The Ultimate Fighter 10 Episode 1-5

The concept of the Spike Network’s Ultimate Fighter is simple: two teams of fighters coached and trained by opposing coaches, live in a big house together, two men fight each week in a tournament, and the winner of the tournament is crowned the Ultimate Fighter and gets a UFC contract. This season deals with the heavyweight division with one team coached by the hard-working, knowledgeable Rashad Evans, while the other camp is run by the charismatic, funny, but not so good of a coach, Rampage Jackson.

The last time Rampage coached on a season of the Ultimate Fighter, his team lost most every fight, and this time around is no different. What’s worse, now he is so fed up with losing that he is leaving the room after his fighters lose without so much as checking to see if his guy is okay or even shaking their hand, even when this time around the seven foot Wes Sims was knocked out cold; put to sleep. Rampage’s poor leadership was highlighted for the second straight week because Rashad had the good sense to check on Rampage’s fighters for him while Mr. Jackson pouted in the back room.

Perhaps the biggest tragedy of Rampage’s guys not learning much from his camp is that the man made famous from beating the crap out of people in parking lots, Kimbo Slice, does not get a fair shake at learning the necessary ground game he so desperately needs to compliment those iron fists of his. Without solid wrestling skills, he does not have a chance at being competitive in the UFC, and at 35 years of age, he is running out of time. So many people want to see him do well, even his housemates on the show, who at first wanted to hate him for being a hack to the sport, but were won over by his surprisingly nice demeanor for a guy who delved out so many parking lot beat downs.

Highlights from this week’s show in no particular order include:

1. The always entertaining Wes Sims said in his post fight interview something to the effect of, “If I could remember what happened, I’d tell you”.
2. Wes Sims and his opponent, Justin Wren, both stripped off during the weigh in to reveal girly underwear.
3. One guy aptly nick named Meat Head, complained of a mystery shoulder injury, and many suspect that he is simply trying to get out of the grueling training sessions, since he was able to come back to the house and throw footballs and shoot baskets.
4. At the end of the episode, Rashad called out Rampage for being selfish for not taking better care of his fighters, and the discussion quickly turned into an argument, culminating in Rashad challenging his opposing coach to a fight of their own. In every season, the final fight of the tournament is aired on Spike Network, along with a fight between the two coaches. However, after the start of this season, despite the two of them seeming very eager to pound upon one another, Rampage announced his retirement to focus on his acting career, as he will star as B.A. Baracus in the film version of The A-Team.
5. Wes Sims accused another fighter of masturbating in the shower and was horrified that he actually stepped in his housemate’s semen with his bare feet! The man stood accused of such a heinous act (at least rinse it down the drain!) claimed that he had merely blown a snot rocket. Either way, this season seems to be going down a very slippery slope, pun intended . . .

By Matthew J. Swanson

Matthew J. Swanson is a playwright, fighting enthusiast, and author of all sorts of other “stuff.” Get a look at his writing with links to other publications to which he contributes at his blog page updated every day (mostly) at www.thegancer.blogspot.com