This week's episode began with Team Ortiz's Nick Ring giving teammate Jamie Yager a stern talking to about cheering against his teammate, in this case, James Hammortree, because fo his friendship with Brad Tavares. Yager, in the end, looked as if what Ring said sunk in, but I don't believe it for a second. While this show is about individual competition, Yager should be rooting for his teammate. However, once the first round of fights is over, it's every man for himself, so I can also see where Yager was coming from. He can just save it until then, but for now, he should cheer on his team.
We were treated with 2 fights this week, the first of which was Team Liddell's Rich Attonito versus Team Ortiz's Kyacey Uscola. Attonito went ahead fairly quickly, as in the second minute he hit Uscola hard to knock him down. Attonito then tried to move in for the knockout, but Uscola was able to withstand the barrage of fists, eventually getting back up to his feet. Uscola was once again put to the ground as Attonito threw him to the mat in a way that made everyone watching squirm because Uscola basically landed on his head. Uscola was able to get out of this as well and gained side control, pinning Attonito against the fence. What happened after that.....was a little fuzzy - literally.
While Attonito was still on the ground and appeared as if he was attempting to get up, Uscola threw some knees and appeared to hit Attonito while Attonito was still grounded, earning Uscola the disqualification. Attonito would later say everything was fuzzy after being kneed in the head and therefore couldn't finish the fight. Uscola immediately asked for a replay to see if he indeed hit Attonito in the head, but no replay was given. From what I saw, that second knee may have only hit Attonito in the glove, never in the head, but maybe the first one did hit him there. While on The Ultimate Fighter podcast, Attonito said he was hit in the head, I'm not so sure. I'd have to see it again.
In an even more interesting turn of events, Attonito finds out after the fight he has a broken hand and may not be able to compete any further in the show. If that's the case, I think Uscola should be able to take his place. While he didn't look the greatest in the fight, it looked as if he was starting to turn it around.
This week, there was also the case of Uscola's missing sweatshirt. Uscola comes back to the house after a practice, searches in Yager's room's closet, and finds it there, prompting a stealing accusation towards Yager, basically because Uscola doesn't like him. We find out that Kris McCray was the one who mistakenly took the sweatshirt, but the tension between Yager and Uscola continues in front of their coach, Tito Ortiz. Ortiz is unable to end the squabbling to the point where Uscola says he hopes Yager loses his fight against his opponent Charles Blanchard, the second fight of the episode. Maybe Ring should also give Uscola a talking to about rooting against your teammates.
Anyway, the Yager-Blanchard fight doesn't last very long, as Yager knocks Blanchard out fairly quickly, not only giving Team Ortiz their first win of the season, but also giving them control of picking the next fight.
It should be interesting to see how Ortiz will pick the next fight, as Team Liddell is a bit undersized. Ortiz may be thinking about taking advantage of that.
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