theragingbull
11-15-2006, 09:08 AM
I wrote this for my newspaper, they cut it down and it ended up sucking. Here is the less-sucky version. It's not the best as its a review of something on Spike, but UFC 65 is around the corner...Enjoy, Thanks guys.
Another TUF Night
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season finales have delivered some of the most memorable moments in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. Forrest Griffin, bloodied in a stand-up war of attrition, smiling his way to victory. Stephan Bonnar earning his UFC contract in the same fifteen minute epic. Season four’s finale was another memorable night; however, the memories did not come from the finals.
Season four of TUF, The Comeback, placed former UFC fighters on the road to a title shot, a contract, and a sponsorship. The night featured welterweights Matt “The Terror” Serra against Chris “Lights Out” Lytle and middleweights Patrick “The Predator” Cote versus Travis Lutter.
The event kicked off with fighters who fell short on their comeback. Middleweights Edwin “Babyface” Dewees and Jorge “El Conquistador” Rivera came to battle. Despite being younger and having more MMA experience, Dewees was unable to neutralize Rivera’s Thai clinch. Dewees hit the mat after a stiff uppercut and was stopped after Rivera capitalized with punches on the ground early in the first round.
In the next bout, Din “Dinyero” Thomas stood across from Rich “No Love” Clementi. Both fighters were down to their natural weight of 155lbs. Rapid, quick exchanges characterized the first round with Thomas gaining the upper hand. Coming into the second round, Clementi was visibly gassed and Thomas gave him “No Love” as he worked for a slick rear-naked choke that ended the fight.
In preliminary action, Dutchman Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann toppled the undefeated Brazilian Thales Leites in a stand-up bout. Leites much anticipated debut saw him winning a stand-up fight in the first round against a known threat; however, his gas tank hit empty in the second round. He quickly turned into Kampmann’s punching bag as leg kicks limited his mobility. Kampmann won a unanimous decision.
Machado jiu-jitsu black belt Travis Lutter only had one thought in his mind throughout the season and throughout this night: submit him. Cote has survived the infamous ground attack of former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and looked to knockout Lutter. In two minutes time, Lutter finished his comeback by finishing Cote with an armbar from an unlikely position that can easily be a submission of the year candidate.
Gracie jiu-jitsu stylist Matt Serra was at one time considered the paragon for jiu-jitsu in mixed martial arts.
His Pitbull-like aggression was nowhere to be found against Lytle. Serra was the aggressor, but the fight was a fifteen minute stalemate. Serra’s highlight reel loss to Shonie Carter was avenged during the show and a split decision win against Lytle capped the night with a fitting—yet anti-climatic—finish to the story.
Capital City Fighting Alliance’s Scott Smith and Serra jiu-jitsu student Pete Sell showcased the pizzazz of their housemate Shonie Carter, who famously stated: “Do you know what P.I.M.P. stands for? It stands for Punching Is My Pleasure!” The fight contained all the elements of a TUF finale experience: all heart and all action.
Rapid, hurtful exchanges between the two fighters led them to high-five and applaud for each other during the first round. They remained standing for the entire first round, where they stringed together leg kicks and punches. As the round ended, they hugged and had a brief chat as if it were the end of the fight. This sportsmanship and friendship developed during the show. The second round brought an once-in-a-lifetime finish.
Sell landed a stunning body punch that sent Smith backwards and to one knee, clutching his damaged ribs. Sell pounced. He attempted to finish the fight, but was blindsided by a vicious right hand that knocked him out. It was the last punch Smith had in his arsenal as he laid across the mat after connecting. The fight was awarded to Smith, but the result resembled a double-knockout.
The solid under card performances made for a stellar TUF finale. Serra and Lutter’s fights were not the most impressive, but the completion of their comebacks manifested what makes the sport great. It is the reality of the participants—winners and losers. They are husbands, fathers, and warriors. And as showcased by Smith and Sell, men become warriors in the realm of unpredictability. Men become warriors in the fight world.
--The Raging Bull
Another TUF Night
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season finales have delivered some of the most memorable moments in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. Forrest Griffin, bloodied in a stand-up war of attrition, smiling his way to victory. Stephan Bonnar earning his UFC contract in the same fifteen minute epic. Season four’s finale was another memorable night; however, the memories did not come from the finals.
Season four of TUF, The Comeback, placed former UFC fighters on the road to a title shot, a contract, and a sponsorship. The night featured welterweights Matt “The Terror” Serra against Chris “Lights Out” Lytle and middleweights Patrick “The Predator” Cote versus Travis Lutter.
The event kicked off with fighters who fell short on their comeback. Middleweights Edwin “Babyface” Dewees and Jorge “El Conquistador” Rivera came to battle. Despite being younger and having more MMA experience, Dewees was unable to neutralize Rivera’s Thai clinch. Dewees hit the mat after a stiff uppercut and was stopped after Rivera capitalized with punches on the ground early in the first round.
In the next bout, Din “Dinyero” Thomas stood across from Rich “No Love” Clementi. Both fighters were down to their natural weight of 155lbs. Rapid, quick exchanges characterized the first round with Thomas gaining the upper hand. Coming into the second round, Clementi was visibly gassed and Thomas gave him “No Love” as he worked for a slick rear-naked choke that ended the fight.
In preliminary action, Dutchman Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann toppled the undefeated Brazilian Thales Leites in a stand-up bout. Leites much anticipated debut saw him winning a stand-up fight in the first round against a known threat; however, his gas tank hit empty in the second round. He quickly turned into Kampmann’s punching bag as leg kicks limited his mobility. Kampmann won a unanimous decision.
Machado jiu-jitsu black belt Travis Lutter only had one thought in his mind throughout the season and throughout this night: submit him. Cote has survived the infamous ground attack of former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and looked to knockout Lutter. In two minutes time, Lutter finished his comeback by finishing Cote with an armbar from an unlikely position that can easily be a submission of the year candidate.
Gracie jiu-jitsu stylist Matt Serra was at one time considered the paragon for jiu-jitsu in mixed martial arts.
His Pitbull-like aggression was nowhere to be found against Lytle. Serra was the aggressor, but the fight was a fifteen minute stalemate. Serra’s highlight reel loss to Shonie Carter was avenged during the show and a split decision win against Lytle capped the night with a fitting—yet anti-climatic—finish to the story.
Capital City Fighting Alliance’s Scott Smith and Serra jiu-jitsu student Pete Sell showcased the pizzazz of their housemate Shonie Carter, who famously stated: “Do you know what P.I.M.P. stands for? It stands for Punching Is My Pleasure!” The fight contained all the elements of a TUF finale experience: all heart and all action.
Rapid, hurtful exchanges between the two fighters led them to high-five and applaud for each other during the first round. They remained standing for the entire first round, where they stringed together leg kicks and punches. As the round ended, they hugged and had a brief chat as if it were the end of the fight. This sportsmanship and friendship developed during the show. The second round brought an once-in-a-lifetime finish.
Sell landed a stunning body punch that sent Smith backwards and to one knee, clutching his damaged ribs. Sell pounced. He attempted to finish the fight, but was blindsided by a vicious right hand that knocked him out. It was the last punch Smith had in his arsenal as he laid across the mat after connecting. The fight was awarded to Smith, but the result resembled a double-knockout.
The solid under card performances made for a stellar TUF finale. Serra and Lutter’s fights were not the most impressive, but the completion of their comebacks manifested what makes the sport great. It is the reality of the participants—winners and losers. They are husbands, fathers, and warriors. And as showcased by Smith and Sell, men become warriors in the realm of unpredictability. Men become warriors in the fight world.
--The Raging Bull