The Ultimate Fighter 9: Episode 7 Recap with Jason Dent

TUF 9 Team USA member Jason Dent recaps Episode 7

Pro Fighting Fans' Editor-in-Chief Scott Dryden interviews The Ultimate Fighter Season #9 member Jason Dent in what will become a weekly column. Dent discusses his MMA background and will give us his thoughts on each week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

SD- Hello Jason, before we get into the TUF review, talk about your MMA background and the gym you train at in Ohio.

JD- Back when I started fighting in MMA it was still small time. We fought in boxing rings MMA style. I train at GriffonRawl Academy in Mentor, OH. We have about 20-25 amateur fighters who train for MMA. We have five pro fighters, including myself.

SD- Which organizations does your team typically fight at and where do you compete prior to The Ultimate Fighter?

JD- I have fought all over the country. My guys fight in a lot of smaller promotions in Ohio. The biggest show we have around there is the NAAFS.

SD- The NAAFS has done really well.

JD- Yes, they are broadcast on Sports Time Ohio. I’m currently their Lightweight Champion.

SD- As you moved out of your normal training environment and into The Ultimate Fighter, speak about how it is different from a training perspective.

JD- The training is really good there. Training with Dan Henderson is a dream come true. I think Dan is a really good coach. I liked some of the assistant coaches but some of them I didn’t. I enjoyed the entire training experience but it wasn’t what I expected.

SD- Thus far you have been pretty vocal about your dislike regarding the cliques being formed and specifically your distaste for Cameron Dollar. Talk about how those guys have rubbed you the wrong way.

JD- A lot of the U.S. guys act one way when the camera is not around then totally different when on camera. I came in to train, have a good time and represent the U.S. I haven’t gotten into one argument with the U.K. guys. I wasn’t buddy-buddy with them but they were easy to get along with. The maturity level of the guys on their team was much higher than the guys on the U.S. team

SD- It seems like there is a lot more goofing around on the U.S. team thus far than the U.K. team

JD- The U.S. team, after a few days there were really disrespectful, dropping F-bombs, bad attitudes and a lot of negativity. It was tough to be around that.

SD- I’ve covered a lot of MMA gyms in Ohio/Kentucky and none of the guys act like some of the guys have acted on this season and other seasons for that matter. Do you think the show paints a false and negative perception of MMA athletes?

JD- Absolutley, I agree totally. I try to stay away from them but unfortunately I look like a dumb ass a little myself. Not only just from training with the guys, but then when training is over you crowd into this little van and then into the house. If you socialize at all with the U.K. guys it doesn’t bode well with your trainers. I tried to hang out with some of the U.S. guys but it just wasn’t happening very successfully.

SD- What happened to Richie on the last episode?

JD- It was tough because we didn’t get to see the U.K. guys fight at all. Training with Richie I knew he hits really hard. He is pretty scrappy, kind of wild and has a real good chin. I did some ground work with him. He is very explosive getting back to his feet. I thought Richie would do very well but I knew if he faced a real technical guy he would probably get beat. Not knowing the U.K. guys made it hard to know what would happen from a matchup standpoint.

> Check out the UFC apparel & hats and Punishment MMA clothing & merchandise online through ProFighting-fans.com!

SD- Thus far on the show, Michael Bisping has been very cocky as he typically is. Did his bantering have an effect on the U.S. team?

JD- You know, not really. We expected the rivalry thing. It makes for good TV. However, when you get your own teammates having an attitude with you and stuff then there is a problem. I expected more camaraderie with the U.S. guys. Like I said, the U.K. guys were pretty cool with me. I really think Bisping did all of their talking.

SD- It was pretty comical watching Henderson and Bisping trying to play tennis. How would you summarize their game?

JD- Ha ha, it was not much of a game really. It was Dan dominating Bisping. Bisping could barely hit the ball and when he did it went flying out of bounds.

SD- Thanks Jason and look forward to speaking to you next week.

Visit Jason Dent's gym online at www.griffonrawl-ohio.com.

By Scott Dryden
ProFighting-fans.com Editor-in-Chief

> Find all of our The Ultimate Fighter 9 recaps & reviews online with Pro Fighting Fans and check out The Ultimate Fighter 9 finale fight card & results!

The Ultimate Fighter logo used with permission from the UFC