The Ultimate Fighter
TUF 21 REPORT 5/6: Penick's thoughts on third episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season
May 6, 2015 - 11:25:38 PM TUF 21 REPORT 5/6: Penick's thoughts on third episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It's time for another episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. The Blackzilians" on Fox Sports 1. As always, I'll be bringing some random thoughts tonight's episode, along with a rundown of the night's action, in this weekly report.

-Recap time of last week's fight, which just wasn't all that good, and another look at Dan Lambert and Glenn Robinson's back and forth. Finding it increasingly hard to understand exactly to whom this show is supposed to appeal. Outside of those with loyalties to these two gyms, I'm not sure what the draw is for the casual fan. There's no tournament, and thus no fighters to truly rally behind to see their progression on the show. On top of that, the fighters are competing to bring money to their gym, with nothing explicitly stated as to whether or not these fighters are even getting any of that out of this season. Also, that the feud ultimately boils down to Lambert and Robinson means the stakes are incredibly low to your average viewer. There isn't a reason right now to cheer for one team over the other unless you are involved with ATT or The Blackzilians, and that's how it's come across on TV thus far.

-Pep talk time for ATT. Lambert also breaks down the point system and how it's not essential to win the early fights given that winning the last four could negate the previous eight.

-Immediately after Lambert breaks down how little the first four eight fights mean if you win the last four, Dana White comments on how they're "way down on points." Laughable.

-Someone in the house is apparently stealing "Baby Monster" Valdir Araujo's wine, and it turns out it was Michael Graves from ATT. Steve Carl says Graves has been doing "stupid things" to try to rile them up since losing his fight.

-Speaking of Carl, the coaches discuss their options, and decide to go with him this week. The former WSOF Champ will get his first fight on a UFC-centric television show.

-Robinson talks about strength and conditioning as a big part of preparation, and are discussing the way some of their guys are recovering and how some of the others aren't. They decide to go with "Baby Monster" for this next fight. He's a Bellator and WSOF vet himself, but he's been stopped several times so far in his career. Side note, he's also one of the early victims of current UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman.

-The world might not care about the feud, but there's no love lost between the teams. Graves receives some behind-his-back criticism from Sabah Homasi and Steve Montgomery for the drinking he's been doing. Really isn't the smartest thing to be doing if he's going to be fighting again.

-Once again the weigh-ins are at the Blackzilians gym, and neither team knows who will be fighting until it's set.

-White is expecting an exciting fight from this matchup. He said the same only to be disappointed through the first two weeks...

-Lambert snidely said The Blackzilians recruited "Baby Monster" away from another gym run by friends of his. Carl missed weight by 3/4 of a pound. Carl said their locker room didn't have a working sauna, so they go into the Blackzilians locker to use their Sauna.

-Robinson thinks ATT changed their course this week, and weren't actually planning on Carl until they lost two straight, thus not giving him enough time to hit weight.

-The Blackzilians have an issue with Carl using their sauna, and UFC lightweight Michael Johnson and fellow Blackzilian Tyrone Spong want to kick him out. They go into the locker room to get them out of there. Leads to an argument. Lambert says they'd let the Blackzilians guys use their sauna if they missed weight in their gym. Maybe, maybe not. Easy to say, but had it been them in this spot first they could have reacted the same way. Spong and Coy nearly get into it in the locker room as they cut to break.

-Ultimately, they get ATT to leave the sauna, and will make him run it off if necessary. However, his short time in the sauna shed that last 3/4 of a pound, and he hit the mark. They faced them off, and once again Lambert and Robinson were behind their fighters. That's another random annoyance here. It's awkward and not adding anything to the weigh-in face-off.

-ATT thinks they've got everyone broken down on the Blackzilians roster, and the coaches go over video with Carl and do some gameplanning. Not a lot of time to actually absorb this type of info a day before the fight.

-Carl says his spot this season is about proving what level he's on. Araujo says there's nothing Carl does that will surprise him in the fight. Carl expects Araujo to try to hold him down for two rounds.

-Dana White thinks the fight is more interesting because Carl missed weight and he (probably) just found out that Araujo had been knocked out a few times.

FIGHT: VALDIR ARAUJO VS. STEVE CARL

ROUND ONE: Araujo threw a couple of wild punches to open the round. He tossed out some leg kicks. Carl stepped in with a straight right. Araujo shot in, but got stuffed. He landed a knee on the way up. They traded kicks to the body. Araujo got in a kick. Carl landed a short combination. Araujo shot in, nearly getting Carl down, but got stopped at the cage. Carl tried to hold off the single leg attempt with some short strikes. He got picked up and dropped, but immediately got to his feet. He turned Araujo around on the cage in the clinch with double underhooks. Carl got in a couple of punches to the body and knees to the thigh. Carl continued to press him to the cage, then shot for a takedown of his own. Araujo looked to set up a standing choke but lost it. They continued to fight in the clinch, but neither was doing much of anything. Carl nearly got Araujo down, but Araujo scrambled out and landed a short combo before clinching. They jockeyed for position at the horn. Could go either way on that one.

ROUND TWO: Araujo landed a hard inside leg kick, but got cracked with a right hand. Plodding movement from both guys. Carl missed a right hand, and Araujo connected on a counter. Araujo landed a right hand as he rushed in. Both fighters were a bit hesitant to unload. Araujo landed the kick. Carl shot in and got stuffed at the cage. Robinson screamed at Araujo to get off the cage. Araujo landed a knee and continued to stuff the takedown attempts. Carl stayed on a double leg attempt. Araujo showed good balance to get out. He went for a standing choke but lost the hold. However, he gained position on Carl and landed a knee to the body in the clinch. He got in a right hand, but the clinching continued. Araujo had another takedown attempt stuffed, and got turned back around. Hooray, more wall stalling. Araujo got in a knee and grabbed for a standing guillotine. Carl tried to take him down but again got stuffed. Araujo pulled guard with the guillotine and had it on tight. He rolled it to mount and Carl had to tap. Ouch. That one'll hurt ATT. And Carl's chances of being on the UFC roster when this one's done.

WINNER: Araujo via submission in the second round

TEAM SCORE (WEEK 3)

ATT: 0
Blackzilians: 75

-Once again, as was established already, the points don't mean as much right now. It's a disheartening loss, of course, but ATT simply needs to win fights when they're worth more and this is all negated.

-Lambert said they were surprised by how flat Carl looked in the second round, because he's a veteran.

-White criticizes Carl for not listening to his team and not following what they wanted him to do against the BJJ and Judo black belt.

White Quote: "He didn't implement his gameplan. He paid for it, and so did American Top Team."

-Carl said he didn't deal with the pressure, and said he went out and performed "like s***."

-We bookend the episode with another locker room pep talk after a loss.

Lambert Quote: "Our guys have come out, none of the three have fought to their potential. We're pissed off."

-That's episode three! We'll be back next week with a look at another episode of TUF 21.