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By: C.J. Tuttle, MMATorch Columnist
Bellator got exactly what it wished for Wednesday night with an exciting Summer Series card lead-in for the premiere of their new show: Fight Master.
I saw Fight Master for the first time last week at an advanced showing in Hollywood. There were a lot of things the first time around to distract me from the actual show itself, so last night I re-watched. Here is what I saw:
First let's go over a little of the shows basics. The prize for the winner is $100,000, a spot in an upcoming Bellator MMA tournament, and the title of 'Fight Master.' Thirty-two fighters have traveled to New Orleans to compete in a tournament to determine the winner. There is an emphasis on the fighters choosing their paths.
They start by picking a coach to assist them in their journey. Four options are available: UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, trainer Greg Jackson, retired Frank Shamrock, and resurgent Joe Warren.
There are four spots on each team, for example if the first four fighters pick Greg Jackson's team, the remaining fighters must choose from the three coaches remaining.
The rules for the actual fights are as follows: two five-minute rounds. If there's a draw, a third "overtime" round is implemented to decide a winner. Oh and no elbows to an opponent on the ground. Have to read the Bellator fine print to get that one.
On to the fights we saw on this opening broadcast:
FIRST ELIMINATION FIGHT: Chip "The Surgeon" Pollard (7-4) vs. Tim "The Ginga Ninja" Welch (9-4)
(let the ginger, C.J. Tuttle, Tim Welch jokes begin)
RESULT: Welch wins by knockout.
COACH SELECTION: Welch selects Greg Jackson's team.
SECOND ELIMINATION FIGHT: Eric "Easy-E" Scallan (11-4) vs. Chris "The Action Man" Curtis (7-3)
RESULT: Scallan wins by majority decision.
COACH SELECTION: Scallan chooses Joe Warren, much to the shagrin of Joe Warren.
THIRD ELIMINATION FIGHT: Brendan "Tiny Shorts" Tierney (10-5) vs. Nick "The Phoenix" Barnes (6-0)
RESULT: Barnes wins via submission (rear naked choke)
COACH SELECTION: Barnes selects Frank Shamrock's team.
COACH SELECTION: Matthews selects Randy Couture's team.
FIFTH ELIMINATION FIGHT: Josh "Quay" Quayhagen (6-1) vs. Chris "The Cleveland Assassin" Lozano (10-3)
RESULT: Lozano wins via decision in a massacre.
COACH SELECTION: Lozano selects Frank Shamrock's team.
Ceej Speaks:
* I am not sure whether the fact that the show differs so much from The Ultimate Fighter has an effect on my enjoyment of it.
* I like the aesthetics of the show, I am pleased with the choice in coaches and a couple of the fights were entertaining.
* The focus is on the fighters, not the coaches (yet) and I applaud this, it allows me to pass judgment based on their performance, not rooting for the coach I like better than the other.
* Jimmy Smith is a good master of ceremonies and doesn't overwhelm the fighters in their post match decision.
* People were questioning Joe Warren's role in the show and it doesn't take long to see why they were mistaken. His behind the scenes comments on Scallan were hilarious. You find yourself rooting for him against the other coaches.
* Chris Lozano looked violent in his fight and I hope to see him tie together a few victories after a brutal KO loss to Douglas Lima at Bellator 53. He and Nick Barnes are my favorite after the first episode. Quayhagen looked like he got beat with a bat.
* I don't like how they refer to the coaches as: "four MMA legends."
* Looking forward to next week, I haven't seen the second episode yet as we were shown the first full episode, followed by episode four.
COMMENTS? RANTS? c.j.tuttle@me.com @kidceej
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
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