It's week two of "The Ultimate Fighter," the episode where the fighters get their teams, their home for the next six weeks and we figure out which fighters will get the most air time. Who will be in the first quarterfinal fight of the season? What will the house look like? How will Jason "Mayhem" Miller creatively use a heap of tires? Join me for a recap and spoilers, won't you?
Reality TV show cliche of the week: The fighters moved into their house, shocked by the digs and availability of food. Then they eat. A lot. Remember that these are featherweights and bantamweights who will all need to weigh in for their fights soon. Foreshadowing?
Team picks of the week: Michael Bisping won the coin toss and chose the first pick instead of the first fight. The teams are (with some identifiers):
Team Bisping
Bantamweights: Louis Gaudinot (the guy with the green hair)
T.J. Dillashaw (Team Alpha Male guy)
John "Prince" Albert
Josh Ferguson (Guy whose brother didn't make the show)
Featherweights: Diego Brandao (Jackson's guy)
Akira Corassani (Best name in the house guy)
Marcus Brimage
Stephen Bass
Team Miller
Bantamweights: John Dodson (Team Jackson guy)
Johnny Bedford (Texas bro)
Dustin Pague (Heel-clicking dude, A.K.A. Ron Santo)
Roland Delorme (Canadian bro)
Featherweights: Dennis Bermudez (Maury Povich guy)
Bryan Caraway (Miesha Tate's boyfriend)
Dustin Neace
Steven Siler
Bisping claimed that Miller didn't take a single fighter who he wanted. Miller said that he chose based on his coaches' strengths. As they were leaving, Miller remarked that Bisping's fighters didn't look happy to be on his team. To the cameras, Bisping said, "Why wouldn't they be happy? I won the Ultimate Fighter. I've won 17 fights in the UFC. He's the Strikeforce reject."
Technology of the week: Miller stopped by the fighters' house to bring compression suits for each fighter to wear to recover from each practice. Something tells me these pieces of technology will be floating in the pool soon.
Fight pick of the week -- Bryan Caraway (Miller) vs. Brimage (Bisping): Brimage was already concerned about cutting his weight to 145 lbs., as he sat at 157 lbs. Bisping taught Brimage some of his weight cutting tricks, and both fighters made weight on their first try.
Prank of the week: Miller and his boys filled Bisping's room at the training center with tires. When Bisping did get into his room, he had to knock down the door, giving this season its first door casualty. R.I.P, TUF door.
Showtune of the week: As Caraway and Brimage faced off at weigh-ins, Corassani led Team Bisping in a chant that pumped up Brimage, but just made Team Miller laugh. "That was ADORABLE," Miller said.
Fight of the week -- featherweights: Bryan Caraway (Team Miller) vs. Marcus Brimage (Team Bisping)
Round 1: Caraway quickly went to his strength, wrestling, by taking down Brimage. He controlled him on the canvas, took his back and put his legs in. Brimage's active arms made it difficult for Caraway to slap on a choke, as he kept Caraway's hands from his neck and also landed enough punches that Caraway's eye swelled up. This is how the entire round went.
Miller and Bisping traded barbs in the first round. First, Miller laughed at Bisping's instructions in grappling, and when Miller said, "He's panicking," Bisping yelled back, "We're panicking!?!"
Round 2: Brimage came out with fast striking to start the round, but Caraway again answered with a takedown. He took Brmage's back with ease, but this time Brimage could get back to his feet. Caraway shot in a few more times, and when he was able to get him down, Brimage was able to get out. Halfway through the round, Caraway took Brimage down and landed a nasty elbow. He took Brimage's back, and this time was able to finish the rear naked choke.
Caraway is our first winner, but the two gave viewers a fun, active fight. This season is already shaping up to be an upgrade.
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