Sherdog.com’s Guide to TUF 5
If I had told you in 2004 that within three years that mixed
martial arts highlights would appear on SportsCenter, UFC would
offer events free on cable TV and a sighting of Britney Spears hoo
hoo would barely gauge your interest … you'd have laughed in my
face and spit your drink all over your wrinkle-free slacks.
Yet, here we are. It's a great week for fight fans for many reasons, so let's get the weekend started early with some TUF.
The majority of the guys agree that Manny showed total dominance in his win over Noah Thomas (Pictures) last week. Back at the house, a UFC belt is placed around his waist, which puts him in a much better mood than we found him last week.
With Manny's win, Team Pulver remains in the driver seat and B.J. Penn (Pictures) is getting peeved about the losses. Noah wants his team to pick him next and given the chance, he'd like to tangle with Robert Emerson (Pictures).
Nate's still steaming about the marker incident from last week. Robert was very mean and wrote some very hurtful things. Just as we are taught as children, Nate spoke with Robert about it, aired his concerns and then went out to do 2,000 sit-ups while gritting his teeth and daydreaming of caving in another man's head.
Gabe Ruediger (Pictures) is still struggling with his extra pounds and decides that more drastic measures need to be taken. Gabe forgoes a calorie-burning training session and instead decides that he'll be getting a colonic, providing that B.J. ask Dana permission for such an atrocity. B.J. approaches Dana with this idea along with a look of enthusiasm that you might typically see on the face of a surgeon delivering some bad news.
Dana's all for it. Who wouldn't be? I decide to take my dinner in pill form.
Gabe's coaches think this isn't the best plan after all and they confront him about it. Coach Tony DeSouza (Pictures) questions Gabe's commitment to the goal. "You're worried about getting tubes shoved up your ass, not fighting," he says.
In all fairness Tony, he should be worried about that. It's a very valid concern. Pick 10 things you need to worry about this week in your own life and I guarantee you that putting tubes up your ass would make its way to the top three.
Gabe is able to shrug off the haters and still plans to reverse the slide direction of the Schlitterbahn.
While B.J.'s team goes down the tubes, Jens' team is coalescing nicely. Corey Miller is starting to separate himself from the pack. Not only is he out-hustling his team during the workouts, he's also prone to raving like a lunatic.
Jens brings in an old friend to help guest coach his team. The guys are surprised to see veteran Jeremy Horn (Pictures) walk through the door. Jeremy works a little with Corey and immediately sees that he has immense potential, calling him a "lump of clay" ready to be molded.
Jeremy confers with Jens and begins to ask Corey questions about his training. After finding out that Corey is just a raw 6-foot-5, 155-pounder that's walking around lost in this world he invites him out to Salt Lake for some training. Corey's pumped and why not, if anyone could teach you a thing or two it's Jeremy Horn (Pictures).
Well, it's time for Gabe to get his caboose over to a fine cleansing establishment for his colonic. I must say that the staff over at Healing Waters Spa has a reassuring and soothing bedside manner.
Using her hands, she explains to Gabe how he should, medically speaking, insert tubing into his balloon knot with minimal discomfort. The woman holding Gabe's hand while he goes potty is certain that he will lose a few pounds and "feel better afterwards". Of course you'll feel good AFTERWARDS. Whenever unimaginable physical and psychological horrors occur, you typically feel relived when it's over.
Gabe goes for it and the look on his face says it all. Imagine your favorite aunt got up from the table, walked over to you, leaned in for a hug and then shanked you in the gut. Now look in the mirror, you have the same face. Gabe finishes up and heads back to the training center.
I don't like it. Sure, you might feel a tad cleaner and maybe lighter on your toes Gabe, but it won't be long before you realize that some dirty secrets should be kept between you, the depraved sicko running Healing Waters and the disappointed ghost of Jack La Lanne.
Whatever happened to picking up an old-fashioned jump rope or at least ‘Olsening' your lunch like a normal person?
It's time to choose this week's fight and with the tension mounting between some of the fighters, Nate Diaz decides to go ahead and settle his beef and calls out Robert Emerson (Pictures). Robert steps forward and goes nose to nose with Nate and it looks like we might have our first bad blood match.
Back at the house Diaz is a powder keg ready to blow. His teammates are running around the house in banana hammocks and he's not laughing. I ran into Nate's brother, Nick Diaz (Pictures) a few times out in Vegas before his fight with Gomi. I watched Nick as he paced the floors of the casinos, scowling the entire time. He'd stop for a photo or two with the fans and then fell right back into the scowl. I'd never met Nick before so I figured he was probably just a bit standoffish, after his victory I realized he was just dialed in.
