411’s Ultimate Fighter Report 9.16.09: Episode One

Posted by Patrick Mullin on 09.16.2009

Sides are picked, tempers flare, and we get the bloodiest fight in TUF history. Want more? We've got Kimbo too!

Opening video featuring highlights from the current crop of UFC heavyweights. Those fighting for a contract this season include four former NFL players, three UFC veterans, the last IFL Heavyweight Champion, and the biggest name ever in street fighting. Your coaches of course are former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and "Sugar" Rashad Evans.

Show starts in the gym with Rampage and Rashad getting into it verbally. Arguments range from their UFC 96 in-cage face off to Rashad telling Rampage he's too slow to KO him and that his head is too hard of a target to miss. Fighters begin to arrive and Rashad and Rampage let cooler heads prevail for a moment. Each coach marvels at the size of these guys. Rashad may be having flashbacks to his own stint on TUF where he was the smallest heavyweight in the house.

Roy "Big Country" Nelson believes that he's the only real professional out of them and that in the pecking order he's the top of the top. Wes Shivers talks about how playing in the NFL was one of his dreams and not many people get to live out a dream, and now being in the house is an opportunity beyond words. Marcus Jones scoffs at the notion people have about NFL players not belonging in MMA, and calls it a joke. More verbal exchanges between Rashad and Rampage until Dana comes in to tell them they have 5 minutes and to back off of each other.

Dana has the fighters line up and conspicuous by their absence is one fighter, as only 15 have lined up. Those 15 are:
Roy Nelson: 13-4
Marcus Jones: 4-1
Wes Sims: 22-12-1
Wes Shivers: 0-0
Scott Junk: 6-2-1
Jon Madsen: 1-0
Zak Jensen: 7-3
Demico Rogers: 0-0
Darrill Schoonover: 10-0
Justin Wren: 10-1
Mike Wessel: 6-1
James McSweeney: 3-4
Matt Mitrione: 0-0
Brendan Schaub: 4-0
Abe Wagner: 6-2

Dana says everyone may have noticed there's only 15 fighters, and there's one more coming. The next guy coming, he knows he's definitely a fighter, but questions if he's a mixed martial artist. Dana says he's talked more shit about this guy than anyone, and Rampage wonders aloud if its Tank Abbot. Its not, its…KIMBO SLICE. Kimbo jumps in line and says its an honor to be on the show after all the shit Dana talked about him, but its all good. You feel him? Rampage immediately wants Kimbo to be his first pick, while Brendan Schaub says "Fuck him" twice. One of Rashad's team of coaches is Greg Jackson, just pointing that out. Schaub goes on to compare Kimbo walking in to a lamb walking in front of a bunch of wolves. Big Country Nelson thought he was going to be Dana's big announcement until Kimbo walked in. Nelson feels there are guys just as good or better than Kimbo in the house. Kimbo says he's "street certified" and has to take that to the next level and become an ultimate fighter.

Dana tells the fighters they're going to be broken up into groups and evaluated by the coaches for a two-hour workout, then teams will be picked and moved into the house. Rampage and Rashad shake hands and agree may the best coach win. Rampage immediately walks over to Kimbo and tells him he doesn't have to work out at all because he's guaranteed to be his first pick, which Kimbo seems to like. Rampage tells Rashad to steer clear of Kimbo, which is fine by Rashad who feels there's more well rounded fighters available to him.

Rampage wants to win because he lost his last season as a coach on TUF. Rashad is leaning heavily on Greg Jackson to help with his evaluations. They were looking for mentally strong guys who take direction. James McSweeney and Brendan Schaub are Rashad's teammates so he's looking to pick them. Abe Wagner wants to work on his wrestling. Matt Mitrione says this training is much more difficult than the NFL.

Rampage has Tiki with him who wants to see the guys spar. Rampage's team makes the guys go full on against each other leading to some heated conferences between the fighters. Rampage seems fascinated by Roy Nelson's fatness. Nelson mocks Roy's body and Roy thinks Rampage doesn't know talent. Rampage talks to Nelson about his "titties". Darrill Schoonover also gets called "titties", although he gets it worse than Nelson does. Marcus Jones seems like a giant compared to his competition on the show.

Kimbo and Big Country spar. Rampage was impressed by him in the training sessions. Rampage acknowledges Kimbo's weaknesses on the ground but feels he has good takedown defense. Greg Jackson is rating guys on a 1-10 scale. Rashad wants McSweeney first. Rampage wants to pick McSweeney to mess with Rashad's head. Coin toss decides picking first or first fight. Rashad wins and chooses first pick.

Teams are in order of picks:

Rashad: James McSweeney, Brendan Schaub, Justin Wren, Jon Madsen, Roy Nelson, Darrill Schoonover, Matt Mitrione, Mike Wessel

Rampage: Kimbo Slice, Abe Wagner, Dimico, Wes Sims, Scott Junk, Wes Shivers, Marcus Jones, Zak Jensen

During picks Rampage messes with Schoonover faking picking him. 411's favorite interview subject Wes Sims makes a scene saying he should have been taken much earlier. He rewrites history bragging about being the only guy to beat Frank Mir twice, and that he doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story. Once teams are finalized the guys move into the house and choose up rooms. Kimbo acknowledges he's the bull's-eye. The guys discuss going after Kimbo.

