After the bout, Ishe is given a hero's welcome, as Joey notes that the win gives the house some sort of camaraderie.

Meanwhile we switch over to Jeff Fraza's house. How unexpected. He's been with his girlfriend for 10 years, and father for 7. Jeff doesn't know when he's fighting again. He says that he's 75 percent, but the truth is out... He's sick. Sylvia Pastrana, Jeff's girlfriend, hopes that he isn't fighting.

The next day, Najai confuses Jackie, as he's the one that "can't really trust. He reminds me of an animal that's been mistreated." Najai said that he hasn't held anyone close like he did his family. He mentions his mother's death and that he still holds her close. With that, he goes to train. Alfonso says that he has a difficult style.

Meanwhile, Sly breaks up the fights to hoist another banner and award another golden glove, as Ishe joins Alfonso and Jesse in the final eight. The eight winners of the first eight bouts will not have to fight again until they are the only ones in the ring. Additionally, Ishe's team is given dinner on Sugar Ray. They get a rooftop table in the VIP section.

Ray notes that everyone can fight, but few question their own ability. "If that's a glimpse, imagine what real life would be. It would be mindblowing," Alfonso says.

Meanwhile, Jeff sees Jackie with malaise, fever, and a rash. Sounds like... you need to see a doctor.

Meanwhile, Sergio trains with the sparring partner. Not bad for a scrappy guy. "This is war between two guys," he says before invoking Sun-Tzu. Twice. And Oscar Wilde: "Education is a valuable thing, but anything worth knowing cannot be taught." Very learned fighter, this Sergio. His words: "Nietzsche is another crazy bastard."

Meanwhile, Jeff gets a call from the show's doctor (because Burnett employs an extensive medical. We saw that on Survivor). "Unfortunately... it's the chicken pox. Unfortunately, I have to take you out of the tournament."  So just like that, Jeff's done. "I'm devastated. It's gonna be a tough night for me."

Sly lets the guys in on the news. Najai is hurting for him. Meanwhile, Sly is giving the guys a choice to let someone back into the competition: Peter Manfredo, Jonathan Reid, or Ahmed Kaddour.

Next day, the votes are in. By a vote of 8 to 4... Peter returns! Jonathan Reid got the other four. No one wanted Ahmed back, and can you really blame'em? Anthony said that bringing Peter back may come back to haunt the west, as now you have to beat him twice.

Peter walks back into the gym, which has scrawled at the door, "Who Dares Wins". Where's Mike Whitney? Jesse tells Peter, "It's like you came back from the dead!" He thought he was done. Not anymore.

Onto the challenge. Today, teams must pull a 5000-pound Toyota Tundra ($PLUG$) from the start of a riverbed to the finish. Along the way, they'll load 15 bags. On nine of those bags are letters that will spell a nine-letter word. C-O-N-T-E-N-D-E-R... Yeah, that's nine. First team to do that chooses their opponent in the next fight.

Ishe, Jesse, and Alfonso sit out. The East Coast is pulling ahead. West Coast is pulling behind... with their brake on?! What?! Take your brake off! East Coast is WAY ahead. And it's East Coast at the finish first! Now to spell. "If you guys lose this one... You guys cannot lose this one!" And they don't! They spell the name of the series to win. For the first time, the West is at the mercy of the East.

Welcome home, Peter. Now the big choice... The East sets the card with... Najai. He calls out... Sergio... with his eyes closed and head down. "I don't look at my opponent until I get into the ring." Sergio's take: "No one wants to fight Najai. You can't crack him. He's a nut." He's scared to go home as his family comes to comfort him. "I'm scared to death to lose. If it happens, then it was meant to happen." He praises his mom, who blesses him before the fight. He's emotional that he's doing this for her and she's never once heard "I love you" from him. But he comes into the fight with renewed resolve. "It's like Napoleon. He who fears being conquered is served defeat."

Meanwhile, Najai gets a visit from his family. His daughter Anyoe gives him a hug. "She's my everything. She gives me a reason to be here. She gives me a reason to do everything I do. It's like I have my mother all over again. I think I'm here for a real reason."

Cut'em, Mick, it's fight time. Now to the tale of the tape...

Tonight's Main Event: Turpin vs. Mora

Your ring announcer tonight is Jeff Connor. The card is set, the gloves have been touched. Now.... llllllllllllLET'S GET READY TO RUM-BLLLLLLLLLE! (Wolvie-style disclaimer: obviously, because this is pretaped television, some of what goes on is edited. What follows is a televised-move-by-televised-move account).

And now, the Main... Hey, is that Shaq? Anywho, time for the Main Event... Najai Turpin versus Sergio Mora... Let's get it on!

And fir the first time, the pugilists' eyes finally meet in battle.

Round 1: A quick benediction, and Sergio comes out striking mad. Najai counters, and then strikes with his own moves. A few one-twos from both sides... and that's time.

Round 2: Najai back to blocking, as Sergio fires some more. Then Sergio opens up, and Najai comes in with a few blows. Sergio's against the ropes as Najai delivers blow by blow including an underhanded head shot. Is that even legal? He's got the East to their feet. He's not giving the Latin Snake ANY love. Sergio'll give him some love, though. He breaks free. But Nitro's back a-pumping. And Nitro is clearly the aggressor in one of the most shoddily-edited fights I've ever seen.

Round 3: With the advice to "get your ass back to work," Sergio comes back... and so does Najai, but he's getting a little tired. The crowd wants Sergio off the ropes... and he's off!

Round 4: ... but Najai is coming back with all he has. Sergio comes back too... back to the ropes. But this is where he's strongest, as he delivers jab after jab until the ref intervenes. It's dead even as Burt Reynolds lets out a "whoo!"

Round 5: Whoever wins this one wins it all. Sergio is coming out the dominator, delivering several head blows. Now Najai's the one on the ropes. He switches up, but Sergio doesn't let up. Najai misses a huge right cross, while Sergio goes blow for blow... and that's it! Fight's over!

In the end, the judges rule... for Sergio Mora! It's a close fight, but in the end, Najai just didn't have enough in that last round. Meanwhile the East is going like... "No way...." But Sergio... "I put my heart on the line, and I came out with a victory." He gives Najai his props for being the little guy coming out swinging against the big guy.

As Najai returns to pack his gear, Sly calls him "all heart" and "absolutely fantastic." "I left everything in the ring. I came up short. Agony just picks at you. It just hurt. The feeling is overwhelming. I thought I did everything right. I gave my word. It hurt me that I can't keep my word. I'm happy my family was there. It made a great different. I lost, but I feel like I gained. I fought with my heart. No reason for me to feel agony." Najai plays some more with his daughter as he remembers... "I feel a greatness ahead of me."

Sadly, this was to be the end of the Najai Turpin story. On February 14 of this year, he took his own life at the age of 23. This episode - and this recap - is dedicated to his memory.

If you would like to contribute to the Anyoe Turner trust fund, set up in Najai's memory, you can do so by going to http://contender.yahoo.com.

The fights continue next week...