It's obvious that Nate is almost a carbon copy of his older brother. With their rangy heights and slim builds they look more suited to be playing shortstop somewhere. Apparently Nate's wired like Nick too since he's scowling and pacing around the house, dialing it in and focusing his energy on the fight.
Robert Emerson (Pictures) likes his chances with Diaz. He sees Nate has an emotional fighter whose youth will be his downfall. Robert's a seasoned fighter and knows that his stand-up skills should allow him to stand and trade with anyone but may be out of his league if things go to the ground.
Both men step in the Octagon at 156 pounds. Nate is the taller of the fighters and has the reach advantage. The fight begins and Robert immediately shows his stand-up ability as he stamps Nate in the side with a hard kick.
Besides the physical demeanor, Nate seems to have some of his brother's style in him too, as he uses his right hand to reach out and hold onto Robert's left hand. Robert's jab is taken away and it's a frustrating move that keeps Rob's timing off.
The first round was nothing but non-stop stand-up action that went something like this: Diaz pawing at that left hand of Emerson. Rob would then try to come straight in to close the distance. Then Diaz would tie him up and look for trips and sweeps. Rob's balance and takedown defense is stellar as he ably fends off the takedown attempts.
Both men would get the occasional errant punch or leg kick in before repeating the same process. Diaz would hold down Rob's hand; Rob would move in to create angles and get tied up. Nate would then look for a sweep that would get stuffed and usually eat solid punch or two during separation.
The first round ends with things progressing fairly evenly. Round two begins and this pace is again fast and furious. Emerson is able to land another kick to the body that has his team excited. Nate is stuffed again when he goes for another leg trip, but he keeps the pressure on Rob and puts him against the fence.
Nate really wants to put this fight on the ground and again picks up a leg, this time sweeping Rob onto his back. Rob wisely scoots back to the fence and stands back up, only to be picked up and dumped again.
This time Diaz isn't going to let him get up and begins to work him over. Rob is eating some damage and struggles to get a better shot at getting out but Nate's got him in his world now. Diaz continues to adjust his position to be able to deliver strikes and Rob is in trouble.
He's eating too many shots so he sticks his arms up in defense. Nate takes one of the arms and like any good Cesar Gracie (Pictures) student begins working for the armbar. Rob knows it's time to panic and tries to roll out of danger. Nate just rolls with it and transitions back into mount and after a few hard shots to the grill, Emerson rolls over and gives up his back. Diaz quickly sinks in the choke and finishes the fight.
Dana congratulates both guys and comments that it's probably the best fight yet on any season. I'm not sure I'd agree with that, but it was definitely a great fight and gives me more hope for this weight class. Nothing beats the pace of the little guys.
Yet, here we are. It's a great week for fight fans for many reasons, so let's get the weekend started early with some TUF.
The majority of the guys agree that Manny showed total dominance in his win over Noah Thomas (Pictures) last week. Back at the house, a UFC belt is placed around his waist, which puts him in a much better mood than we found him last week.
With Manny's win, Team Pulver remains in the driver seat and B.J. Penn (Pictures) is getting peeved about the losses. Noah wants his team to pick him next and given the chance, he'd like to tangle with Robert Emerson (Pictures).
Nate's still steaming about the marker incident from last week. Robert was very mean and wrote some very hurtful things. Just as we are taught as children, Nate spoke with Robert about it, aired his concerns and then went out to do 2,000 sit-ups while gritting his teeth and daydreaming of caving in another man's head.
Gabe Ruediger (Pictures) is still struggling with his extra pounds and decides that more drastic measures need to be taken. Gabe forgoes a calorie-burning training session and instead decides that he'll be getting a colonic, providing that B.J. ask Dana permission for such an atrocity. B.J. approaches Dana with this idea along with a look of enthusiasm that you might typically see on the face of a surgeon delivering some bad news.
Dana's all for it. Who wouldn't be? I decide to take my dinner in pill form.
Gabe's coaches think this isn't the best plan after all and they confront him about it. Coach Tony DeSouza (Pictures) questions Gabe's commitment to the goal. "You're worried about getting tubes shoved up your ass, not fighting," he says.
In all fairness Tony, he should be worried about that. It's a very valid concern. Pick 10 things you need to worry about this week in your own life and I guarantee you that putting tubes up your ass would make its way to the top three.
Gabe is able to shrug off the haters and still plans to reverse the slide direction of the Schlitterbahn.
While B.J.'s team goes down the tubes, Jens' team is coalescing nicely. Corey Miller is starting to separate himself from the pack. Not only is he out-hustling his team during the workouts, he's also prone to raving like a lunatic.
Jens brings in an old friend to help guest coach his team. The guys are surprised to see veteran Jeremy Horn (Pictures) walk through the door. Jeremy works a little with Corey and immediately sees that he has immense potential, calling him a "lump of clay" ready to be molded.
