Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
After watching primetime during this season, its hard to believe that Valesquez and Koscheck come from the same training camp. Koscheck is so bull-headed sometimes. This episode again, he hides GSP's sandals. Thats so childish. Doing that to someone on your own team may be funny, but he's doing it to try to get some sort of reaction out of GSP. Team Koscheck comes back to the house like they just won the superbowl. Dancing and clowning like idiots. Koscheck stops by the house and brings his boys food and of course do what he does best, trash talk team GSP. Koscheck trash talking GSP is one thing, he is in his weight class and his opponent. Trash talking the fighters, what's the point really? Calling Johnson fat and out of shape, he beat your boy, shut up. Johnson is getting annoyed by the entire Koscheck team and I completely understand. They're just following their leader.
Team Koscheck announces the first fight Marc Stevens vs. Cody McKenzie. As goofy as McKenzie is, I like him. After the two posed for the stand off picture he gives Koscheck a little tap on his chin. Like a "chin up son" type tap. Koscheck smiled and laughed it off, he was only annoyed after Sako made such a big deal out of it. (Koscheck did end up doing the exact same thing to GSP later in the episode but it went unnoticed) I understand that if someone had done that to GSP I would think it is totally disrespectful but its Koscheck, he asks for it. McKenzie and him have been bickering back and forth the whole time so this is nothing new. Many guys in the house consider Stevens to be a mini Koscheck. Ironic that he's the one the team sends in to face the one guy on team GSP that does trash talk at all.
GSP's team go to him to talk about Koschecks team being very ungentlemanly. He explains to them not to let it get to you. Growing up he has had to face people before, multiple guys 4-5 years older than him and he will defend himself if he feels like his well-being is being threatened. Saying is Koscheck disrespects him to the point of laying a hand on him outside of the ring, boom, he'd be out. I have so much respect for this guy. He's mellow and calm but he's not a doormat, you cannot mistreat him. Pranks and teasing is bellow him, he doesn't need to worry about it.
McKenzie doesn't have an athletic background, he has a scrappy fighting style and goes in just to get the job done. Stevens has a big wrestling background, meaning he knows how to avoid McKenzie's dangerous guillotine. McKenzie says Stevens is better than him, better cardio, better right hand, better scrambling but he's still going to win. He's talking about not being afraid of loosing, if he goes in and gives it everything, there is nothing he can be ashamed of. This is true, but its something you say after the fight... I liked McKenzie's comment about Stevens' cockiness; "For how little he is he sure walks tall" haha
Round 1
McKenzie has a 2" height and 5" reach advantage. McKenzie shakes his head when Stevens asks if they will slap gloves, even though I want McKenzie to win I hate when fighters do that, how hard is it to reach out and touch gloves? Simple display of sportsmanship. Moving on, the fight starts and McKenzie comes out strong swinging and goes for a head kick. Stevens goes for his wrestling comfort zone and goes for the takedown. McKenzie in the same motion goes to his own comfort zone and grabs the guillotine. He tightens up and doesn't even give Stevens a chance to tap, he puts him to sleep.
Cody McKenzie wins by submission via guillotine choke. Team GSP gets control back.Thats Koscheck's number one pick loosing to GSP's number 6 pick. GSP again tells his guy to go back to the house nice, it will surprise them. They don't have to go back and be the cocky jerks like they were.
Team GSP announces the next matchup Jonathan Brookins vs. Sevak Magakain. Team Koscheck was so confident going into the last fight that they were planning ahead and preparing Sevak to face Sayers. A nice little wrench in their plans. GSP describes Brookins as his secret weapon, he doesn't even know his own potential. He hasn't been featured much this season, at all really. His premiere episode fight was just a quick recap of his unanimous decision win. He seems like a really chill guy, he likes yoga and meditation and enjoys the growing experience in fighting. He understands he is new to fighting, he is a baby, barely above walking and when he gets to that point where he can run, he will fly. He is just a speck in the universe and the universe probably doesn't care the result but it did give him the opportunity to be there and he is going to prove his worth. I love this attitude. Its a little too tree hugger and spiritual for me but the base concept I like. Having the want to learn and understanding that you can improve and that you're not the best yet is important.
Sevak also haven't been featured much. He has, however, shown his short fuse when dealing with Bruce Leroy in a former episode. He is a very intense person, he has an out to kill attitude. During the training he talks about his Armenian background, fighting is in his blood. His father got him into the sport of fighting when he was very young. Before this episode I didn't know that he and Sako, the only other fighter on his team that has not fought yet, have been training partners for year. I'm sure it is nice to have that feeling of home in such a crazy situation.
Round 1
Sevak looks really intense standing looking at Brookins. The fight starts and he throws the first kick and a few punches. Brookins gets the first takedown. It wasn't the prettiest takedown but it did the job. Sevak is able to stand up but Brookins grabs his back while they're up against the fence. Brookins maneauvers himself and gets the rear naked choke. Being patient he holds onto it and eventually Sevak collapses and another Koscheck team member is put to sleep.
Jonathan Brookins wins by submission via rear naked choke. With only one more fight left control doesn't play a role at all, the fghters have been determined but its always better to get the win. After the fight Koscheck actually does some coaching in their dressing room. He explains to Sevak what he should have done from that position. I like Brookins even more after his post fight interview. He says, speaking about the other fighters in the house regarding the fights still to come, they don't have to fear me. He doesn't think that any man needs to be feared, but he will earn your respect. Pretty simple concept if you think about it, but not a lot of fighters live it.
Next Episode...
Final prelim fight, Sako and Sayers.
The teams play some baseball for the coaches challenge
The wildcard fight is announced
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