The Ultimate Fighter 11: Episode 11 - “The Will to Win” Recap

Recap of Episode 11 of the TUF 11 fights - Brad Tarvares vs. Court McGee and Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant

This week we’ll finally find out which two contestants will be battling it out at the Ultimate Fighter Season 11 Finale on June 19 for a six-figure contract in the UFC. So turn up the volume on your computer, folks, this should be fun.

Dana shows Rich Franklin the new gym for the first time, and Rich is impressed by the improvements made since he last coached the TUF show.

Rich signs the bout agreement to fight Chuck Liddell and the fight is officially on.

Dana introduces the assistant coaches for the new Team Ortiz. They are Forrest Griffin, Gray Maynard, and Tyson Griffin.

Rich asks McCray how he typically preps for his fights, and McCray says their strategy has been to take the fight to the ground and pound them out.

Forrest rolls with the helathy fighters, trying to figure out where the fighters stand.

McCray says he thought the coaching change would affect him more, but it actually worked out good for him.

Team Liddell comes into the gym for the first time with Rich Franklin’s poster hanging on the wall. John Hackleman is shocked that they were able to take down Tito’s pictures and put up Franklin’s so fast.

Tarvares says him and Court are good friends and typically work together when preparing for a fight. But now that they’re fighting one another, things will have to change.

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Hackleman says it’s weird to have to train to fighters in the same camp for a fight against one another, but they’re doing the best they can to make sure each of them is equally prepared. They have the two fighters training in the same room, mat, and cage, but not with each other.

Tarvares says he’s “freaking excited”, with only two fights remaining before the winner of the Ultimate Fighter is crowned. He says he knows Court is going to try to take him down and keep him there, but Tarvares doesn’t plan on letting that happen.

McGee says sometimes it’s not the most experienced guy who wins, but the guy who has the greater will to win. He says he’s going to go out there, train hard, and beat Brad Tarvares.

The fighters in the house get together a bunch of silly string and air horns during the morning hours, and lay it on Yager, McCray, and Tarvares.

Tarvares is pissed that they woke him up early, and decides to break the house’s chessboard as revenge.

Back at the gym, Brad Tarvares and Court McGee weigh-in on weight.

Henle thinks the fight will come down to whether or not Tarvares can catch Court on the feet. If he can’t then he sees Court grinding out a decision.

Dana says the fight is tough to predict. He likes Tarvares, but Court improves every fight. He eventually predicts Court to win the fight.

Court says that when he steps into the ring, there is no fear in him, and that he’s going to instill fear in his opponent.

Tarvares comes to the Octagon first and says he’s going to let his hands fly a lot in this fight.

Court comes down next, he says he’s ready to fight, he came here to win the whole show, and he’ll do what he has to do to win.

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Semifinals Fight #1: Brad Tarvares vs. Court McGee

Brad Tarvares vs. Court McGee - Round 1

The fighters touch gloves. Tarvares scores a nice legkick.

They feel each other out for a bit, exchanging feints and measuring the distance with pawing jabs.

McGee comes inside and clinches Tarvares. He gets double underhooks and takes Tarvares down. McGee ends up in Tarvares guard, and is unable to do anything before Tarvares scrambles back to his feet.

They exchange some punches and kicks, each fighter scoring, but nothing significant. McGee presses Tarvares against the cage, and tries to work some elbows.

Tarvares is able to cerate space and break the clinch. They return to the center of the cage, where heavy blows are thrown, but none land.

McGee clinches and takes Tarvares down, but Tarvares immediately pops back to his feet.

The bell rings.

It was a slow round, with neither fighter doing much damage. Mcgee’s two takedowns were the most significant moments of the round, and most likely won it for him.

I score the round 10-9 for McGee.

Brad Tarvares vs. Court McGee - Round 2

We get a Chandella booty shot and the bell rings.

They stand for the first two minutes, both fighters scoring punches and kicks, but Court landing the more significant strikes of the two.

