TUF Blog with The MMA Mom: Season 14, Episode 5
Welcome to a new feature on TheFightNerd.com. Each week, we will give you a recap of what went down on the latest episode of “The Ultimate Fighter”, but from a unique perspective. Lynne McCreary is the mother of TUF Contestant, Dennis Bermudez, and transforms herself from a mild-mannered parent into The MMA Mom! Okay, it’s not quite that dramatic, but it’s definitely unexpected. Read on and see what went down this week inside the TUF house:
Last week concluded with a double win for Team Mayhem as Dennis beat Stephen Bass by TKO and Dustin Pague caught Louis Guadinot in a rear naked choke; score to Mayhem -4 VS Bisping -0. Tonight began with a bloody and beaten Louis returning to the locker room, where for apparently no reason Diego Brandao got into it with Steven Siler.
“I’m gonna’ take off your head, Siler,” Diego blew up. “[Expletive] you! You think I’m here to kid or what? You’re gonna’ see; I’m gonna’ take your [expletive] head off, Bitch!” Coach Michael Bisping wrote Diego’s outburst off as him being “a little emotionally unstable.”
As the episode went on, Diego’s attitude seemed less random. John “The Mole” Dodson had already informed Bisping that Diego was slated against Steven for the next fight matchup. Diego’s behavior was the last piece of information that Mayhem needed to figure out who was feeding the other team information,Mayhem decided to use Dodson to the team’s advantage. While keeping up appearances that the fight would be as reported, Mayhem secretly prepared Dustin Neace to take on Akira Corasanni.
“It’s going to give us the fighting advantage,” notes Mayhem. “Akira will be really fat, Dustin will be really in shape, and Diego will be really pissed.”
Due to the escalating prank war between the two, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the matchup, and would have been bitterly disappointed had they not been pitted against each other. With Mayhem’s surprise announcement, Akira stalked up to Dustin and whipped his jersey off over his head. Dustin did the same and next thing you know; Akira was all in Dustin’s personal space, nose to nose.
When the coaches tried to break up the fight, Bisping and Mayhem almost came to blows, themselves. The drama between staff notwithstanding, Mayhem thought the scuffle could be an advantage for his fighter.
“My hope for Dustin is that he takes all that energy from that crazy fight announcement and puts it into his fight and unleashes his inner beast.” said Mayhem. “Dustin’s strengths lie in his versatility and his durability; the guy is like a bulldog. He’s gonna keep coming, keep coming, keep coming until he finally gets the victory.”
During the official weigh- in; the teams gathered and, wait a minute…what’s missing from this picture? Bisping is in absentia once again. Team Bisping was definitely not feeling the love.
There’s always time for quick prank before the fight. Josh Ferguson and T.J. moved the M for Miller into the handicapped spot. Josh described the move as “pretty [expletive] funny,” though the prank wouldn’t play out until the day of the fight.
In spite of the explosive build up to the fight Akira noted that “Nothing is personal in this house; it’s just strictly business and now when [Dustin] picked me he opened the wrong door.”
Mayhem arrived to the fight in his Dodge Charger, pulling into the spot marked with the M. As Bisping walked past someone called out “Hey Bisping, he’s parked in a handicap spot; you should call the cops so they give him a ticket.”
The prank results would have to wait; the fight started. The bout began with a lot of bobbing and weaving by both fighters as they look for an opening. Akira struck first with a kick and the two continue to maneuver, each pushing forward and exchanging. Dustin threw a back kick which Akira caught and used to take Dustin down. Dustin kept Akira at bay with up kicks for a while, but Akira managed to get past his man’s defense and get into Dustin’s full guard. Akira postured up several times and landed strikes. Dustin turned it around and managed to get a heel hook. It looks as though Akira tapped and Dustin released his grip, after which the fight continued.
The coaches fought furiously on the sidelines as to whether or not Akira tapped, but with no referee call there was no finish. Dustin tried to get the submission again, but Akira flipped over and escaped to his feet. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Dustin scored a take down and put Akira’s back to the cage. Akira managed to escape and once more gained his feet as the clock ticked out. End of round one. If you believe there was a submission, the fight goes to Dustin, if not, the round was mostly Akira.
Round two started similarly to the first. Again Akira was the first to strike. The two continued to swap attacks and then Akira clinched Dustin up against the cage. Akira landed several knees and tried to trip Dustin’s leg for a takedown. Dustin escaped and the exchanges continued. Akira landed a big left hook that dropped Dustin, and then pounced. Dustin used the cage in an attempt to escape, but Akira was relentless in his assault. Dustin never regained his feet as the clock ran out. The second round clearly went to Akira.
The two team’s debate as to whether or not Akira had tapped in the first round, but the judges ruled by majority decision for Akira, earning Team Bisping their first win of the season.
Team Mayhem-4 VS Team Bisping-1
As the episode came to a close team Bisping was sitting out front in lawn chairs as Mayhem’s car was getting loaded onto a flatbed and being hauled away.
