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THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER
MAY 26, 2010
AIRED ON SPIKE TV
Note- I missed the first 15 minutes or so of this episode due to a problem with my cable. I've been told that all that happened was Tito Ortiz returned from his doctor with news of a possible neck surgery. I also missed the first round of Kris McCray vs. Kyle Noke. From what I was told, I didn't miss anything.
FIGHT- Kris McCray vs. Kyle Noke
ROUND 2- They clinch, Kris with a slam. They get back up, and Kris hits another slam. Kris is in half-guard, working his ground-and-pound. Noke reverses and gets on McCray's back. Noke nearly ends the fight with a rear-naked choke, but Kris escapes somehow. Kris reverses into guard, where he lays on Noke for the rest of the round. We're going to a third round.
ROUND 3- They clinch again, and Kris gets a takedown. Kris works his ground-and-pound again, hitting some nice elbows. Noke tries for an armbar. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stands them up after some inaction. Kris clinches and keeps his lay-and-pray going.
WINNER- Kris McCray by Decision
Well, that fight was sure boring. The other fight in this episode is Seth Baczynski vs. Brad Tavares. Seth's coach, Tito Ortiz, and Brad's coach, Chuck Liddell are both confidant in their guys. Back at the house, Chuck is ranting and raving like a madman to the fighters about the possibility of Tito withdrawing from their fight. Chuck is swearing like Dana White here. It's kind of entertaining to watch him complain while eating his apple. Seth and Brad are friends.
FIGHT- Seth Baczynski vs. Brad Tavares
Seth has a 2 inch height advantage, but Brad has a 1 inch reach advantage. Herb Dean is the referee.
ROUND 1- Seth tries for a takedown and gets it. Seth is on top, before moving to Brad's back. Seth works some ground-and-pound before trying for a rear-naked choke. Brad reverses out. Seth goes for a triangle, but Brad slams his way out of it. As the round is ending, Brad throws a flurry. Brad slips while going for a knee to the face. As he's getting up, Seth unleashes a soccer kick to Brad's face, knocking him loopy. Brad's knee was still on the ground, making the kick illegal.
After the doctor checks on Seth, the decision is made that he can't continue. Seth is disqualified.
WINNER- Brad Tavares by Disqualification
Tito is livid, one of his assistant coaches is saying that Seth's kick actually connected with Brad's chest, not his face. Rich Attonito is upset by them calling it a gift, their second of the season. The first gift would have been when Kyacey Uscola got DQ'd for hitting Rich in the face with a knee. Kyacey's knee didn't really look like it connected too hard, but Seth's kick to Brad looked powerful. I'd like to see a reverse-angle because Seth's kick sure looked as though it blasted Brad right in the face. Tito makes a move towards some of Team Liddell to continue arguing, which incenses Chuck. A huge pull-apart ensues. Tito and Chuck are both yelling at each other.
It seems as though I didn't miss much by missing the first 15 minutes of tonight's episode. The first fight was boring and listless, the second fight had all sorts of controversy. Brad didn't look able to continue so the right decision was made there. Seth had to be DQ'd, this is a tournament. I'd sure love to see another angle of that kick, though. I can't imagine it being anything other than a kick to the face, but I'd like to see definitive proof. A fairly good episode all in all.
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