I would like to start by thanking you for taking your time and interest in reading about my experiences on “The Ultimate Fighter.” I wish I could be writing this last blog with a smile on my face but unfortunately, it just did not go my way.
Bader vs. Marshall did not play out as I had imagined. I was hoping to see more from both fighters in terms of their strengths. Bader did enough to win the fight, but was not very impressive overall. It was frustrating to watch my friend Eliot not use his talents to the fullest. He gave up the takedowns too easily and was not very active on the ground. I believe that Bader’s physical strength played a big role in this fight, as he controlled Eliot very well from the top position. Congratulations to Bader for making the finals.
Nover proved why he is the man to beat at 155 pounds. He came out very aggressive and dominated the fight with Roop from start to finish. I think Nover has a very bright future ahead of him and will be a force to reckon with at lightweight. Once again, big props to
George Roop for fighting with a seriously injured hand twice in one week.
Junie was a complete mental case three days before his fight with
Efrain Escudero. He gave every excuse not to fight and continued to act out against the other housemates. Junie even missed weight by two pounds. Kaplan and I stepped up and helped him drop the weight. It took an hour and it was like fighting with a two year old to eat his vegetables. At this point, it was Junie against the world, as I am sure everyone was hoping he would get his ass beat. Efrain demonstrated that he is not a one-dimensional fighter and went toe-to-toe with Junie. To this day, I do not understand why Junie kept attempting the takedowns. It took all his energy and left him without fuel to fight. Congratulations to Efrain for making it to the finals.
As for Vinny and I, we went into the fight without any animosity. We had lunch together and even drove to the fight in the same van. This was definitely a first for TUF.
Vinny and I had very specific game plans. I was looking to stand and Vinny was looking to take it to the ground. I had to be very patient with Vinny as he likes to move backwards. I had a hard time reaching him with my punches and used leg kicks instead. I was hoping to beat his legs so that he would not be able to move back as much.
The first time he pulled guard, he did not have full control of my arms and I was able to escape. The second time he pulled guard I had double underhooks and when we fell to the floor he had control of both my arms. I was unable to posture and pull my arms out which ultimately led to the armbar. He executed his game plan perfectly and I wish him all the best in the finals.
After the final fights, both teams and all the staff from TUF came together and we all congratulated each other on a very successful season. Dana and the head producer had a big talk with us about the upcoming months leading to the finale. They reminded us to keep our heads on straight and that our lives would change from this point on. Warnings were issued as well. Let’s just say that I have been keeping a five million dollar secret for the past five months!
Overall I had a very positive experience on “The Ultimate Fighter.” I had the opportunity to train with some talented coaches and athletes at a state-of-the-art facility. However, it was one of the hardest mental challenges I’ve faced and I did my best to cope. I found an outlet for my boredom and managed to deal with and ignore Junie. It was a long six weeks without contact from the outside world and it felt good to be back.
It was a privilege to fight on “The Ultimate Fighter” and I look forward to future opportunities with the greatest, most recognized MMA promotion. This dream has been five years in the making and is close to coming true.
Once again, thank you for your support.
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