Sep 17, 2009 - 2:48:26 PM By: Zak Jensen, MMATorch Guest Blogger Zak Jensen's back answering more questions from Torch Editor Jamie Penick on this week's debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter and more. Make sure to send in questions for this feature to Zak at Tuf10TorchBlog@gmail.com!
Your comments on the episode were that it was awkward to be picked last, what was going through your head as everyone else was getting picked and you were still standing there?
It wasn't so awkward that I was picked last, it was awkward that Rampage made me stand there so damn long. I did not care really it doesn't matter where you get picked it matters what you do with your time during the show.
Watching the full first episode, what stood out to you as something you were surprised was shown or you didn't recall, and was there something from the first few days that you thought you'd see that we didn't?
The only thing that I forgot that was shown was Brenden saying "Fuck him, Fuck that guy," when Kimbo walked in. I thought they would show more of the first training session we did in front of the coaches.
Did Rampage and his coaches talk to you guys about picking the first fight at all? Or did they just go ahead and pick their who they wanted to pick?
He asked who wanted to fight and we all said we did and then the went and picked who they wanted and picked who they wanted to fight against. It was 100 percent the coaches choice.
We know now you are on the team with both Kimbo and Wes Sims. Sims looks to be the attention seeker on this season, was that what he was like the entire time on the show? It'll be entertaining for sure, but was it just an act?
He is an interesting character to say the the least. Lets just put it this way, if you can figure out what Wes is going to do and what is going on in his head, you should go by a lottery ticket because your psychic.
OK, what's up with the green body paint? We only saw a glimpse, but it's coming, care to shed some light on that yet?
All I am going to say to that was your in a house with nothing to do for 6 weeks, you go a little crazy after a while.
Roy Nelson talked to USA Today about the episode, and said the following on you being picked last: "I think Zack was probably the other (type of) guy, where picked last, he kind of more felt sorry for himself, versus somebody like myself that goes, "OK, cool, let's do this."
Well first off I would like say that I would think that USA Today would do a little more research on the spelling of my name. All joking aside, that pisses me off; I did not feel sorry for myself, I was pissed and knew I had to prove myself, I have always been underestimated so it was fitting for it to happen again, but this time it's on national TV. On another note, when Roy said he would have reacted with "OK, cool, let's do this," I am sure he meant OK lets go back up to the buffet and get another plate to put in his fat gut.
Did you get to see Wagner's cut up close? That may have been the worst cut ever suffered in the sport. It was brutal.
Yes I did that thing was gross it was down to his skull. He had 200 stitches to close it up. Stitch said it was the worst cut he had seen. The blood soaked through the canvas and was dripping on to the floor under the Octagon.
How did the team deal with the first loss? Was it more the coaches upset and the fighters indifferent because you've all got to fight, or had you developed a sense of team yet that it affected you all to lose to Rashad's squad?
It sucked, a loss always sucks. It was so early on in the competition that the team had not bonded yet, but we were all pissed also because it meant that Rashad had control of the next pick.
What were your impressions on Abe's attitude toward the fight game? He seemed to take the sport on as more of a hobby without the passion some of the other guys presented, is that a fair assessment as far as you could tell?
Abe is Abe, he came off as kind of a jerk at first, but when you get to know him he truly isn't, but he is too smart for his own good. Also I never talked to him about why he started fighting so I can't really say.
Check back this week for a new weekly podcast feature with Zak and Torch Editor Jamie Penick covering each week's episode.
