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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
A new season of The Ultimate Fighter hit Fox Sports 1 on Wednesday night, leaving Las Vegas and heading to south Florida to put two rival gyms - American Top Team and The Blackzilians - against one another. Tonight we take a running random thoughts look at the premiere episode.
-Obviously coming into this season they're playing up the extreme dislike between ATT owner Dan Lambert and Blackzilians owner Glenn Robinson, and that's going to permeate throughout the season.
-Lambert gives some background on his gym, which has been around in some capacity since 1995. Robbie Lawler is highlighted as one of their fighters, and he commented on bringing the title back to ATT.
-The impetus of the dislike here, at least according to Lambert, is that Robinson was a guy who simply had some money and offered guys money to get them away from ATT. Robinson says he got banned from ATT after becoming close to several fighters at their gym, and when those fighters then quit ATT, they got the Blackzilians started along with Rashad Evans and Anthony Johnson.
-There's a new point system involved in this season. Each team gets eight guys, and over the first 12 fights the competitors apparently won't know who they're fighting until the weigh-ins. Additionally, the teams can apparently use a fighter several times, while not using other fighters in those 12 bouts. The winning team in each fight will get points, which is how this seasons winning gym will be determined, rather than by a strict tournament.
-The point system is a completely random new device, and I'm not sure if it's compelling or just convoluted. For the first four bouts, each win will be worth 25 points. For the next four bouts, the wins will be worth 50 points. And in the ninth through 12th bouts, a win will be worth 100 points, so those later fights are more important to each gym. The point system plays into the monetary prize here, as the team with the most points will win $200,000.
-There's more money on the line at the finale, and the way that will play out is a bit random as well. Instead of simply getting a booking due to being on the show, only fighters who fight twice in that 12-fight stretch will get a spot on the Finale. That means any fighters who don't get picked to represent their team won't even get an opportunity. Those Finale fights will represent the final $300,000 of the team prize. Now, how that gets doled out to the fighters actually fighting here is unclear.
-ATT runs through the guys who will be representing them this season: Marcelo Alfaya, Hayder Hassan, Nathan Coy, Steve Montgomery, Sabah Homasi, Michael Graves, Uros Jurisic, and Steve Carl. Couple of known names there.
-For Blackzilians, they roll with: Jason Jackson, Luiz Buscape, Kamaru Usman, Andrews Nakahara, Carrington Banks, Vicente Luque, Felipe Portela, and Valdir Araujo.
-Lambert has zero respect for Robinson, saying he simply bought the team he has in place, while Robinson insists that isn't the case.
Lambert quote: "I'll bury the hatchet. Give me a hatchet right now I'll bury it between his shoulders."
[Commercial Break]
-The teams are brought by yacht to the mansion they'll be staying at during the season. It's without question a gorgeous house on the water. Awkwardness abounds as the guys size each other up.
-Dana White comes in for his season starting speech to everyone, letting them know what's on the line and what he expects from a fight standpoint.
-White explains that the teams will get home gym advantage for each win, and that's perhaps the most unique part of this season, that the visiting team is going to be in very hostile territory as compared to the neutrality of the Ultimate Fighter gym in Las Vegas. The Blackzilians win the coin toss for home gym advantage in the first fight.
-Lambert explains to his guys that there aren't any restrictions on how many times a guy fights. Montgomery and Graves comment on how disappointing it would be not to get a chance to fight.
-The Blackzilians are shown gathering at Robinson's house to watch Anthony Johnson vs. Alexander Gustafsson from UFC on Fox 14 (obviously the show started filming in January). It's very cool to see a bunch of Johnson's teammates reacting to his fight like that, along with a great reaction to his ultimate victory.
[Commercial Break]
-Robinson talks up the strategy they need to consider given the point system, and the fact that they don't know who they're fighting until the weigh-ins. That makes things quite different as well, because there's no chance to gameplan for a specific style or to really know what you're up against until you're in the cage. There's going to be some mind games at play on that end.
-ATT's Nathan Coy says he's willing to fight all 12 times to represent the team. Michael Graves is picked for the first fight, and they talk him up highly and believe he's their No. 1 guy. Their strategy is to get their top four guys in there early, because they need to fight twice to be eligible for the Finale.
-We get a little bit of background on Graves. He's got a wrestling base, has been with ATT for five years, and Lambert hypes him up as unorthodox, and calls him an "anaconda" when he gets a hold of someone on the ground. Graves says he wants to fight their best guy to send a message in the first fight.
[Commercial Break]
-We're already getting drama in the house about the food being claimed by each team. Ugh.
-The Blackzilians coaches, including Rashad Evans and Michael Johnson, confer to figure out who's going to take the first fight for them. They tap Kamaru Usman for the first matchup, and they discuss with the rest of the team to be ready to fight always, and at least act as if they're going to be the guy fighting this week. Again, mind games. Not sure how this will play out on a week to week basis, but that could get old fairly quickly.
-Kamaru gives some background on himself. The Nigerian born wrestler pursued the Olympics at one point, but left the Olympic training center to join the Blackzilians and transition to MMA. He actually moved in with Rashad Evans when he came down to Florida. While the owner drama is almost guaranteed to become overbearing before this season is out, this show is always good at providing a closer look at the guys trying to accomplish their dreams through this show.
[Commercial Break]
-Graves is trying to strategize, expecting Luiz Buscape to be his opponent. However, he says it doesn't matter who he fights. Usman thinks he'll be a surprise to them, and doesn't think they'll be ready for it.
