The Ultimate Fighter
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FRIDAYS 9/28: Penick's live blog for Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson episode three
Sep 28, 2012 - 11:00:47 PM THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FRIDAYS 9/28: Penick's live blog for Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson episode three

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Another Friday night brings another episode of The Ultimate Fighter on FX. Follow along tonight for a running random-thoughts blog on tonight's third episode of Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson, featuring the second team fight following Team Carwin's Neil Magny defeating Cameron Diffley last Friday night.

-Team Carwin opened up with a celebration from Magny's victory last week. Carwin commented that watching his team fights nearly gives him a heart attack more than being in the cage himself. Nelson thinks the loss can light a fire under his guys, as they're all on their toes as to who will be picked next.

-Jon Manley's ready to go. Julian Lane said he's not worried about being picked. Colton Smith thinks he'll be picked, and the drama in the house begins between Smith and Matt Secor. Nic Herron-Webb adds to the things by playing pool in the middle of the night and garnering a reaction from several, with Eddy Ellis commenting that he wants to hit him with a pool cue. Mike Ricci says Webb knows he's nervous and can't handle the pressure of the show.

-Webb hasn't made any friends in the house to this point, with Secor piling on and saying he can't wait to see Ricci kick his ass.

-On to fight picks, Carwin's first pick of the season puts Joey Rivera up against Sam Alvey. Dana White thinks it's a good pick for Team Carwin. Alvey had an impressive knockout debut, and White believed he would win with a devastating KO. For his part, Rivera was excited for the bout, and said he wanted to fight the best to prove himself.

[Commercial Break]

-The issues with Webb have gone over to his team as well, as they complain about his late-night antics keeping them up as well.

-Feature time for Rivera, who says that he owns a gym in Arizona. He talked about getting in fist fights with his mother's boyfriend's as he grew up, something that drove him to fighting. Nelson praised Alvey's overall game, but said Rivera can win the fight by pressing the pace and putting Alvey on his back. Rivera admits he doesn't have much of a striking background, but aims for a finish anyway.

-In Team Carwin's training session, we get a feature on Alvey, who trains out of Team Quest. Alvey's fiancee won a season of America's Next Top Model. Nelson coach Trevor Wittman praised Alvey, going so far as to say his striking was "incredible." We get glimpses of assistant coaches Pat Barry and Nate Marquardt working as well. Carwin's definitely got a very good set of coaches with him for the show.

[Commercial Break]

-Team Nelson decides to mess with Alvey by tossing his mattress on some floating toys in the pool. Not the most inspired prank, but certainly leagues above semen in sushi. Alvey took it in stride, and said it allows him to go above with his next prank.

-Rivera gets praise from his teammates, and some think it's a bad choice for Team Carwin. Still, even though he's fairly well liked by everyone in the house, most are expecting an Alvey win.

[Commercial Break]

-Joey Rivera talks about his sex life before fights, and claims he doesn't finish in order to keep his "spiritual energy" inside. He just does enough to give his wife what she needs. Ok, we've heard a lot of ridiculous things said through the course of this show's history. That was right near the top.

-Pat Barry gives some pre-fight advice to Alvey on making Rivera pay for any move he makes in the cage. Alvey said he's never nervous in the cage, he just enjoys doing it. Rivera held belief in himself, and said that was what he needed to get through his fights.

[Commercial Break]

FIGHT: SAM ALVEY VS. JOEY RIVERA

ROUND ONE: Rivera cut across the cage and threw an early head kick that was partially blocked. He hit Alvey with a second one in quick order. Alvey tried to engage and got taken down immediately. Alvey tried to work to his feet, but Rivera took his back as he stood. Rivera stayed on his back standing, and Alvey tried to break loose. Rivera lost position but kept body control. Alvey turned, and got taken down once again. Rivera tried to lock on a standing arm-triangle choke. He stayed patient and tried to cinch it tighter. He finally let it go and almost scored another takedown, but Alvey stayed standing. Alvey finally turned him around on the cage. Rivera went for a trip, then locked on a guillotine in a scramble. Alvey used the wall to roll through and got back to his feet. Rivera held onto the position, but Alvey got into a better spot to avoid the choke. Rivera locked it on again, however, pulling guard as he did so. He didn't have it tight, and Alvey continued to stay patient as Rivera eventually lost the hold. Rivera shot up for a triangle choke, but Alvey popped out. Alvey landed a kick to the leg as Rivera took shots at his knees from the back. Alvey landed a couple of hard hammer fists and dropped into half guard with a few blows to finish the frame.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Rivera. Obviously surprised Team Carwin with his takedown game and some good submission attempts, but Alvey deserves credit for staying calm throughout and surviving as he did. He also ended the round strong after breaking free, and Rivera may have gassed himself.

[Commercial Break]

ROUND TWO: Rivera again went back to the early kicks, but Alvey blocked and then checked the two that were thrown. Alvey missed a big strike. He landed a nice right hook. Rivera clinched and Alvey pressed him to the cage. Rivera grabbed for a guillotine. Alvey landed some knees to the legs as they stalemated in that position. They continued in that position for some time with little advancement, and were finally separated. Rivera threw a few strikes in combination. Alvey landed a short hook. Alvey missed a punch and Rivera clinched, but again it was Alvey pressing him to the cage. Rivera again grabbed for a guillotine, but was holding it more like a headlock. Roy Nelson was trying to get him to change the hand position, but he wasn't able to. They were separated again. Rivera landed the head kick this time and it stunned Alvey, who backed up and opened the door to a takedown. Alvey landed some punches and got to his feet, but Rivera was on his back. Alvey got turned around. He pressed Rivera to the cage, then evened up the takedowns as the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Rivera. Rivera had the only significant offense of the fight, as little as it was, but not much else happened outside of lengthy stalemates on the cage.

[Commercial Break]

-Rivera gets the upset win by majority decision with scores of 20-18 twice and a 19-19 draw. Dana White said it did not go how he thought it would go. Carwin said he felt Alvey was stunned by Rivera's performance. White said Alvey looked like a just birthed baby colt as he stumbled following a head kick. Alvey somehow thought he won both rounds, then said he can't let it go to the judges.

-Well, that was one of the poorer fights in TUF history. And that's saying something. The second was awful save for the one landed head kick, and the hyped first pick for Team Carwin looked like he was completely out of his element with a fighter who wasn't standing in front of him. That's unfortunate out of his impressive win in the elimination round. Rivera got the win, but he gassed after the first round and did just enough in the second. It wasn't a good second fight for the second week of team bouts, but now we move on to next week's new episode following UFC on FX 5.