TV Review: The Ultimate Fighter 4, Episode 10 - Matt Serra Vanquishes Shonie Carter

You can put on a show, you can be in a show, or you can steal a show. And this week, before the big show - the semi-final bout - we saw glimpses of all of these aspects of drama in what was one of the better episodes this season.

This week featured the long-awaited rematch between Matt Serra and Shonie Carter. We'd see who would win the final welterweight semi-final bout and qualify for the November 11 finale.

But first, guest trainer Matt Hughes was trying to put on a production of his own, starring Matt Serra and Marc Laimon. Playing on the bad blood between Matt and Marc, Matt Hughes tried to instigate a grappling match between the two jiu-jitsu experts.

Matt admitted his plan to the camera. "Well I was trying to stir the pot a bit. I knew Serra was a Gracie jiu-jitsu guy, and Laimon's not a Gracie fan at all."

"You're not dodging him, are you?" asked Matt Hughes of Matt Serra.

"What are you getting at, Hughes?" replied Serra.

"I'd just like to see you guys roll," revealed Hughes.

Motivation established by the director, the tension in the scene mounted as Marc Laimon praised Matt Hughes for his "utter decimation of Royce Gracie." And then, the show was on.

Matt needed to respond to the provocative statement.

"A guy on a bar stool, or a guy behind a keyboard I can understand," said Matt. "You know why? Because they never fought." He elaborated further. "You should have a little more respect for the guy because he gets in there and puts it on the line."

"Fighting's not for everybody," said Marc coolly.

"It's all safe where you're sitting," said Matt. "You're like an expert swimmer who never got in a pool."

Scintillating dialogue. Cut to the interior of the Ultimate Fighter house, upstairs bedroom, where Shonie is in the midst of some spray-painting madness that's creating fumes that are choking out his housemates.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Jorge Rivera and Rich Clementi are plotting out another scene.

Jorge would be in charge of costuming details: "I'm getting Bozo shoes, Bozo hair, Bozo nose."

Rich Clementi drew out the themes of their little scene: "Let's let him see how he's perceived," said Rich. "And that's how the Phony Carter show has been created."

"Shonie's a clown," added Jorge. "And we're going to let people see how Shonie Carter's viewed in our world."

Article Author: Rick Behnke

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