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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Live blog time tonight! It's another week on in TUF, and we've no longer got a coaches fight coming between Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin, making anything said between the two over the final few episodes completely irrelevant. Excellent.
-The episode kicks off with the fallout from last week, where Mike Ricci said he wanted to fight Michael Hill, when Hill thought they were avoiding fighting one another. Ricci played it smart, even if it was a bit of a dick move, but they've all got to be ready to fight anyone in the tournament.
-Two teammates will fight each other this week with Bristol Marunde and Neil Magny in the quarter finals. It's a rough spot to put both fighters in, as they've been training close together and have shared a bunk in the house during filming of the show, but both fighters reacted well to the situation, unlike Hill's reaction to Ricci wanting to fight him.
And with two fights tonight, we'll be onto the first one after the break. Better than heading back to the house!
FIGHT ONE: BRISTOL MARUNDE VS. NEIL MAGNY
ROUND ONE: Magny landed an early strike. He threw some kicks to keep Marunde back. Marunde missed a couple of big power strike attempts. Magny landed a few jabs. Marunde got in with a right. Marunde landed a leg kick, but Magny caught it and threw a few strikes back. Marunde continued trying to press forward, but he wasn't getting in range as Magny landed jabs. Marunde missed again. Marunde bled as he was getting tagged with jabs. Marunde shot in. Magny held it off briefly, but Marunde tripped him up and got into side control. Magny got it back to half guard, then transitioned back to his feet. Magny continued connecting on the jabs. Marunde caught a kick and connected on a punch. Magny tossed in some shots to the body as the jab continued to connect. Magny slipped, then landed an upkick before popping up. He landed a couple more jabs after getting back to his feet. Marunde missed some more strikes as he still couldn't get in range. Marunde caught a kick, then threw one of his own to the body. He closed distance, missed a punch, and grabbed a clinch. He tried to secure the takedown, but Magny held it off. Marunde tripped him up after catching a kick, but Magny threw a couple up kicks as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Magny. He effectively worked the jab, and though he was on his back a couple of times, it wasn't really to Marunde's benefit. The reach is working well for him right now.
ROUND TWO: Magny opened with another jab. Marunde tried to close the distance, but Magny got free early. They traded kicks. Marunde missed another big one and ate a few more jabs. Magny connected again as he broke out. Marunde missed another big overhand right. Magny landed a hard straight right, then another behind it. Back to the jab. Magny continued to back up to the fence, but always broke free with the jab. He landed a couple more while avoiding counters. He landed a hard right that seemed to stun Marunde, which Dana White commented on. He landed another one, but didn't recognize that he had Marunde hurt. Marunde caught a kick and tripped Magny. He dropped into Magny's guard. He postured up, but missed a couple punches to the side of Magny's head. He stood up and Magny tried to kick him off. Marunde finally got past the kicks as Magny turned. Magny got up to his feet, though, and turned Marunde around. Magny then dropped levels and scored a takedown of his own as Marunde grabbed for an arm. Magny got out and landed a few strikes. He dropped down with some more strikes. Marunde scrambled and got to his feet. Magny landed a couple more jabs and avoided Marunde's attack. Marunde came in swinging, but Magny ducked under and took him down briefly before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Magny. Another clear round. Not a horrible fight, but not great either.
WINNER: Magny via unanimous decision
-Magny's jabs and reach advantage were the story of the fight. Marunde just couldn't connect on much throughout the fight, and Magny worked effective offense in for the majority of the fight.
-We move straight to the weigh-ins for the Igor Araujo vs. Colton Smith. They make weight, then Araujo takes exception to Smith getting in his face and it's a shoving match at the weigh-ins before break.
-Smith made some comment to Araujo that he didn't take well, and Carwin and crew had to hold him back. Nelson sat on the bench and laughed at the situation, leading to Carwin calling him a dick. This continued on for a short while.
FIGHT TWO: IGOR ARAUJO VS. COLTON SMITH
ROUND ONE: Smith landed an early body kick. Araujo rushed in for a clinch, but Smith turned him around and took him down. Smith tried to stand and Araujo kept him at bay. He landed a punch from the bottom and Smith got into half guard. Smith grabbed for a choke as Araujo tried to scramble. Araujo continued the transition attempt, but Smith stayed on top. Araujo continued trying to sweep, but Smith stayed on him in the transitions. They continued battling for position, with Smith remaining on top. Smith landed some body punches. He grabbed for a choke, then landed a couple knees before Araujo put a hand on the mat to avoid any more. Araujo got to his feet, but Smith stayed on him and got his back standing and dragged him down. He got back on top and landed a few punches. He ended the round on top.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Smith. Lots of grappling, all of it with Smith in top position. Nice battle, but neither is showing an ability to do more than what they've done thus far. That being, stay on top for Smith, and keep out of too much trouble on the bottom from Araujo.
ROUND TWO: Smith rushed in with a few strikes early. Araujo landed a couple of punches and kicks and held off another rush from Smith. He landed a couple more, but then Smith ducked in, got a body lock, and took him down easily. Smith stayed on top as Araujo tried to scramble from the bottom. Araujo almost got a sweep, but Smith continued to hold him down. This was more rinse and repeat from the first round. Smith postured up and threw a few sloppy strikes. Araujo got to his knees, but Smith took his back. Smith stood, then stepped over. Araujo got to his knees and tried to get a takedown, but Smith just rolled him back over and stayed on top. Smith was getting some mat burn on his left knee, but continued to hold position. Smith landed some knees to the body. Araujo got to his feet briefly, but got dragged back down to the ground. Smith stood and passed with a strike. Araujo turtled, ate a knee to the body and some punches to the head as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Smith. Don't see any way this hits a third round. Smith was dominant on top.
WINNER: Smith via unanimous decision
-Mostly boring fight. There was constant movement on the ground, but it was essentially amounting to nothing. Smith couldn't go for anything more decisive despite being in top control the entire fight, and Araujo couldn't escape to save himself. That makes for a dull affair.
-Smith and Araujo made nice after the event. We get another two fights next week, and then semifinal matchups will be revealed!
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Ultimate_Fighter_25/article_15033.shtml
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