-Their stylized team entrances out for the weigh-ins seemed set up and like it was done separately from the actual weigh-ins. Strange way to present a little moment like that, looked like it was out of a different show.
-Lambert was surprised by the Usman pick, thinking the Blackzilians would have gone with Buscape.
-The coaches step up behind their fighters in a bit of an awkward staredown, leading to this gem from Montgomery:
"Dan's a black belt in jiu jitsu, Glenn's just a fat guy that makes tools."
[Commercial Break]
-Graves is given an endorsement by Robbie Lawler, who is also working with him in this training segment. Usman believes he's the counter for Graves' style, and expects to score a finish or put on a two-round, one-sided beating. Graves definitely has the respect of his teammates, who remain confident in him into this first fight.
-Anthony Johnson is back from Sweden in time to support Usman in this first matchup here. Both guys think they're being underestimated.
Robinson quote: "ATT will go home with sorrow on their faces. It's an absolute fact."
[Commercial Break]
FIGHT: MICHAEL GRAVES (ATT) VS. KAMARU USMAN (BLACKZILIANS)
Lots of noise in the gym for this one. Going to have some good energy for these fights compared to the more subdued TUF matchups.
-ROUND ONE: Usman came out on all fours and ate a strike. He stepped in with a couple of punches. Graves went high with a kick, but Usman caught it and took him down. Graves was on his knees at the cage and fairly quickly got back to his feet, where he pulled off an excellent switch to nearly take control. Usman held him on the cage, but got shrugged aside as Graves circled out. Graves landed a push kick to the leg, then one to the face. Usman landed a straight left. Usman faked a couple of shots, then got Graves down. Graves got his back to the cage and tried again to work his way up. He got to his feet again, but got held in the clinch. Graves tried to get separation, but Usman stayed on him at the cage. Graves finally got space and landed a nice knee to the face. Usman pressed in and landed a couple of strikes. They traded soome jabs. Graves missed a hook but landed a body kick. Graves got in a short elbow off a clinch. Usman connected on a straight left. Usman ducked under a punch and shot in. Graves refused to be held down. They battled in the clinch some more. He got separation and landed a grazing knee. Neither got in another shot before the horn. Probably Usman's round 10-9.
[Commercial Break]
-ROUND TWO: Graves opened with a jab and a straight kick to the leg, then got in a right hand. Usman pressed back in but missed a couple. He landed a hard shot that nearly staggered Graves before shooting in for the clinch. He held a body lock and tried to work, but Graves got himself out of it. Both missed a few strikes. Usman shot in and got Graves briefly down, but Graves managed to quickly sprawl and scramble up. Usman scored a nice trip, but again Graves was right back up into the clinch. They separated and both got in a few jabs. Graves landed an inside leg kick. Usman landed a solid counter left after Graves missed a strike. Usman shot in again under a punch and planted Graves. This time he tried to keep him down, but again that proved nearly impossible. He took Graves' back standing, but only riefly. They separated and each landed a couple strikes. Usman overshot a takedown attempt and Graves quickly transitioned to his back out of nowhere! That was just fantastic. Usman got to his feet as Graves tried to work for a rear naked choke. Graves got in an elbow and a couple of strikes as Usman tried to buck him off. He finally did, and got on top of Graves on the ground to a huge ovation from the Blackzilians faithful. He got in half guard and did some damage late as the round wound down. That could have gone either way. Maybe a third round could be on the way, but that was a fun sequence there late. Both sides think they're going to a third.
[Commercial Break]
-No third round, we're getting a decision here.
-WINNER: Usman via majority decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19)
TEAM SCORE (WEEK 1)
ATT: 0
Blackzilian: 25
-Usman did what he was expected to do, and did enough to win the fight to hold on to home gym advantage for the Blackzilians. That was a mostly fun fight with a couple of really nice moments. Usman saved the second round for himself by getting out of that rear naked choke attempt, but man that transition to the move for Graves was excellent. Would have liked to see a third round there.
-There's some jawing after the fight with Kamaru getting called out while in the cage. ATT wanted to see more rounds, but Lambert realized that Graves may have
-Dana White was unsurprisingly critical of both fighters.
White quote: "Neither one of these guys fought like they really wanted to win this fight. They both fought like 'uh, I'll do just enough to barely win or just enough to barely lose.' I'm looking for guys that are gonna go in and go for broke. This is the first fight you're trying to win for your team. Bring this fight back to your home gym, get that home gym advantage. These kind of fights frustrate me. I hope to see guys going for broke in the second fight."
Robinson quote: "Our house is number one, and we'll do it again."
-Graves' teammates try to lift his spirits. Lambert hopes him feeling pissed off and depressed adds fuel to the team.
FINAL THOUGHTS: It's got a different feel from previous TUF seasons, that's for sure, and the point system in lieu of a tournament changes things up significantly. At the same time, it's a little odd that there's not more in the way of clear motivation for the fighters themselves. What chunk of the money are they getting? Are they getting a UFC contract out of this season? Is this just to satiate the egos of Robinson and Lambert hyping their gyms? There are certainly some things to like here, there are some things that have already overstayed their welcome before episode 2, and there's some of the same type of thing we've seen on every season of TUF. It's worth giving a chance at this point, but if the season really devolves into just more of the same between Robinson and Lambert, this could be a long few months.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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