TUF 10: Heavyweights - Episode 8 recap

November 4, 11:01 PMTampa MMA ExaminerDoug Drexler

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TUF 10: Heavyweights
Photo courtesy of the UFC

As the episode gets underway, we are reminded that Marcus Jones is the last hope for Team “Rampage”. A loss by Jones would complete a clean sweep by Team Rashad and devastate Quinton Jackson.

After the decision was announced declaring Matt Mitrione the winner of last episode’s match, “Rampage” demolishes a door upon leaving the training area.

UFC President Dana White comments, “You know what sucks about that? It shows everybody how cheap our f*****g doors are.”

Another thing that sucks is Jackson’s ability to control his emotions.

He admits in an interview that he’s embarrassed by the outburst and that he wanted to apologize to the door. It’s too bad doors don’t have the ability to fight back.

Back at the house, Scott Junk looks pretty bad. Both eyes are swollen, and his right eye shows the mark of being poked early in the first round.

James McSweeney is shown helping to ice down Junk’s eyes.

Matt Mitrione doesn’t look any better as he limps into his house and goes straight to his room.

Later that night, Wes Sims decides to throw a party for Mitrione in spite of the fact that the victorious fighter is already asleep. After opening Mitrione’s door, Sims sprays two cans of silly string into the darkened room.

Needless to say, Mitrione wasn’t amused.

When the scene shifts back to the training center, “Rampage” is coaching and encouraging his last hope, Marcus Jones.

Jones is confident and says that he’s been improving while on the show and can’t wait to get in the cage and prove himself.

“Rampage” says Jones better win his match because he would hate to see what he would do to the walls if he’s not victorious.

One of the more humorous scenes of this season shows Marcus Jones freaking out at the sight of a spider on the floor. Justin Wren is trying to capture it, but has a difficult time.

Finally, the spider is thrown on the chair where Marcus is relaxing. It only takes a half second or so for Marcus to vacate the chair while screaming like a girl. All the guys in the house get a good laugh at Marcus’ expense!

In a personal interview session, Mike Wessel talks about how much his wife means to him. She had been through a lot prior to his appearance on the show.

He discusses the fact that she had surgery not long ago and suffers from cancer. The emotions Wessel displays are raw and genuine.

A poolside scene is shown where Mike is telling a housemate that he set it up so that she gets a card every day with special messages.

At the training center, Team Rashad sets up a gameplan for Wessel that focuses on setting up an overhand right, and look to get inside. No takedowns, just let his hands go and force the action.

Marcus Jones tells about his Tampa Bay Buccaneer teammates, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, that were “students of the game.” He says that he loved the competition, but never became a student of the game of football.

However, MMA is a totally different story. He claims he could watch video of fights 24 hours a day, and even wakes up at 3am sometimes to watch clips of old fights.

Marcus is in awe that he was given the opportunity to be on the show. “I’m just a dude that decided one day, man, I love this sport and I want to give it my best shot. That’s it, and that’s what I want to do.”

At the weigh-ins, “Rampage” approaches Darrill Schoonover in an attempt to smooth over the tension. The two shake hands and briefly embrace.

In what appeared to be a teasing gesture, “Rampage” grabbed Schoonover’s chest which set him off again. Several fighters separated the two before the scene escalated.

Fight day is here.

Once referee Josh Rosenthal gets the fight underway, Wessel is aggressive with his hands and pushes his way forward trying to get inside.

Once the fighters clinch, Wessel attempts a trip takedown, but Marcus Jones simply throws him down in the other direction landing in Wessel’s half guard just 20 seconds into the match.

Wessel scrambles and ends up giving Marcus his back while laying on top of him. Wessel spins his body and lands in the full guard of Marcus.

Jones immediately transitions into an armbar that appeared to injure Wessel’s arm. Wessel verbally submitted and referee Josh Rosenthal stopped the action.

After giving the coaches a few minutes with their teams, Dana White calls them both to a meeting where he asks each of the winning fighters to discuss who they would like to fight in the next round.

Once they’ve all had a chance to voice their preferences, Dana White makes the final decision on the next round of matchups.

Here are the quarterfinal matchups in the order they were announced:

• Roy Nelson vs. Justin Wren
• Brendan Schaub vs. John Madsen
• James McSweeney vs. Matt Mitrione
• Marcus Jones vs. Darill Schoonover
 

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