Court shoots in for a single leg, but Tarvares defends. They return to the center of the Octagon, and continue throwing strikes. This time, Tarvares lands the more significant shots, although nothing damaging lands.

With a minute left, Court shoots for a double, but Tarvares defends. Tarvares starts to get into a rhythm on his feet and lands a nice combination with his hands.

They trade kicks and Court shoots in for a double-leg takedown. The bell rings with Tarvares back pressed against the cage.

Another slow round that’s hard to score. Tarvares was able to stuff all off Court’s takedowns, and for the last 3 minutes of the round, he scored the more significant strikes.

So I score the round 10-9 for Tarvares.

Brad Tarvares vs. Court McGee - Round 3

The two fighters touch gloves and come to blows in the center of the ring. Tarvares accidently kicks Court in the groin and the fight stops.

Court takes a quick breather and then the fight is back on.

Tarvares lands a nice uppercut as Court tries to duck away from incoming punches.

They continue to trade shots, neither fighter landing anything damaging. There’s been a lot of pitty patter this fight.

Court shoots in for a double-leg and Tarvares stuffs it.

Court lands a nice right hand that buckles Tarvares. Tarvares gets his feet back under him and the fight resumes.

Court clinches, and Tarvares lands a nice knee. They eventually separate, but off the separation, Court lands a light kick to the groin.

The fight continues. Court throws a nice leg kick that freezes Tarvares. With 50 seconds left, Court lands a good hook and then kicks Tarvares in the groin again.

The fight stops briefly and then resumes. Court comes forward and rocks Tarvares with a nice 1-2. Taravares is wobbly. Court seizes the opportunity and takes Tarvares to the ground. He gets his back and puts him in a rear-naked choke.

Tarvares goes to sleep and the fight is stopped.

Court McGee wins via rear-naked choke in Round 3.

Liddell says he had Court winning the first two rounds, but when it comes to the judges you never know.

Court says this fight was for his son, Isaac.

Tarvares is disappointed and says even though he’s young, he wanted to win the show.

Liddell says he’s very impressed with McGee.

Dana calls the two teams to the gym for a surprise guest.

A group of marines walk into the gym, to work out, roll, and train with the fighters.

We basically get a commercial for the marines as they showcase their training techniques and disarming abilities.

The marines come over to the house for a nice BBQ.

McCray talks about his family, saying that his father was in the military and both of his brothers have been overseas.

The next day the marines are gone, and the training resumes.

Franklin talks about putting the finishing touches on McCray’s game plan. This will be McCray’s fifth fight on the show, the most of any fighter.

Franklin teaches McCray how to properly use your leverage in the clinch when going for a double-leg.

McCray says he took Bryant lightly in their first encounter, but he’s fully prepared this time around.

Franklin doesn’t think this fight will be much different than McCray and Brant’s first fight, except that this time around McCray won’t expend so much unnecessary energy, and therefore have more gas in the later rounds.

Yager talks to Tarvares and says as payback for the silly strings and air horns, he’s going to take all the fighter’s left shoes.

Hammortree and McKinney re sunbathing outside, and Yager throws a bag of flour out the window at Hammortree.

Hammortree comes into the house and goes up the stairs. He pours his garbage on Yager’s bed as payback, and Yager proceeds to throw a jar of food on Hammortree’s bes. The two fighters almost come to blows in Hammortree’s room, but eventually Kyacey gets involved and challenges Yager to a fight outside.

Kyacey steps into the backyard and waits for Yager to come out, but he never does.

Back to the real fights.

Bryant says he expects McCray to be more cautious this time around.

Hackleman says he thinks McCray has met his match with Bryant.

Liddell thinks that if Bryant keeps a little distance and outpunches McCray, the fight will go his way.

Kris McCray and Josh Bryant weigh-in on weight.

Dana says he was very impressed with the way Bryant took out Yager. He says even though McCray dominated Noke with wrestling, he doesn’t see him doing that to Bryant. He says how can you not go with Bryant in this fight.

