knees. Iaquinta sees them coming. Jury needs some takedowns or something. Iaquinta is the aggressor and Jury is just doing a lot of feinting and missing. They both tried to flurry at the end. It’s probably Iaquinta’s round.

Winner: Al Iaquinita by way of split decision

Not a good night for Jon Anik. Neither guy answered his question. Dana White said it was supposed to be a one-minute rest period and it looks like it was longer than that.

Faber chose Michael Chiesa to face Jeremy Larsen. I guess they’re giving Rio a break with his knee.

Team Cruz is happy at not only winning, but also at Team Faber not stepping up to fight Justin Lawrence. Faber said that he’s doing his best to be a professional, but he would like to punch Cruz right in the face. Cruz thinks that Lawrence/Marcello could be a finals match-up, but instead, it’s a first round fight.

Dominick Cruz had to talk to Chris Tickle, who seemingly finds ways to get out of practice or start late by forgetting to take out his earring, or tape his ankles, or by saying he has diarrhea.

Faber says that Marcello is known as a BJJ fighter, but Marcello wants to bang. I don’t like the sound of that.

Team Faber added extended eye brows on the big photo of Dominic Cruz in the gym to make a unibrow. Faber said he looks like Eddie Munster and The Count on Sesame Street..

John Cofer walked with his arms bowed out, which is supposedly what Tickle does and Tickle got his feelings hurt and they got into an argument. Could be a future fight right there.

Team Cruz added a thong to Faber’s “butt” chin on his big photo in the gym.

Justin Lawrence vs. Cristiano Marcello

Lots of big swinging and missing in the round. Lawrence looked really confident early, feinting and making Marcello react. But it was Marcello who started to cut off the cage and was making Lawrence retreat. Lawrence started to land shots late in the round, though nothing was solid. Round was close. If I have to give it to someone, I slightly give it to Lawrence.

Marcello is making the fight ugly like his coaches wanted. Lawrence got a takedown, but he didn’t want to go down with Marcello. Lawrence dropped Marcello with a left hook and then started landing it. Marcello got hit with two or three big lefts. Then he blasted Marcello with a left hook and it was lights out.

Winner: Justin Lawrence by way of 2nd round TKO

Marcello’s stand-up was so sloppy that I’m surprised it took Lawrence that long, but it’s also amazing that this was his game plan. He had no chance going toe-to-toe.

Cruz chooses Miles Jury to face Al Iaquinta. That’s Faber’s first pick.

But I do have some thoughts. I don’t enjoy watching MMA without reason. It’s why I don’t watch Bellator. I like to know why guys are fighting and who they are. I don’t just like watching fighting for the sake of fighting. Even though some of the fights were fun to see and some of the personalities shined, I was bored for a lot of it.

However, I think I’ll enjoy this new season. It’s different. It’s not as cookie cutter and by the book. And hopefully the Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber dynamic will work. I can’t wait to see them fight again.

Let’s get going on episode two.

The show opens with what is supposed to be a live shot of the backs of the two guys who are about to fight tonight live. Since Jon Anik is there, why not have him do some play-by-play for the live fights?

Dana White starts the hype machine. He basically says it’s going to be the best ever, which is what he says every season.

Michael Chiesa is happy to be in the house because he says he’s kind of homeless in real life right now. If you pegged one guy to be homeless by the way he looks, it’d be Chiesa.

Urijah wins the coin toss and he chooses to pick the first fight, so Cruz gets to pick the first fighter. He chooses Justin Lawrence. Faber chooses Al Iaquinta. Cruz goes with Sam Sicilia next. Faber then chooses Cristiano Marcello. Cruz goes with Myles Jury. Faber wants Daron Cruickshank. Cruz picks Mike Rio. Faber goes Joe Proctor. Cruz goes with James Vick. Faber goes with the homeless guy. Cruz chooses Vinc Pichel. Faber goes John Cofer. Cruz chooses Chris Tickle, who thought he was going to be on Faber’s team. Faber picks Andy Ogle. Cruz picks Jeremy Larsen. Faber gets Chris Saunders as the last pick.

Cruz says that Tickle comes off as confident and sure of himself so he wanted to test him and put him with Lawrence who’s his best guy.

Faber tells Cruz that he heard in an interview that Cruz said Faber’s family helped him with his gym and his pops is pissed. Cruz says he apologizes and doesn’t want to get families involved. Cruz says he’ll say anything he wants about Faber though.

Faber chooses the fight and picks James Vick from Team Cruz to face Daron Cruickshank. Vick has at least 3-4 inches in heigh on him. Sounds like a wrestler vs. kick boxer battle.

Michael Chiesa gets a call from his mom and she tells him that his father passed away. Chiesa says he had cancer. Chiesa’s not sure if he’s going to stay or not. His dad made him promise that he wouldn’t leave the show if he passed away. Dana tells him to fly home and take care of his business and then come back. Dana tells him to win this thing for his dad.

Cruz says that in order to win, Vick has to keep the fight standing. He tries to teach Vick how to stay busy, to stick and move. Vick looks like he’s going to get taken down a lot in this fight.

Chiesa comes back to the house and says that his dad was adamant about watching his son fight and stuck around to see it.

Vick weighed in at 154 and Cruickshank weighed in at 155.5. Cruz tells Vick that it’s fun time. He put in the hard work. Cruickshank tells Faber that it’s another day at the office.

James Vick vs. Daron Cruickshank

No announcing for the fight. With Anik there, I have no idea why.

Cruickshank was in and out trying to stay out of harms way. Vick was trying to time a big shot, but couldn’t really throw it. Cruickshank was throwing wacky kicks and even attempted a spinning back fist. As Cruickshank went in for his first takedown shot, he ran right into a knee and was knocked out.

Winner: James Vick by way of 1st round TKO

Vick says the knee was actually the beginning of a kick.

Cruz chooses Justin Lawrence to fight Cristiano Marcello. Cruz gave Faber the option to pick his own guy and Faber asked his team who was ready and no one really put their hand up. So Cruz chose Marcello.