This week of The Ultimate Fighter show featured the first two quarterfinal fights: one between Team JDS’s Ramsey Nijem (4-1) and Team Lesnar’s Clay Harvison (8-3), and the other between Team JDS’s Shamar Bailey (10-3) and Team Lesnar’s Cris Cope (4-1). Ramsey, or “Stripper Ramsey” as the fighters call him, is a wrestler by trade, while Clay prefers to stand and bang. The previous week, Clay dislocated his finger, and doctors had to reset it and put stitches in. This week, Clay’s finger was healing, but swollen. Nevertheless, he was determined to fight and win. Brock and his wrestling coaches worked with Clay on defending Ramsey’s takedowns, teaching him some tricks of the trade. JDS and his trainers, on the other hand, spent one-on-one time with Ramsey sparring and perfecting his stand-up technique, so that he could use his striking to secure the victory.
As part of the UFC’s relationship with the US Marine Corps, a Marine came to the gym to give the fighters a pep talk. But not just any Marine; Brian Stann, the former WEC light heavyweight champion and current UFC middleweight, came down. Dana White was thrilled with the idea of Stann showing up with some advice and motivational words for the guys, especially after his victory over Chris Leben. Stann reminded them of the importance of their opportunity to train with the best and their chance to become an Ultimate Fighter. Everyone, including the coaches, really appreciated Stann coming down and spending the time with them.
The first fight of the night was “Stripper Ramsey” against Clay. Both guys liked each other, but each proclaimed that he needed to win, and that it was his time.
Round one started with some striking from both fighters, but Ramsey secured a takedown on Clay, and proceeded quickly to take Clay’s back. Clay struggled from that position, and both coaches are heard in the background yelling careful instructions to their fighters, as each seeks guidance for his next move. Ramsey, who was quite comfortable on Clay’s back, easily secured a rear naked choke, and a QUICK submission.
JDS was at that point convinced that Ramsey was the best fighter on his team and on the show, and even Dana White was impressed. Clay was pissed at himself for losing in the first round by a rear naked choke, rather than in a three-round nonstop all-out war. Team Lesnar was happy with Clay despite the loss, because he had a dislocated finger, and most guys would have taken the easy way out and not fought.
Next up was Shamar Bailey vs. Chris Cope. Most of the house thought Shamar, with his incredible wrestling skill, was the tougher fighter, and that Cope, a brawler, was his team’s weakest link. JDS explained that Shamar’s training was going well despite his back being hurt from a possible strain, and that Shamar wanted to stand and bang as much as possible, while pushing the pace of the fight. Cope said that he liked Shamar, though everyone knew that he got on Shamar’s nerves with his early morning yelling and screaming. Brock told Cope that he would have to “weather the storm” of Shamar and his wrestling skill, so Lesnar and his coaches drilled some basic wrestling and takedown defense moves with Cope.
Right after the opening bell of Round 1, Shamar was determined to control the fight, keeping a good pace with striking, and getting Cope against the cage. He attempted a single leg takedown, but Cope wanted no part of that, defending it well with a good sprawl, as well as copious amounts of strikes to Shamar’s head and body. The fighters eventually separated, but both went to the middle of the cage to trade strikes. But once again, Shamar controlled Cope against the cage, before heading back to the center quickly. After JDS directed Shamar with shouts of, “you have the control,” Shamar put had Cope against the cage and Cope finished the round in what looked like survival mode, continuing to throw punches at Shamar to escape his clutches.
Round two started with both guys coming out striking, throwing much tighter combinations, and keeping the fight in the center of the cage. Cope threw more shots, but Shamar showed he wanted nothing to do with those, and pushed Cope back to the cage. After some pushing and striking, Cope managed to shake Shamar off of him. The guys then stood in front of each other and threw strikes, but Cope got the better on the feet, throwing many more combinations, while Shamar looked for control before throwing combinations of his own. As the clock ticked closer to the end of the round, both fighters turned up the heat with their striking, and as Shamar tried one last takedown before the whistle, Cope managed to counter with punches to get Shamar off of him. And then the round was over! Chris Cope showed really good takedown defense against Shamar Bailey, the skilled wrestler. The judges decided that no third round was necessary, scoring the fight 20-18 in favor of Chris Cope. JDS and Shamar were shocked, believing that Shamar won because Cope was on the defensive for the whole fight, and that Shamar demonstrated “Octagon Control.” But, as Dana White would say, such are the risks when a fighter “leaves it in the hands of the judges.”
Next week promises a little bit of house drama, including Tony Ferguson going wild, as well as two more quarterfinal fights. In addition, the semifinal matchups will be announced. I’m actually excited to see some guys crack in the house next week, because it has been quite quiet, with the exception of Chris Cope and his morning vocals. Come tune in with me next Wednesday on Spike TV for some good fights, plus a little bit of steam being blown off on the next episode of The Ultimate Fighter!
