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Unfortunately, the suspense for the final bout was ruined, since the results were posted all over the internet for a week. Regardless, we were treated to a fun fight.

Hendo heads over to the house for BBQed ribs and to enjoy some down time with his team since the end is nigh. He also gives some subtle support to Frank Lester who is scheduled to fight James Wilks. Team US stand out DaMarques Johnson also takes some time out when he and Frank Lester are alone and gives him a pep talk. Lester seems to be well liked and respected by all. Some of the guys call him “Frankie 4 teeth”.

The respect for Lester comes from the fact that this will be his 4th fight (according to him, 3rd on the show) in a little more than a month. The guy is walking around busted up, with cuts, a black eye, bruises, etc. Yet he is still motivated and passionate. His primary motivation is his 19 month old daughter, whose pictures are taped up on a wall near his bed as a reminder. Lester is a hard guy not to like.

After a similar dinner with team UK and coach Bisping, some shenanigans are unleashed at the table, when Andre Winner goes from spitting food out to throwing a handful of the curry Dean Amasinger made across his neck and face. Winner takes off out of the house with Dean following. Dean tosses him into the pool and as he comes out Faulkner dumps a pound of flour on him and everyone has a good laugh. This entire event defines why Team UK has done so well: they understand what it means to be a team, how to relax, and develop camaraderie.

Wilks and Lester share a sauna together and their friendship is apparent. Lester tells Wilks that he expects to perform better since he has no anger for his opponent, therefore he will be more relaxed.

Welterweight Semi-Final: Frank Lester vs. James Wilks II
The rematch is similar to the first bout in many ways. Lester’s power is apparent as he has Wilks hurt a few times. Wilks demonstrates that he has the will, desire and certainly the skillset as he transitions from striking to the clinch effortlessly. He has no success with his many takedowns, as Lester’s takedown defense is up to snuff. As the rounds pass on, Lester fatigues (over-training and over-competing?) and Wilks’ confidence increases to the point of showboating.

In the 3rd round, Wilks eventually catches Lester in a good Thai Clinc/Pramb and unleashes some vicious knees. Lester goes down hurt, but as expected springs back up to keep going, but Wilks seizes the moment and batters Lester back down for good before the heferee jumps in and stops it.

James Wilks def. Frank Lester by TKO (strikes) 2:21 of RD3!

Lester is apologetic in the locker room, but everyone shoots it down as he has no reason to apologize. Wilks is elated that he is going to Vegas, and deservedly so as he has proven he has what it takes. Unfortunate for him, is DaMarques has taken a serious dislike to Wilks and it has put a fire under Johnson. Wilks will have a monster across the ring from him come Saturday night.

All in all a decent season of TUF, and one I am glad was drama free. Mainly thanks to Julie Browning’s little sister getting booted off early on. The Brits demonstrated that they are more than capable as a nation of MMAists, and have loudly announced their presence.

For those interested, there is already a discussion of the TUF 10 cast on out forum. Hop on and join the discussion!

After a quick recap of last week’s episode, there’s some fluff footage of Bisping talking his team up, and of the team working out. These guys are taking this opportunity VERY seriously and look in fantastic shape. Bisping mentions his assistant coaches are actually his very own coaches back home: Mario “Sukuta” Neto is his BJJ and Wrestling coach and Dave Jackson is his Muay Thai coach with over 25 years of experience.

One thing that Bisping continuously harps on and brings up is that they are perceived as underdogs. I can’t recall anyone saying the UK team was going to be beat easily and that they were the underdogs. I’m not sure where he got it into his head, perhaps the editing monster hasn’t shown us the discussions, but Bisping brings it up in every episode. He also mentions that the shit talking he is doing is solely a tactical device because “Fights are often won before you even step in the ring.”

Apparently he forgot he talks shit after fights, i.e. his fight against Matt Hamill. Not very congruent Mr. Bisping. Bisping and team are OK with shit talking, but not OK with having some fun with practical jokes. Kind of a double standard. Ross Pearson showing basically a negative sense of humor is disgusted when his wrestling shoes that he let David Faulkner borrow and left behind in the gym got labeled with “Cheerio” mate” and some other stuff. This was the second prank by the US team, the first being when Faulkner left his shirt in the common room. It got bleach penned. Both pranks led by DeMarques Johnson who is half motivated by Bisping’s incessant shit talk.

Pearson calls the US team a bunch of dicks. Apparently, he are a serious cat. Regardless, Pearson is still one of my picks.

Footage switches to the American team and their workout and Dan Henderson’s assistant coaches: Ricardo “Pancho” Feliciano is the BJJ guy, Cyrille Diabate running the Muay Thai/Kickboxing and long-time training partner Greco Roman wrestler Heath Sims.

