I missed the last episode of The Ultimate Fighter 2, so I'm not perfect! It's not going to stop me from getting back into the octagon, so to speak. I got caught up very quickly with the showboating controversy from Rashad's win during the last episode. I have to agree with Matt Hughes on his view; having only watched the highlights of the fight, I knew it was not a fight I would like to watch.
Where Randy Couture and Chuck Lidell's coaching methods were not the focus of last season, Ultimate Fighter 2 has been making up for this oversight this season. There are more stories about the contrasting styles of Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin. We get to see Rich chill out by the pool with his team. Matt opts to put his team through the paces to "make up for Tom's lack of effort" in the last episode.
Couture devises another relatable challenge called Scarecrow. The challenge was for a welterweight to revolve as many times as possible around a heavyweight's body without touching the ground. The welterweights had to hug and stay tight to the heavyweight. It was explained that this drill is derived from Jiu-Jitsu training. The first sign true strategy implemented was Rich Franklin allowing Team Hughes to expand all their welterweights' energy to achieve an amazing 204 revolutions in 2 hours. Team Franklin then proceeded to forfeit the challenge in order to keep their welterweights fresh for the fight. What a genius move on the part of Rich Franklin!
There was some controversy about Matt allowing Joe Stevenson to taunt Jorge while he was doing the scarecrow challenge. I feel that Joe's taunting wasn't necessarily at the same level as Rashad's showboating, but it was not sportsmanlike nevertheless. Doing what Rashad did in the ring is really disrespectful in the arena of a fight. Performing an individual challenge has always involved quibs from opposing teams but nobody has done what Rashad did, ever since I started watching fighting competitions (well...maybe boxer Nasim Hamed).
"He's not great in the practice room, but when it comes out on the ring, I think he will do fine." This Matt Hughes' statement proves that he was basically feeding Jason Von Flue to the lions. He could not be more candid when he stated that "if he were to chance losing a fighter, he would chance losing Jason". Honestly, I do not want to be coached by such a trainer. It was a disgusting show of competitiveness taken over the edge. There was then really no point to Matt wanting to winning the challenge competition.
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Article comments
1 - TD
I agree with the fight call, and am glad for the Von Flue victory as I am going all the way for the quiet, mellow underdogs. The loud mouthed, arrogant likes of Jorge and Melvyn I am glad to see be gone.
And yes, Cummo all the way as the dark horse - gotta love his Shaolin, Zen-like warrior mentality. He doesn't look like and act like a tough guy, but those are the ones to admire and watch out for sometimes when they do let go.
2 - Jerry Odom
I agree with you 100% on your review.
Jorge didn't look like a pro fighter in the ring. granted he was hurt but a jiu-jitsu expert should've been able to close the deal with some of the opportunities he picked up.(Especially in the first) He should've known how to handle himself in the clinch and not have been letting Von Flue hit him at will during stand up. Maybe he just lost his head and paniced after his knee popped. Jorge really had to eat his words after talking so much trash about wanting to fight Jason and then losing to a very respectful Jason Von Flue.
Matt Hughes is showing himself to be a real punk through his actions in this show. Not really good press for one of the UFC's poster boys. I think he comes off as a hypocritical self centered bully and a terrible coach. I for one pray he never coaches children.
Jason Von Flue showed true grit and character in his commentary and his actions. I doubt Jorge would've paid him the same respects that Jason gave before and after the fight. Jason commented that people either love him or hate him, I love him. I'm sad that he probably isn't the best fighter there but maybe he'll prove us wrong. Joe, however, looks unstoppable to me at this point.
3 - jem
I agree with you that Jason showed much heart and determination. Unlike the people on the show who are all talk, he said what he was gonna do, and actually did it. His win REALLY surprised AND disappointed me because I have really been in Jorge's corner and I was sad to see him go. I really hadn't expected him to lose. But, he's good enough to where he can make it with or without the show so hopefully, ill hear about him sometime. TUF is gonna be different w/out Jorge, but I'll see how it goes. What can i say? I'm hooked.
4 - RC
Totally agree with Jerry, Matt Hughes sucks as a coach. He has none of the guidance, wisdom, or empathy of Couture, Lidell, or Franklin. All I can say is I'm glad he's in the UFC and not a cop, because he is definitely the type of macho prick who is a brutality case waiting to happen.
5 - Fifth Assassin
I know Luke through my best friend that trains with him. I'm not surprised at all by his success on TUF 2. Pretty much any fight that I've seen him in prior, he's displayed the same combo of patience and killer instinct that has payed off for him. And he still shows no signs of a swelled head. Saturday night against Joe Stevenson will be a great fight for both awesome competitors. I'm still a fan of Hugh's though. I would've thrown Whitehead's bottle also.