Broken Arms & Broken
Dreams - September 5
We recap Josh winning his
fight. He said he did round by round by round exactly
what was according to plan. Melvin surprised us,
however. Rob Mcdonald, a heavyweight, agreed that Melvin
was a surprise by getting two guillotine chokes in. He
thought Josh was done. Josh comments on the fight. Seth
said Josh grounded and pounded Melvin. Brad was
disappointed that Melvin didn't take the action to Josh
more. Jorge tried to help by saying, "Melvin move!" But
he gave up mentally, Jorge said. Rob said Josh took a
huge gamble by picking him first...but he took him out.
Dana White, UFC owner, is in Burkman's locker room and
agrees. Dana says that they could have picked an easier
guy and had an easier victory. Now Josh has a broken
hand. Josh goes to the hospital to see how bad it is.
Team Franklin said that after losing the first fight and
challenge, team morale is low. Brad says that not having
Melvin in the challenge is going to hurt us. The teams
go back to the UFC house.
Team Hughes complains about the lack of cleanliness by
Team Franklin. They find cockroaches in the pantry.
Luke has become the favorite of the house due to his
weird habits of meditation, eating rice and beans and
facing his bed north. His nickname is "Luke
Skywalker--The Jedi". We see Luke pounding his hand into
a rock. One guy calls him a lil weird. Josh comes back.
There is good news and bad news. He broke his arm. He
took a risk and had bad luck. He doesn't know what to do
and the team wonders whether he is staying or going.
Day 11--10:00AM
Rob tells that everyone is going to the gym. Josh wants
to stay. Josh "I have changed my life to become the
Ultimate Fighter." At the UFC Training Center, Dana
White has a team meeting. He says, "We are here to find
the next UFC Star in the heavyweight and welterweight
division. Josh possesses a lot of what we look for. Both
teams asked me to let him stay. But his broken arm will
take 6-8 weeks to heal. He cannot stay. He has to
leave." Dana explains he is a tough kid. He says his
goodbyes. Joe says Josh was holding back tears. "If I
was in his place, I don't know if I could. Matt Hughes
says he was one of the top 2 welterweights. Josh says he
is going out 1-0. He will heal and beat up the winner of
the competition.
We see Team Hughes training. We discover that Rob has a
torn labrum in shoulder, and it hurts like hell. He
complains about it and it was pissing Coach Hughes off,
according to Dana. "You never let on about your injury."
We see Rob talking and talking...and talking about it.
We also see Marcus, Rashad and Sammy commenting on Rob
is complaining and bitching.
It's time for the Right Guard Extreme Challenge. We are
the Las Vegas YWCA with Challenge Coordinator Randy
Couture. This week's Challenge is called:
"Keep Your Head Up"
As with all challenges, the winning team can
choose which fighters fight each other in the Octagon.
There are two Octagon shaped flags inside a Octagon
shaped bar. You will dive into the pool and all team
members will have one hand on the flag at all times. It
must be above water. First team that either lets the
flag drop into the water or lets go of the flag is out.
Both teams dive into the pool and it's on. Rashad is
having trouble treading water and Team Franklin loses
the challenge. Tom Murphy says the Green Team is
terrible. "If you can't tread water for 2 minutes...go
home now!"
Rashad said it sickens him for losing the challenge.
Team Hughes is on a high for winning 3 things in a row
and the team has a meeting to discuss whether to go
after Rashad for his low moral or another fighter. Coach
Franklin said Rashad felt totally responsible for losing
the fight. "We have to win this fight." Rashad: "I
didn't come here to do challenges. I came here to fight.
I want it to be me. I hope it's me."
Day 11--4:00PM. Teams come back. Dana White explains
that Team Hughes won and the fight is this: Rob from
Team Hughes fights Brad from Team Franklin. The fight is
tomorrow. Brad isn't concerned about the injuries. They
are both banged up. He is going to win any way he can.
