The Ultimate Fighter 9: U.S. vs. U.K. Episode 2 Recap & Review

Following the successful television debut of the first-ever U.K. squad on The Ultimate Fighter last week, Team U.S. began to form with a series of elimination fights to start Episode 2. Unfortunately, promotional spots running in the days leading up to the show did manage to capture a sizable portion of the U.S. Team’s weight-cutting, infection-hiding antics, which surely makes them look a bit underwhelming to the approaching threat from the East.

First to bow out was John Shackelford, whose Herpes forehead rash did not go unnoticed for long before White and Co. dismissed him from the set. Following Shackelford, and certainly worthy of greater blame, was Christian Fulgium, who not only failed to make weight, but also betrayed some early disrespect from U.S. coach Dan Henderson, demanding that the latter fetch him a “chuck bucket” while running on a treadmill. (The same treadmill he would slip and tumble off of, earning his way out of the house under the baleful, unforgiving glare of Dana White.)

With two fighters forced to bow out, the remaining twelve eagerly stepped into the cage in order to see who would become the newest members of Team U.S. Well, at least most of them were eager. All, that is, except for teammates and training partners Kevin Knabjian and Mark Miller, whose semi-exciting two-round affair left the former in an understandable state of frustrated disbelief after being forced out—essentially before the start of the tournament—by his good friend from home in the form of a disputable TKO.

The lightweight tilt between Paul Bird, whose morbid remarks heading into the match labeled him as an early cast member to root against, and Richie Whitson, an unassuming redhead whose resemblance to Shaun White was not lost on the amused White and Henderson, was fast paced, with Whitson pulling out a late round submission via Guillotine Choke. Whitson may have established himself as an early dark horse in the lightweight bracket.

Waylon Lowe training with Team Vision in 2008.

Santino Defranco won an inspiring, come from behind submission victory over Waylon Lowe after being dominated in the first round. The win was more impressive, according to Dana White, because apparently Defranco had tried out for the second season of The Ultimate Fighter but was force to bow out due to a serious brain aneurism. However, he will have to step up his competition in order to get far in the tournament, as he absolutely cannot count on flush flying knees in each of his contests.

Perhaps most impressive of the welterweight matches was a first round stoppage win for Damarques Johnson after he picked Jason Elbe apart on the feet early and eventually brutalized him for over a minute on the ground, eventually forcing the impressive stoppage. Elbe looked battered and bloodied as he shook his head in disappointment following the early loss. Johnson should provide some high-energy tilts when he collides with the aggressive U.K. squad as the season progresses.

In other, less exciting tournament action, Jason Pierce redeemed himself from an early weight-cutting slip up to win an uninspired decision over Steve Berger, while the Mohawk-toting Cameron Dollar came from behind to sink a textbook rear naked choke over Tom Hayden.

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The most interesting, and dismaying, twist of Episode two was the closing scene, which introduced the remaining two fighters, Kiel Reid and Jason Dent, to their replacement opponents, when in walks none other than Robert Browning, the younger brother of TUF 8’s now-infamous Junie Allen Browning.

(While it is unprofessional for me to do so in journalistic terms, I feel compelled to point out that I did not know Junie Allen Browning actually had a younger brother. Imagine my surprise when my joking remarks at the close of last week’s recap came to bitter fruition right before my eyes.)

All in all, the U.S. Team, while certainly less focused than the U.K. Team on the whole, did provide some competitive match ups as well as some promising team members. The unfortunate, albeit necessary evil that they also provided was their innate tendency toward creating TV drama. Coincidence, or cultural certitude?

For all the drama of Episode 2, however, it certainly could have been a lot worse. With Browning 2 in the house, it just might anyways.

U.S. Lightweights Advancing into the House:

• Richie Whitson

• Santino Defranco

• Cameron Dollar

U.K. Welterweights Advancing into the House:

• Mark Miller

• Jason Pierce

• Damarques Johnson

Be sure to check back every week to find the latest recap and review of TUF 9: U.S. vs. U.K., airing on Spike TV every Wednesday night at 10 P.M. Eastern.

By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer

> Find all of Steven's The Ultimate Fighter 9 recaps & reviews online with Pro Fighting Fans and check out TUF 9 fight card & results!