Rashad talks about things coming full circle for him in regards to his TUF career. He's happy with his team and feels he's got the more talented guys. Training session one for Team Rashad begins. Jon Madsen wants to fight right away to make a statement. Mitrione wants a fight with Marcus because he feels his big head is a tremendous target. Rashad feels his team will win regardless of the match up.

Team Rampage works out and surprisingly Rampage feels his team is better. Two guys who each think their team is better?! Gadzooks! He starts them off on cardio workouts and they impressed him except for Marcus who seems ready to pass out or throw up. Marcus says he's not that experienced but he's willing to die to win. Team Rashad reenters the gym and its time to pick the fight. The first fight will be Jon Madsen from Team Rashad against Abe Wagner of Team Rashad. Rashad loves it because he feels Madsen has a great ground game while Wagner has none. Wagner thinks he impressed Rampage and that's why he picked him, while Madsen feels he was picked due to his size, which he feels is irrelevant.

Jon Madsen is a wrestler from HIT Squad with Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler. He feels he'll be faster and have a better reaction time due to training with lighter fighters, but can still knock you out. Rashad feels he's a strong guy who hits hard and takes direction well. The game plan for Jon is to take Abe down and pound him out. Rashad feels Abe will be stuck on his back and the fight will be easy for Jon. Rashad wants Rampage to regret picking the fight.

Rampage has total confidence in Abe. Rampage likes his striking and BJJ, but feels his wrestling is lacking. Rampage says lacking in wrestling is okay if you have good Jiu Jitsu. Abe is a major corporate director in some sort of nerd field that makes him much smarter than you or I. They aren't worried about Madsen's stand up because they feel he has none. Rampage says Madsen is going to make the same face Rashad did against Machida.

Fight day arrives. Madsen is nervous but he says octagon nerves aren't different from any fight nerves. Wagner talks about how people may feel he isn't hungry but he is. Wagner pukes before the fight. Madsen says it comes down to man vs. man.

Jon Madsen (1-0) vs. Abe Wagner (6-2)

Round One: No touch of gloves from Madsen when asked by Wagner. Rampage encourages Wagner to touch his face with his fist. Madsen is at a four-inch height and reach disadvantage. Mazzagatti is your referee. They start out with Abe taking center ocatagon. Madsen immediately shoots and takes him down. Into half guard with Madsen landing some strikes. He has Wagner up against the fence and pounds his ribs. Wagner gets full guard when Madsen attempts to stand. Madsen lands a forearm. Madsen standing in guard and looking to pick his shots with a right hand.

Wagner looking to stall and be stood up while Madsen throws some body shots. Wagner with a very high guard maybe looking for a triangle but Madsen weighs down on him and forearms him. Right hands score to the body and head of Wagner. Madsen really working with forearms and elbows from Wagner's guard. More right hands to Wagner's body. Rampage's corner is imploring Abe to sweep or get up as Madsen lands some elbows. Madsen grinding in with the forearm and now picking his shots from an open guard. Big right hands bust up Abe's face.

Madsen has his left forearm buried on Wagner's chin. Wagner tries to turn out but Madsen controls him. More body shots from Madsen to Wagner and now he goes to the head and stands in the open guard. Wagner is bleeding heavily. Elbows from Madsen to the face as he grinds with the left forearm. More big shots from Madsen to Wagner who is covered in his own blood. Seriously its tough to look at. Wagner has a closed guard and is just looking to survive at this point, finally pushing Madsen off as the round ends.

Score:10-8 Madsen: That was completely one-sided and I can't see how that wasn't a 10-8 round because Wagner had no offense at all and took a severe pounding. He's lucky to have made it out of the round.

Dana says it's the bloodiest TUF fight ever, which includes Edwin DeWees' gusher. They'll allow Wagner to come out and fight.

Round 2: Another shot from Madsen immediately and he takes Wagner down into guard in center octagon. Wagner's corner is imploring him to sweep or at least do something. Madsen is content to work some punches from the guard, which Wagner closes. Mazzagatti stands them up. Madsen gets stuffed, but gets a takedown against the fence on his second try. Madsen is into Wagner's half guard and not working as much as in the first round. He throws a short elbow but not much else. Madsen postures up to throw and stands up to drop bombs. He gets a rape choke standing and lands a right hand against the fence. Madsen goes back to the ground in Wagner's open guard.

Mazzagatti stands them up with Rashad telling Jon to work and avoid the stand up. Madsen immediately takes Wagner back down and is in side control. Abe transitions to half guard but has nothing to offer at this point. Madsen works some body shots with Abe hooking his head to try a guillotine but Madsen gets out fairly easily. Madsen not doing a lot but Wagner isn't doing anything and he has top position so I don't blame him. Now he starts to reign down punches under orders from Rashad.

Madsen pauses for a little while, then starts punching again. Madsen blocks an attempt to get out of the half guard from Wagner and Mazzagatti again stands them up. Rampage warns him to look for the shot again because Madsen does the same thing every time, but Madsen still gets the takedown immediately and works over Wagner to end the round. Rampage walks off in frustration.

Score: 10-9 Madsen, 20-17 Madsen: Replay of the first round with less work from Madsen.

Judges score: 20-16, 20-17 twice for Jon Madsen

Rashad says the fight went exactly as planned and he couldn't have asked for someone to listen any better. Wagner's gash is ugly.

Next Episode: Kimbo is in the cross hairs and Rampage wants to get him ready for a fight. Team Rashad gives a discipline lesson to Roy Nelson. Rampage and Rashad continue to get in each other's faces.