Welterweights: Mark Miller vs. Nick Osipczak
Team US won the coin toss so they pick Team UK’s Nick Osipczak to take on Mark Miller in the first Welterweight bout between the teams.

They waste no time engaging and Miller rushed in and they start wailing away at one another. They end up in a clinch, Miller tries to bear hug Nick down, but Nick reverses with a sweet leg reap and lands on top. Miller gets to guard and hunts for a Kimura/DWL. They then take turns reversing positions, doing some light G&P, before standing back up. More strikes, before a clinch and Nick shoots for a double leg and Miller counters with a sprawl and FHL. Nick pulls guard where he starts to throw elbows from the bottom.

Miller keeps driving in, and Nick sweeps and gets into the mount and begins to rain some light G&P. Miller works back to guard, goes for another Kimura/DWL so he pushes out and stands, they exchange some punches, Miller charges in and Nick takes the opportunity to sink in a Guillotine and pull guard. It looks VERY tight. At this point Miller appears to either tap or reach to get wrist control. Either way the heferee wasn’t sure (and after watching the replay a few times it’s still hard to tell) and decides to push on Nick’s elbows instead of fighting for the grip and gets out of the Guillotine. Miller works some more G&P, Nick escapes they get back up, exchange some more before Nick goes for another takedown as the bell rings.

This fight is up, down and everywhere else. Great pace and both are putting on a great show. So far a slight edge in damage for Miller, but you could give the round to Opisczak no problem. That’s how close it was.

Round 2 is pretty much more of the same, except this time both guys look tired from the pace. After plenty more of up, down and everywhere else, they are on the ground with Miller working G&P, possibly edging out another close round. Herb Dean stands them up, as they approach each other, Miller’s hands are low, Nick fakes a low kick and brings it up high and CroCops Miller and he collapses as he is pretty much sleeping for a moment. Diabate must have been cringing because when he was working with Miller before the fight Miller asked “Is he a kicker.” and Diabate said “Not really. He’s not a power kicker.”

Ouch.

Nick Osipczak def. Mark Miller via KO by high kick- Round 2, @ 3:54.

As previously mentioned the winner of the Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson fight will be the opposing coach to Michael Bisping for TUF season 9 “Team U.S. vs. Team U.K.”, Season 9 will pit Welterweights (170#s) and Lightweights (155#s) against one another and NOT have Middleweights as previously announced. Tryouts for the new season are expected to begin soon as shooting for the new season begins in January. As a minimum requirement, all fighters must have a minimum of 3 professional fights. In light of recent developments with the collapse of EliteXC, who knows which fighters may turn up! Jake Shields!??!

As with the previous season, fighters will be expected to fight and win just to get onto the show,so successfully being picked during the tryouts doesn’t guarantee a fighter will be on the show.

See what everyone is saying about the nes season on our forum!

After Saturday night’s performance against Chris Leben at UFC 89, many are asking where it places Michael Bisping in the big picture of MMA and the middleweight weight class. While I am not a fan of Bisping’s by any stretch of the imagination, I thought he fought a very intelligent and masterful game plan. He did the very thing he HAD to do to win based on his skillset. It was perfectly executed strategy, which unfortunately for Bisping is not appreciated by the mainstream fan that wants to see blood, fighters getting Nelmarked, choked out or limbs twisted until a fighter taps. A win is a win and though not a win that should propel him towards a challenge for the belt, it certainly moves him up the ranks, regardless of what he did to get there.

The UFC has announced that ex-middleweight champ Rich Franklin will be taking on Dan Henderson at UFC 93. The winner will become a coach for TUF 9, and will be the opposing coach to Michael Bisping. TUF 9 will feature a Team U.S. vs. Team U.K. format, and as usual, at the end of the season both fighters will square off. Shooting for TUF 9 begins in January. This is a MASSIVE step up for Bisping. Based on his performance Saturday night, it’s one I believe to be premature. Bisping needs to fight some more before taking on one of these titans.

Noticeable is how much less Bisping talks about challenging Anderson Silva and how much more he has been demonstrating humility as of late, which to me says that he has given more thought to going straight at Anderson. “All people seem to be talking about is a title fight. You’ve got to earn that right for a title shot. Whenever it comes, I’ll be happy. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Have I done it yet? I probably haven’t yet. I don’t think I have. I don’t just want to be given it because I’m from the UK. I want to earn that right.”

If he can somehow redeem himself in a dramatic stoppage win over Hendo or Franklin then he will have catapulted his was to certainly be considered to challenge for the belt. I don’t see it happening. Sure, I’ve been wrong a million times about fights. Up and down, left and right, here and there I can’t see how Bisping beats a Hendo or Franklin.

However, great fighters are made because they rise to the occasion regardless of past performances. Bisping is talented enough, passionate enough, and capable. Let’s just hope he does so in a far more dramatic fashion that Saturday night’s fight.

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