TUF Times – Zak Jensen and Scott Junk blog!

Welcome to the debut edition of TUF Times, the best place to catch up with each episode of TUF and hear the inside scoop from the fighters! Blogging for us will be Roy Nelson, Scott Junk and Zak Jensen. So let’s jump in and see what they had to say about the first episode of TUF!

Q: Initial thoughts on your other cast mates. Did you recognize any of them? Were you sizing anyone up or was anyone sizing you up?

Zak Jensen: I recognized Roy Nelson, Scott Junk, Mike Wessel and Wes Sims and of course, Kimbo. Everyone was sizing everyone else up.

Q: First thoughts upon seeing Kimbo walk in?

Scott Junk: My first thought when I saw Kimbo Slice was ” Aaaah S__t!
ZJ: Really, here comes the Kimbo show.

Q: Were you shocked Quinton was so interested in Kimbo?
ZJ: I was pissed off that he told him he didn’t even have to workout during the first day. Think about it you have 15 mixed martial artist to pick from and he picks a “street fighter” first.
SJ: No, Rampage likes bangers and that is exactly what Kimbo is!

Q: Did you have a preference to whose team you wanted to be on?
ZJ: I did not have a preference, each were world champions and each had good coaches with them.
SJ: I wanted to be on Team Rashaad just of the simple fact that Greg Jackson was there.
Q: Were you relieved to see any fighters on your team so that you would have time to prepare for them?

ZJ: No it did not matter who was on my team or who I had to fight. It was just nice to have seven other big talented fighters to train with every day.
SJ: No, whoever is put in front of me I’ll fight.

Q: Who had the better team in your opinion?
SJ: Us! Heeellllloooo! (Scott and Zak are both members of Team Rampage)
ZJ: I am gonna stick with my guns and say Rampage, I gotta stick up for my teammates.

Q: What was it like having the camera guy picked before you by Quinton Jackson?

ZJ: I was like what the hell, really that’s awesome. First day and I am put on the spot. It didn’t matter where I was picked but it was a little messed up.

Q: Do you think people were underestimating you from the start?
ZJ: Yes I do.

Q: The editors chose to not show too much of the first training session, but tell us what you went through once you made it on your team.

SJ: Training was tough! We were doing triple days, jog in the am, train at 11:00am and at 6:00pm.
ZJ: Dana told us to break up into two groups of eight. Each group would train for an hour with each head coach and his assistants. I was in the group that was with Rampage and his coaching staff first. Which consisted of Rampage, Tiki Ghosn, Tom Blackledge, Junior Perez, and Hector “Sick Dog” Rameriez. I was in the group of four that sparred first and Tiki was taking notes and running who went with who and when we switch in and out of the ring. The group of four that I was with during Rampage’s training segment was Jon Madsen, Scott Junk, Myself and Marcus Jones. After about a half hour we switched to wrestling and grappling which was in the Octagon. Junior and Hector were running that phase and Rampage was walking around and watching everyone very carefully. After we were done with the first hour both groups switched to go through another round with the opposing coach. Rashad had Greg Jackson, Mike Van Arsdale, and Trevor Wittman. We did some combination exchanges in the Octagon and then hit the bags for awhile they were looking for technique during those parts and we finished with 2 min of wrestling and then 2 min of ground where each person was in guard for a round and then switch positions for the last round. The session with Rashad and his coaching staff was shorter than the session with Rampage at least it was for the group I was in.

Q: During the training session, Marcus Jones seemed to have some problems with his cardio. Were you surprised by this considering his athletic background?
ZJ: Yes I was, but everyone was tired as hell after that rope drill. That thing sucked!!!!!
SJ: No, it’s hardwork and Marcus is a huge man, which requires alot of oxygen to keep that body moving.

Q: Who was the strongest member of your team and the weakest link during the first training session?

ZJ: The most experienced fighter was Wes Sims and the least was Demico Rodgers.
SJ: Strongest was Demico Rogers, weakest during first session was Marcus Jones.

Q: To the members of Team Rampage, what was up with his obsession of “man-titties”?
ZJ: I have no idea, he thought of it and ran with it.
SJ: You gotta understand Rampage he is a jokester, he clowns 24/7 on anybody and everybody!

Q: Did you want to be the first fighter to fight or were you content sitting back and letting the Wagner and Madsen go at it first?
ZJ: Everyone wanted to fight first, Abe is just who the coaches picked to fight first.
SJ: I definitely voiced my opinion that I wanted to fight first! But Coach Rampage had a different plan.

Q: Tell us your thoughts on Wagner vs Madsen. Were you surprised that they let Wagner continue despite his Ric-Flairesque blade job?
ZJ: First, it was i think the 3rd day when the fight was picked and the 5th when they fought. I think we didn’t even have a training session before the fights were picked. Also Abe didn’t work on any of his wrestling before the fight, and he had no wrestling going up against a Division II national Champion. The cut issue, no I was not surprised Stitch our cut man is amazing he stopped the bleeding enough to where Abe could continue.
SJ: I just thought that Abe was out wrestled. Once the cut opened up, it was almost impossible for him to work submissions, Abe’s a stud! Alot of guys would have given up, but he went the distance with all the blood going into his eyes, it must have been an experience for him.

Q: What was the first night in the house like?
SJ: Like a big sleepover!
ZJ: Interesting to say the least, running around to get a room and then having a house rules meeting with the producers telling us what we could do and could not do. Also telling us what was in store for the next day, which was media day. It was actually calm; I was so tired from the long day I just wanted to go to sleep.

Q: Who were your roommates during the show and did you all get along?
ZJ: Wes Sims, Wes Shivers and Demico Rodgers and yes I did get along with them.
SJ: My roommate was Justin Wren and he was like a little brother, we got along very well.

Be sure to check back here next week for more from TUF Times!