It's Wednesday, so it's time for another episode of "The Ultimate Fighter." After tonight's episode, we'll know who most of the quarterfinalists are, as well as the recipients of the "second-chance" wildcard berths, awarded to two fighters who lost in the first round but deserve another chance. Who will win tonight's bouts? Who will get the wildcard? Will Junior dos Santos and Lew Polley appear to be coaching two different teams again? Is Dana White wearing a Stevie Nicks shirt as a cross-promotion with Glee's Fleetwood Mac episode from Tuesday night? Read on for spoilers and a recap.
Signals crossed of the night: After dos Santos gives a rousing speech to his fighters, who just suffered another loss, telling them that losing is part of the game, his assistant coach says, "No. It's your job to win, even if it is boring." Dos Santos tells Polley, in a very nice way, to shut up.
Oh No of the Week: At Lesnar's training practice, Len Bentley, their main wildcard hope, injures his knee. Clay Harvison is getting his finger, which was mangled in his last fight, checked out at the hospital. Both fighters assume that they're done.
But Wait! of the Week: Harvison's finger is easily fixable. Bentley's knee dislocated, but no ligaments were torn. I've dislocated my knee. It's awful, terrible, horrible, not-so-much-mind-numbing-as-blinding pain, but afterwards, it heals pretty quickly. (The surgery to keep it from dislocating again? I don't recommend.)
Junior vs. Lew of the Day: Dos Santos is ticked that Polley went to the fighters' house without telling him, and he feels like Polley is constantly going over his head. Probably because he is. Dos Santos lets the hammer come down, telling Polley it's time to go home. Polley is obviously disappointed, but there was only so many times that he could contradict dos Santos before this was going to happen.
Fight picks of the week: With control in their hands, Team Lesnar pits Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Edwards, which will put two wrestlers against each other. That means Lesnar's Chuck O'Neil will fight Zach Davis from Team dos Santos.
Good-Bye, Lou of the Week: Dos Santos' fighters are worried that they won't understand anyone from their corner ... and that's all they have to say about that.
Fight One of the Week: Tony Ferguson (Team Lesnar) vs. Justin Edwards (Team dos Santos)
Round One: Edwards comes out throwing every single punch ever invented ever. He then tries for a takedown, but can't get it done. Lesnar then announces, "He just blew his wad." Classy. Ferguson takes advantage, lands more strikes and shakes off an Edwards takedown. Just when it appears that Lesnar was right, Edwards starts coming back and gets a takedown. But Edwards' good fortune doesn't last long he stands up to reset, and Ferguson lands a heel kick, knocking Edwards out.
"That's the [expletive] that makes you want to get out of bed on a Saturday and watch a fight," Dana White said after the bout. Fighters can not have a more ringing endorsement than that.
Edwards is disappointed, but he should take consolation in the fact that he impress White. For Ferguson, the win is a great birthday celebration.
Fight Two of the Week: Chuck O'Neil (Team Lesnar) vs. Zach Davis (Team dos Santos)
Round One: Davis shoots in and gets an immediate takedown. O'Neil tries for a guillotine, but can't hold onto it. Though O'Neil gets back to his feet, Davis continues to be in control in the clinch. He throws several knees into O'Neil's body, and then takes it back to the ground. Davis works on the ground before standing over O'Neil, allowing him to stand back up, and then taking him down again. This time, O'Neil sneaks out the back and gets top position, landing several blows. But Davis doesn't give up. He maneuvers around to slap a triangle choke on O'Neil, causing him to tap.
Again, White was impressed with both fighters and the way they had a war on the ground.
Heartbreak of the week: White calls Justin Edwards into the office to tell him that he was picked for the wildcard spot but (dramatic pause) he has a medical suspension for 90 days and he can't fight. He's broken-hearted, but will thank the commission when he's 53 and remembers his kids' names.
Missed opportunity of the week: As is the custom, White and the coaches ask every wildcard candidate to come in and say why they want the fight. Though they all seem to want it, no one blows White and the coaches away. Have they not watched the show before?
Confidential to future "The Ultimate Fighter" contestants: If you want the wildcard spot or the spot of an injured fighter, jump up and down. Yell. Swear. Write it on your chest then rip your shirt off, Hulk Hogan-style. It's obvious that this is the hoop that White wants you to jump though, so jump through it.
The coaches and White finish an oddly civil discussion about the wildcards, and announce that the wildcard fight will be:
Javier Torres (Team dos Santos) vs. Chuck O'Neil (Team Lesnar)
Consider Len Bentley pissed. But get excited. Next week is the coach's challenge!
Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama
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