Day 12--9:00AM and a new alternate selected by Dana
White is introduced to the house. Due to Josh's injury
they have alternates. And this one is Jason Van Flue
from Chuck Liddell's camp. Joe says he is a good
addition to the team. Dan calls him a little weird.
Jorge meets him and wants him out. Jason says,"You will
wither like me or hate me!" Jorge is planning a short
stay for Jason.
We see a Team Hughes Training session. Matt introduces
himself to Jason. Hughes needed to see what Jason was
all about. Jason said that next to Liddell, Hughes is a
superman. Jason goes through the same hellish workout
the rest of the team has. Jason: "You can't break me!"
Hughes said he worked them hard. Jason flipped off the
treadmill, which angered Hughes. He sent him through the
same workout and machines for a second time. He put him
on the treadmill and worked him so hard, he yakked. His
first impression: "He doesn't have the heart."
Team Franklin has a pep talk. And now we see Team
Franklin train. Jorge says, "It's not about the
challenges--it's about the fights!" Franklin reiterates
the need to win the fight. Brad is training--"I am using
my size to advantage. If I do what I do well, I can
win." Franklin says he worked on guard positions and
moving in that guard position. "He is a good Greco-Roman
guy. Rob can't do damage. Brad has a good chance of
winning. And even if we would have won the
challenge..this is the fight we would have chosen. Brad:
"I came here to fight. I plan on finishing it in Round
1."
Next is Team Hughes in Training. Rob--"I am really hurt.
I can't even throw a left handed punch." He explains to
Matt about his injury...and wants it to be between him
and Matt. Matt tells him you have to suck it up. Rob
tells Matt that if he loses that there will be no excuse
about the shoulder. He hopes he is good enough to
finish. Matt explains his training technique to Rob. Rob
thinks he matches up well with Brad. If he is on his
feet he can win.
Weigh In Time. The heavyweight division is 205-265. They
are both weighed in by Marc Ratner, executive director
of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. rOb comes in at
229. Brad comes in at 262. Rob and Brad trash talk.
Day 13--Fight Day. In Rob's Locker Room. He is
confident, but knows he can injure himself more. He is
quizzed by Dr. Margaret Goodman, also of the NV State
Athletic Commission, and says he is ok. Rob explains
that if he were Brad, he would attack the shoulder. Brad
says that is exactly what he is going to do. Rob says he
is going to take him out. Brad is going to set a
precedent. We see Team Hughes in Prayer...and last
minute prep.
Ladies and Gentlemen...it's Fight Time:
ROB MACDONALD vs. BRAD IMES
Ontario, Canada
Springfield, MO
"My dad died 6 years ago. "I was the last
guy picked.
I need him to look down on I am itching to get in
there."
me one more time.
The US Army Tale of the Tape:
26 Age 28
6'3" HT 6'7"
229 WT 262
4-0 Record 3-0
Dana announces this is an elimination fight...3
five-minute rounds...loser goes home. Herb Dean is our
referee...
ROUND 1:
Rob takes down Brad and grounds him. He is still
down and Brad finally gets some offense in, but Rob is
choking Brad while he is on the ground. Rob has Brad in
a choke, Brad tried to get up but wouldn't let go. Brad
reverses the choke and grounds and pounds Rob. Rob rolls
Brad over, but Brad locks in the triangle choke and Rob
taps out at 4:04 in Round 1.
Brad says he got a quick victory and he is $5,000
richer. He gives Rob credit for going for it. Franklin
says he worked the ground game like he planned. Rob
explained he couldn't lock on the guillotine and when he
tried to do so, his shoulder gave out. He knew he was in
trouble. Coach Hughes says he should have been able to
get out of the choke. It was weakly and slowly put on.
His heart wasn't in the fight. Rob said he was
disappointed but he will get it fixed. He needs shoulder
surgery. He gives his goodbye speech. He is sad, but
learned about himself. He has no shame, he knew he could
hurt himself more. He has no regrets, and he left
everything on the table.
Next week, the welterweights are back in the Octagon.
Who will be next to leave? |