Jeremy confers with Jens and begins to ask Corey questions about his training. After finding out that Corey is just a raw 6-foot-5, 155-pounder that's walking around lost in this world he invites him out to Salt Lake for some training. Corey's pumped and why not, if anyone could teach you a thing or two it's Jeremy Horn (Pictures).
Well, it's time for Gabe to get his caboose over to a fine cleansing establishment for his colonic. I must say that the staff over at Healing Waters Spa has a reassuring and soothing bedside manner.
Using her hands, she explains to Gabe how he should, medically speaking, insert tubing into his balloon knot with minimal discomfort. The woman holding Gabe's hand while he goes potty is certain that he will lose a few pounds and "feel better afterwards". Of course you'll feel good AFTERWARDS. Whenever unimaginable physical and psychological horrors occur, you typically feel relived when it's over.
Gabe goes for it and the look on his face says it all. Imagine your favorite aunt got up from the table, walked over to you, leaned in for a hug and then shanked you in the gut. Now look in the mirror, you have the same face. Gabe finishes up and heads back to the training center.
I don't like it. Sure, you might feel a tad cleaner and maybe lighter on your toes Gabe, but it won't be long before you realize that some dirty secrets should be kept between you, the depraved sicko running Healing Waters and the disappointed ghost of Jack La Lanne.
Whatever happened to picking up an old-fashioned jump rope or at least ‘Olsening' your lunch like a normal person?
It's time to choose this week's fight and with the tension mounting between some of the fighters, Nate Diaz decides to go ahead and settle his beef and calls out Robert Emerson (Pictures). Robert steps forward and goes nose to nose with Nate and it looks like we might have our first bad blood match.
Back at the house Diaz is a powder keg ready to blow. His teammates are running around the house in banana hammocks and he's not laughing. I ran into Nate's brother, Nick Diaz (Pictures) a few times out in Vegas before his fight with Gomi. I watched Nick as he paced the floors of the casinos, scowling the entire time. He'd stop for a photo or two with the fans and then fell right back into the scowl. I'd never met Nick before so I figured he was probably just a bit standoffish, after his victory I realized he was just dialed in.
It's obvious that Nate is almost a carbon copy of his older brother. With their rangy heights and slim builds they look more suited to be playing shortstop somewhere. Apparently Nate's wired like Nick too since he's scowling and pacing around the house, dialing it in and focusing his energy on the fight.
Robert Emerson (Pictures) likes his chances with Diaz. He sees Nate has an emotional fighter whose youth will be his downfall. Robert's a seasoned fighter and knows that his stand-up skills should allow him to stand and trade with anyone but may be out of his league if things go to the ground.
Both men step in the Octagon at 156 pounds. Nate is the taller of the fighters and has the reach advantage. The fight begins and Robert immediately shows his stand-up ability as he stamps Nate in the side with a hard kick.
Besides the physical demeanor, Nate seems to have some of his brother's style in him too, as he uses his right hand to reach out and hold onto Robert's left hand. Robert's jab is taken away and it's a frustrating move that keeps Rob's timing off.
The first round was nothing but non-stop stand-up action that went something like this: Diaz pawing at that left hand of Emerson. Rob would then try to come straight in to close the distance. Then Diaz would tie him up and look for trips and sweeps. Rob's balance and takedown defense is stellar as he ably fends off the takedown attempts.
Both men would get the occasional errant punch or leg kick in before repeating the same process. Diaz would hold down Rob's hand; Rob would move in to create angles and get tied up. Nate would then look for a sweep that would get stuffed and usually eat solid punch or two during separation.
The first round ends with things progressing fairly evenly. Round two begins and this pace is again fast and furious. Emerson is able to land another kick to the body that has his team excited. Nate is stuffed again when he goes for another leg trip, but he keeps the pressure on Rob and puts him against the fence.
Nate really wants to put this fight on the ground and again picks up a leg, this time sweeping Rob onto his back. Rob wisely scoots back to the fence and stands back up, only to be picked up and dumped again.
This time Diaz isn't going to let him get up and begins to work him over. Rob is eating some damage and struggles to get a better shot at getting out but Nate's got him in his world now. Diaz continues to adjust his position to be able to deliver strikes and Rob is in trouble.
He's eating too many shots so he sticks his arms up in defense. Nate takes one of the arms and like any good Cesar Gracie (Pictures) student begins working for the armbar. Rob knows it's time to panic and tries to roll out of danger. Nate just rolls with it and transitions back into mount and after a few hard shots to the grill, Emerson rolls over and gives up his back. Diaz quickly sinks in the choke and finishes the fight.
Dana congratulates both guys and comments that it's probably the best fight yet on any season. I'm not sure I'd agree with that, but it was definitely a great fight and gives me more hope for this weight class. Nothing beats the pace of the little guys.