Franklin tells McCray that today is his day. He gets to win and then go home.

Bryant says he’s looking to unload on McCray like he did in the first fight.

McCray says he is going to be a little calmer this time around, more patient.

Bryant comes to the Octagon first, he says he fought him already and he won, and he will win again.

McCray comes down next and says hopefully he will get the “W” and move onto the finals.

Semifinals Fight #2: Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant

Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant - Round 1

The fighters touch gloves.

Bryant tags McCray early with a left hand that drops him, but McCray presses on and shoots for a takedown.

McCray presses Bryant against the cage and works for the takedown. McCray rips him to the floor a couple of times, but Bryant keeps getting back to his feet.

McCray keeps close, and works for a single-leg. He gets it, but Bryant gets back to his feet shortly after.

McCray lands a couple of knees from the clinch and then they separate.

They exchange strikes for the next two minutes, with McCray landing the more solid shots.

With a minute left, they clinch against the cage. Bryant presses McCray against the cage, but McCray separates.

Bryant lands a hard left hook, but is unable to capitalize on it.

The bell rings.

Bryant fought a good round, almost stealing it in the end, but McCray’s takedowns and striking early on won it for him.

I score the round 10-9 for McCray.

Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant - Round 2

Chuck tells Bryant to stop relying on the overhand and throw some straights.

McCray breathes heavy in his corner. Franklin tells him to stay relaxed.

The round begins.

McCray clinches and scores points with some dirty boxing. Bryant shoots for a single, but McCray defends.

Bryant presses McCray against the fence, and they work for position.

The ref separates them and they return to the center of the Octagon. They collar-tie and throw some heavy uppercuts.

Bryant presses McCray against the cage again, but can’t get anything going.

McCray gets off the fence and back to the center of the cage.

McCray continues to score in the clinch with body shots, knees, and uppercuts.

They end up against the cage again. Bryant works for a single, but can’t get it.

Bryant scores some shots inside, but McCray returns the favor with some solid knees.

McCray shoots for a takedown, but can’t get it. They end up against the cage and the bell rings.

I score the round 10-9 for McCray.

Franklin tells McCray to get off the cage, that he may have lost that round on the judge’s scorecards.

Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant - Round 3

They touch gloves.

They stand in the center and throw strikes.

Bryant lands a double jab.

McCray presses Bryant against the cage. They work for position.

They separate. McCray works for a takedown and gets Bryant to the mat, but Bryant is immediately back to his feet.

Bryant lands a nice uppercut that rocks McCray’s head back.

Kris looks for his own uppercut, but can’t land a clean shot.

Bryant presses McCray against the fence. McCray gets a Thai plum and looks for a knee.

He lands a decent uppercut and the two are swinging wildly now.

Bryant lands a nice left hook, but McCray eats it.

McCray gets Bryant’s back and tries to take him to the mat. Bryant is able to fight McCray off and they stand and bang with 20 seconds left.

McCray shoots for a single-leg, but can’t get it as time expires.

I score the round 10-9 for Bryant.

My final score is 29-28 for McCray.

An overall tough fight to score. It could go either way.

The judges hand in the scores.

Dana comes into the Octagon and announces…

30-27, 29-28, 30-27

Kris McCray wins via unanimous decision in Round 3.

 

Franklin says he can’t take credit for the win, and some of it has to go to his great assistant coaches.

Bryant says that it sucks to lose, especially to a guy you already beat.

Dana says he thought McGee was the dark horse of the whole thing. He says every time McGee fought he got better and better. McCray, he says, is tough as nails. McCray actually broke the record for most fights on the show with 5, literally fighting every Tuesday he was there.

This Saturday Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin will step into the Octagon at UFC 115 on PPV from Vancouver, British Columbia. And then on June 19, the Ultimate Finale takes place on Spike TV. Team Liddell vs. Team Franklin. Court McGee vs. Kris McCray. Be sure to tune in and also look to Pro Fighting Fans for the official UFC 115 results as well as the TUF 11 finale results.