Episode 7 opens with the fight selection: Junk vs. Mitrione.  That leaves Wessel and me as the final fight.  It was a feeling of euphoria for me, as I finally knew I was going to fight, but more on me next week. 

Back to the first fight selection.  First reaction, advantage Team Rampage.  Scott Junk is an experienced fighter with excellent wrestling and a brutal ground and pound attack, while Matt is more of a standup fighter looking to exchange punches.  It is a great matchup for our side.

It is unbelievable how much Rashad and Rampage dislike one another.  Each episode there is an on-screen blow up and the tension made it seem like at any point blows would be exchanged.  I am sure I can speak for each guy in that house (and MMA fans) when I say that this fight NEEDS to happen.  I am disappointed that it may not ever happen.  C’mon Rampage … Get back into the octagon. 

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Episode 6 begins with the sight of Darrill Schoonover drinking early in the morning before practice. Wow. It would be one thing if Darrill had already fought and was safe for a few more days, but at that point he had not even advanced. Rashad or Rampage could call his number at any time.

Rashad noticed that Darrill was sluggish during practice and after McSweeney spilled the beans, Rashad was forced to pull Darrill aside and explain to him the opportunity that was in front of him.

Darrill is a darkhorse during the competition, but he is undefeated in his mixed martial arts career and is an extremely tough competitor. Rashad wants Darrill at 100 percent and Darrill got the message. He put the drinking on the back burner until after the show.

Darrill was obviously the main focal point of this episode. Besides his drinking problem to start the show, he also reached his boiling point with Rampage.

The episode did a great job of showing how relentless Rampage can be. Now imagine that type of heckling over the course of six weeks and that is what Darrill was forced to endure. “Titties” is not exactly a term of endearment and Darrill had enough. That is two Team Rashad fighters that have approached Rampage in a not-so-friendly manner. It gives you an idea of how talented Rampage is at getting under the skin of a competitor.

It also helps that Rampage can back it up. He fights at 205 pounds, but walks around at a much heavier weight. He is also scary athletic. But anyway, Rashad did the right thing in stepping up to Rampage and deflecting the attention away from Darrill. Darrill was close to snapping. Crisis averted. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey Internet Fans!!  This is Marcus Jones and I am back for another show recap after the fourth episode. 

It seems like I have been a lightning rod for controversy over the last few episodes.  For those who tuned in and thought Kimbo was going to replace me…. SORRY! 

It really wasn’t anything too bad.  I didn’t faint or pass out.  The sweating spell is nothing new to me, as it has happened a few times in the past.  As you can see from the show, my pores open up and I become drenched with sweat.  I normally combat it by grabbing a Gatorade and a candy bar and relaxing on the couch.  The guys overreacted to the situation a bit and it received more camera time than necessary.  I had a really hard practice and it just hit my body later in the day. 

A lot of the episode focused on Matt Mitrione and his snitching.  He absolutely stabbed his teammates and coaches in the back by revealing the potential matchups.  I will say it right now – Matt Mitrione did not want to fight me.  For whatever reason, he did not want to step into the octagon against me so he sabotaged his own team by telling Scott the matchups.  It is that simple. 

After snitching, he became somewhat of an outcast in the house.  Nobody could really confide in him.  In a way, it became Matt vs. everyone else.  But after seeing it play out on the screen I had to laugh, because Matt is the same guy that in the first episode of the season said I would be an easy fight for him. 

After Matt’s antics were squared away, fight selections came.  Team Rashad selected Brendan Schaub to fight Demico Rogers.  It was a matchup between the most athletic fighters for each team.  I was expecting a great bout. 

The coaches let Demico down.  Before the fight he needed to be getting coached up like Brendan.  We could hear Brendan prepping, getting instructions from Team Rashad while Demico waited.  Despite all that, Demico came out and actually controlled the first round up until a major slip that allowed Brendan to sink in an anaconda choke. 

I do not think that Rampage gave Demico enough credit for his fight.  We are all green.  Demico is still learning things and he put himself in a bad position.  I think Rampage let his emotions get the best of him and overreacted, but Rashad Evans’ decision to console Demico after the fight shows the type of class guy he is.  Going into the house, I did not know what to expect from Rashad, but I must say, the way he handles himself on a day-to-day basis, inside and outside of the octagon, is extremely impressive.

Another fight, another loss, but as always Team Rampage will continue to work.  Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on the episode.  Until next week.

Happy to be back for the week three recap of the show.  Kimbo vs. Roy.  Wow.  This is a fight that I would absolutely pay to see.  Kimbo’s heavy hands going against the all-around ability of Roy.  I could not wait for it.

The episode opens with the lighter side of Kimbo Slice.  Being stuck in the house for six weeks, led to a lot of self-reflection.  Many of the guys kept journals to help pass the time and to get their feelings down on paper.  I, however, chose to take that time to envision myself as the next Ultimate Fighter and that was reinforced whenever I would see Rashad and Keith Jardine.  They were in my shoes only a short time ago and now they are successful, UFC stars.  It helped push me through the tough times in the house.

Overall, Kimbo was a really good guy.  He worked really hard and was respectful towards every person in the house.  His persona as a backyard, street brawling thug is definitely inaccurate.  He is a family man that at the end of the day is just trying to earn a living for himself by becoming the best mixed martial artist that he can.  He was thrust into the limelight without a background in the sport.  I think he has done a great job considering where he was only a few years ago.  During training, I never heard him complain or say I can’t.  He soaked up everything that was passed along to him.  The only problem was is that he only had a couple of weeks to learn the years of skills that Roy possessed on the ground.  It was an extremely tough matchup for Kimbo.  It needed to be all standup for it to be in his favor.  Read the rest of this entry »

What up-and-coming mixed martial artist wouldn’t want to fight Kimbo Slice?  It is a chance to gain instant notoriety.  An opportunity to make a name for one’s self.  For Justin Wren and Roy Nelson, both world class wrestlers, a fight with Kimbo would be a great matchup.  That being said, I dreamt of a matchup with Roy.  I respect him a whole lot and feel it would be a great test of my abilities.

It is detailed in the show how Rampage favored Kimbo, pulling him aside after practice to work even further with him.  Any fighter would have loved to have been in Kimbo’s position.  Rampage immediately took him on as a project, seeing Kimbo as a similar fighter to himself.  I needed to work on my hands and wish I was able to get the same amount of attention from the coaches, but we all understood.  Kimbo needed work on the ground and he had a target on his back.  As soon as Rashad had the chance, he would put him in the octagon. Read the rest of this entry »