The Ultimate Fighter
TUF 21 REPORT 6/3: Penick's thoughts on seventh episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season
Jun 3, 2015 - 10:55:05 PM TUF 21 REPORT 6/3: Penick's thoughts on seventh episode of "ATT vs. Blackzilians" season

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

We're back for another episode of The Ultimate Fighter on Fox Sports 1, and American Top Team is in need of some new life this week, having dropped five of the first six bouts. Time for the "random thoughts" rundown.

- As we kick things off, ATT is reeling following another loss, and the guys get a stern talking to from their coaches before Dana White gives us the news (which was stated at the end of last week's episode) that the coaches now can drop two fighters and bring in two new ones.

-Over at the Blackzilians camp, Andrews Nakahara is going to be pulled from the competition because he's been suspended 30 days for his TKO loss, and won't be able to fight again during the rest of filming. He understands the move, but he's also understandably crushed that his opportunity is over with. They replace Nakahara with Alexandre "Pulga" Pimentel, who is grateful for the chance he's getting now.

Glenn Robinson quote on Dan Lambert: Dan looks desperate when I look in his eyes."

-Back at ATT, they already have one guy out with Steve Montgomery having his seizure, and he chooses only to replace him and keep the rest of his squad. The new face for ATT is Cristiano "Soldado" Souza, a jiu jitsu black belt ready to step in himself. Lambert says they still haven't decided when they'll have him fight or if he'll even get in the cage, but hopes it provides a spark. They certainly need something at this point.

-The coaches at ATT try to figure out who is going to fight next for the Blackzilians, and they think it's going to be Carrington Banks. With that in mind, they roll with Nathan Coy, the Strikeforce and Bellator vet who has been around for quite some time.

-The Blackzilians feel they've been off on their ATT guesses thus far, so they decide to go with Vicente Luque, who has been itching for a chance to fight. That'll throw off ATT a little bit. Luque says his goal in the sport is to be one of the greatest of all time. He says he doesn't drink and he doesn't party, because he feels that's the way to become a Champion.

-Souza gets to the house to take his place in the absence of Montgomery. Nakahara's exit is also the opening for Pimentel, and they talk about the unfortunate nature of the move as the two of them are good friends on the team. Nakahara promises to be back strong.

-At weigh-ins, the matchup gets revealed. Robinson says Coy doesn't impress him, while Lambert thinks Luque is one of the weaker guys on the Blackzilians team. Dana White tries to talk it up as a potentially good fight, but he's been disappointed with each of the previous bouts thus far. Coy tries to rattle Luque with some comments in the staredown, but Luque said it wasn't even anything he remembered after the fact.

-Time for the weekly final prep section with both fighters expressing why they think they're going to win. The formula at this point makes everything mostly blend together, especially when the fights themselves haven't stood out as much of anything.

FIGHT: VICENTE LUQUE VS. NATHAN COY

ROUND ONE: Luque connected on a solid two-punch counter to kick things off, then stuffed a takedown attempt and landed some hard strikes. Coy came up bleeding from that. Coy landed a hard jab that tripped Luque up, but he couldn't do anything with it. After a few more exchanges, Coy again shot in, but Luque again stuffed it on the cage. Coy held him in the clinch and threw some knees to the legs. Coy went for the takedown again and Luque tried for a kimura. He didn't get it, but stayed standing. Coy held a foot, but ate a few strikes before Luque got out. Luque landed a couple of hard strikes at the cage. He stuffed a takedown and landed a hard knee to the body. He backed Coy up and landed another combination. Coy's face was a mess. He ducked under a punch and grabbed another clinch. Luque stuffed another takedown attempt. Coy kept him in the clinch and landed a couple of knees. Luque again held off another takedown attempt, but he was kept on the cage. Luque finally circled out with 45 seconds left. He stuffed a takedown attempt with a nice knee. He countered a punch from Coy. He landed another hard knee. He tried to walk Coy down and had to stuff another takedown on the cage before the horn. Should be clear round for Luque.

ROUND TWO: They traded strikes early on, with Luque getting the better of the exchange. He landed a hard kick. They traded strikes. Luque rocked Coy with a couple of exchanges, but stayed patient. Coy got through with a straight left. Luque landed a hard knee and a few counter punches. They traded again. Luque getting the better of every exchange. Luque landed a hard jab and avoided counter strikes. He landed a solid inside leg kick. He got in a body kick following a punch. Coy caught a kick, and finally completed a takedown. Luque got to his knees and tried to get back up, which he did. Coy held the clinch. Luque held off another attempt, but Coy kept him on the cage. Coy landed a couple of knees. They jockeyed for position. Luque continued to stop Coy's takedown attempts, but got dropped to a knee. He went for a kimura but Coy escaped, thought that allowed him to get back up. He tried to sneak around for an armbar late in the round. Coy busted out of it and ended the round on top. Michael Johnson was livid that Luque was attempting jiu jitsu that late. ATT's expecting a third round, but that still seemed like Luque's round to me. Coy's doing nothing offensively and getting his takedowns almost all stuffed. But bad judging could bring us a third round.

ROUND THREE: Indeed, that's what we're getting here. Don't understand how that's split, but alright. They traded punches early, but Coy quickly shot in. He got stuffed. He landed a couple of punches. Luque had a little less energy this round. He did pop in with a hard body kick right after that was typed, but he seemed a bit slower. He hurt Coy with a straight kick to the gut and Coy immediately shot in to recover and catch a breather. He completed the takedown, but Luque immediately got to his feet. Coy landed some knees to the legs. Luque got separation off a trip. He went for a D'Arce/anaconda choke and tried to lock it up. Coy tried to kick out but it was on tight and he was forced to tap. Good showing from Luque. Deserved to win the two round decision, good on him for finishing it in the extra frame.

-Easily the best fight of the season so far, despite Coy's continual takedown attempts. Luque was fun to watch and had some real solid offense for the most part. He was doing damage on the feet, and showed some solid instincts to grab that D'Arce choke late and hold onto it for the finish.

Lambert quote: "That kid was good, man, he was better than we thought."

-Robinson said they prepared for the immediate and constant takedown attempts from Coy. Lambert thought Luque did more to win the first, Robinson criticized Luque for switching to jiu jitsu mid-round, but thought he came back much better in the third.

-Dana White thought Luque won the first two rounds (me too). He said ATT was lucky it even went to a third, and thinks Lambert needs to change up his strategy quick because he's getting blown out of the competition.

-Luque said he never fought someone who could take the shots Coy did and keep coming, and said he respects him as a fighter. Coy expressed his disappointment, but gave Luque credit for coming to fight.

TEAM SCORE (WEEK 7)

ATT: 50
Blackzilians: 200


-That's all for tonight, we'll be back next week for episode eight!