We open with a Team Ortiz training session, where we find out that Kyacey Uscola is a father to a new baby boy. Uscola, if you’ll remember, was due to become a father during the taping of this show, but decided that doing the show was incredibly important for his career and thus missed the birth of his baby. Kyacey talks to his wife, who tells him the boy is soooo cute. Kyacey is emotional, and tells the wife that he has a very important fight tomorrow. This is one of those real moments where you realize how important this show is to some of these veteran journeymen who are trying to get a shot with the UFC.
FIGHT DAY
Kris says it sucks that he has to fight his own teammate in Kyacey, but he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. Kris says he’s the underdog. Kyacey has no doubt that his hand will be raised at the end of the fight.
Tito says he’s sitting on the bleachers and not saying anything. He’s not going to coach either guy, and the better man will win.
This is the first-ever wild card fight in TUF history, with the winner getting back into the tournament.
KYACEY USCOLA VS. KRIS MCCRAY
Uscola scored early with some crisp striking, including a few nice leg kicks that go unchecked by McCray. And then Uscola pulls an Anderson Silva and uses a straight front kick to the left knee of McCray, and it hurt him pretty bad.
That move should be banned, and now I want him to lose. Seriously, that kick is designed to blow out somebody’s knee and cause serious injury — there is no other reason to use it. If you’re such a coward that you feel the need to front kick somebody and blow out their knee, causing an injury that will require thousands of dollars in surgery and months upon months on the shelf, you need to tighten up the rest of your game.
McCray rebounded, using a clinch against the cage. He threw a bunch of knees, but one of them went awry and hit Uscola in the junk. Mazagatti separated them, and Uscola goes for the front knee kick AGAIN. It didn’t hit, and McCray got a takedown, but Uscola was back up again. McCray took him down with a big slam and rode out the round. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Kris McCray.
Round 2: McCray got a takedown early, then started working for a kimura. He got the kimura tight for the submission win. Kyacey is frustrated and emotional. Serves you right for trying to maim your opponent. Kris McCray d. Kyacey Uscola via submission, round 2
Kyacey says he had a lot on his mind, but that’s no excuse. He’s disappointed in his performance.
MATCHMAKING
It’s time to pick the quarterfinal fights. Dana asks Chuck who he wants to pick, and Liddell says he doesn’t know. Tito has a look on his face like “this dude has lost his marbles.” Tito then offers his opinion, and Dana agrees. Chuck comes to life and starts arguing, mostly because he doesn’t want Tito to get his way. Tito says that Chuck and Dana want a third round for Nick and Court, so why not do the rematch? He makes a good point. Dana finally agrees, and Chuck starts complaining about Tito getting his way. Dana kicks the coaches out of the room so he can make a final decision.
QUARTERFINAL FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Court McGee vs. Nick Ring
Kyle Noke vs. Kris McCray
Brad Tavares vs. Seth Baczynski
Jamie Yager vs. Josh Bryant
So in the end, we still have team vs. team bouts in the quarterfinal. Chuck says it would be great if they could win all the fights, and then asks if the producers could send Tito home if that happens.
DATE NIGHT
Forrest Griffin shows up at the TUF house wearing “his creepy trench coat” and sporting an epic wood-dweller beard. And then we have what amounts to a 2 minute infomercial for UFC Undisputed 2010, with the fighters playing each other while going over the selling points for the game. Good timing, considering that the game comes out next Tuesday.
The next day, Nick goes to the doctor to get his knee checked out. The doc tells him he has very little tissue left in the knee and that he’ll need a third ACL reconstructive surgery. Nick is emotional while talking about it. The doctor says the best case scenario is for him to put up with the pain and swelling and fight through it, then have the surgery at the end of the show. That option will risk the chance of ruining his knee forever and ending his career. Alternatively, he can pull out of the tourney and have the surgery now.
Dana shows up at the house to talk to Nick. Dana says he was told Nick can fight through it, but Nick elects to pull out of the show and have surgery. It’s the smart move, but the show is produced to make Nick look a little weak. Nick doesn’t want to pull out but says the only options he would have in a fight is to go in and pull guard. Nick knows he’s losing a big opportunity, but your body tells you when you have to stop.
Dana talks to the fighters and tells them the news. They have to make a decision on who to bring back. Hammortree decides to follow Dana outside and ask for the fight. Surprisingly, Dana gives it to him. Joe is upset because if he’d known he had to ask for the fight, he would have done it before anybody. Sometimes you just have to take the initiative. Just like that, Hammortree takes Nick’s spot in the competition, and he’ll face Court.
WEIGH-IN: COURT MCGEE (186) vs. JAMES HAMMORTREE (185)
Court acknowledges that facing Hammortree instead of Nick drastically changes his game plan, but he’s ready to fight.
COURT MCGEE VS. JAMES HAMMORTREE
Round 1: Feeling out process to begin. Hammortree wants to swing wildly but that desire is tempered by Court’s quick left jab. Hammortree rushes him, but Court ends up clinching him from behind, then drags him to the ground. Hammortree is back up and frees himself from the clinch. Court throws the slowest leg kick in the history of leg kicks, but somehow it still lands. Nice exchange of wild punches between both guys. Hammortree lands a nice right, but Court clinches, pushes him against the cage and then gets a big takedown. Hammortree works his way back to his feet and frees himself from the clinch again. Court misses with a head kick. Court gets stuffed on a takedown attempt. Court lands a nice combo, but Hammortree fires back with his own, then gets a takedown. Court scrambles to get up and then starts working a takedown of his own. He drags Hammortree away from the cage for a takedown, then rides out the rest of the round. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Court McGee.
Round 2: Hammortree lands a right, then shoots for the takedown. It’s stuffed, however, and Court locks in an Overeem-riffic standing guillotine for the submission. Old “Hammertime” is gonna want that one back for sure. Court McGee d. James Hammortree via submission, round 2
Hammortree is frustrated. Tito says he’s still young and inexperienced, and he’ll learn from the mistake. Dana says Court looks better every time he fights — he has good hands, great power and can submit you. Dana says he’s now the dark horse to win the competition. Court does the “Courtpanzee” to close out the show.
NEXT WEEK: The moment everyone has been waiting for takes place — something happens with Tito Ortiz that jeopardizes his fight with Chuck. Actually, it did more than just jeopardize it, since we know that Rich Franklin will take on Chuck at UFC 115 in June. Regardless, the moment that will likely serve as the most significant one of Ultimate Fighter 11 is finally here.
