GSP brings in another big name, Freddie Roach, to train with his team. I won’t lie, I didn’t know this guy before watching this episode but after reading about him a bit his credentials are a little ridiculous. He trains some of the most incredible boxers including one that even I, someone who has watched a total of maybe 5 boxing fights in my entire life, know of, Manny Pacquiao.
The third quarter final fight and the first of this episode is Kyle Watson vs. Aaron Wilkinson. Watson took out Andy Main in the first round of fights to earn his quarter-final spot while Wilkinson had to come back to defeat Marc Stevens in the wildcard after his third round loss to Michael Johnson. Wilkinson has better striking but may not have the big power punches that knock people out but I still expect him to try to keep it a standing game. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Watson is Matt Hughes’ jiu-jitsu coach so he is definitely going to favor his ground game, where he has most experience. He plans to take Wilkinson down from the clinch. That would mean he isn't going to rush at him like GSP takes guys down. He is going to tie him up when they are exchanging and then take him to the mat.
Round 1
Watson comes out as the aggressor landing a few leg kicks and gets the takedown in the first 30 seconds. Wilkinson is able to stand up after some struggle but Watson takes him down right away again. He gets Wilkinson's back and works to get the rear naked choke.
Kyle Watson wins by submission via rear naked choke. Wilkinson feels so bad. He feels like he has embarrassed everyone and shamed his coaches. Watson doesn't look like he just fought at all, I'm not sure Wilkinson landed anything other than a few punches while Watson was on top of him. I wanted this outcome but I honestly didn't expect it to come so easily for Watson. Wilkinson is a great fighter but Watson's experience just overpowered him this time.
Koscheck's team has now lost 5 times via rear naked choke. Johnson defeated Wilkinson, Watson defeated
Next fight is the one we've been waiting for, the personality clash, Bruce Leroy vs. Michael Johnson. GSP and his coaching team will not corner either fighter as they are both from team GSP. Instead Watson will be in Johnson's corner while Koscheck, and Lentz, who lost to him, will be in Leroy's corner.
Leroy makes a point that he feels the pressure is on Johnson. If Johnson looses, he looses to a guy that he thinks he is superior to and does not belong there at all. I'm pretty sure Johnson just thinks Leroy doesn't belong on the show because it doesn't seem like he acts like he appreciate the opportunity, not because he doesn't have talent. Of course there is editing involved so we see all Leroy’s pranks and not a whole lot of his hard training. The two have sparred together in training though and they know each others strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies better than they would if they were coming from opposing teams. Johnson has a three inch reach advantage going into the fight but since Leroy seems to enjoy throwing legs more than punches I'm not sure if he'll be able to use it.
Round 1
Johnson lands a big takedown in the first 30 seconds. Leroy’s mouth guard is knocked out when he stand up and when the ref stops them so he can put it back in the two are right at each other with the trash talking. Johnson gets another huge takedown again but on their way up Leroy gets a few quick punches to Johnson's head. While the two are in the clinch Johnson gets a really nice knee right to Leroy's face!
Between the rounds Leroy's corner is saying he won but I really don't think he did. He landed some big hits but Johnson had two really big takedowns and was able to land some big punches himself when they were standing. That’s not his strong area of the fight but he was definitely attacking and I think he had that round no question. Leroy threw a few kicks that weren't doing anything more really than just tripping himself up.
Round 2
Again Johnson gets a huge takedown in the first 20 seconds. This time he holds onto him on the mat and lands some pretty decent ground and pound. When the stand up Leroy does manage to get a half ass head kick but after some sloppy punches Johnson has him back on the mat again. Leroy manages to have control on the mat for about 20 seconds but after they stand up again against the cage Johnson gets yet another big takedown. Finishing the round with one more big takedown Johnson finished with top control and I have no doubt he took the unanimous decision.
Michael Johnson wins by unanimous decision. All of Johnson's takedowns were really impressive, he was able to easily pick Leroy up off the ground and slam him down. Leroy threw a lot of kicks and punches that didn't do any real damage. Big roundhouse style kicks just like he threw against Lentz in his first fight, that don't seem to do much. Even though I say that, the fight wasn't entirely one-sided. Leroy didn't just give it to Johnson, he simply wasn't strong enough to defend against Johnson's wrestling and take down ability. So even though he lost, Leroy proved he is a talented fighter. Koscheck said the fight sucked, that GSP tricked Dana into picking this fight. Who do you think Leroy should have fought if you like him so much? Your own guys? Maybe if Leroy had fought Wilkinson that would have been one more yellow in the semis because the fight likely would have stayed standing but I think Koscheck just has sour grapes, He has an excuse for everything.
Dana calls the coaches into a side room to decide on the semi-final match-ups. Oddly enough they all agree right away. When they're walking into the gym to announce the decision GSP says "Have to watch him, he wants to put my pants down" referring to Koscheck’s love to pants guys as he did to Brad Tate a couple episodes back. First off, anything GSP says in his French accent sound funnier but how sad is it that he legitimately has to worry about a grown man pulling his shorts down, real mature bud.
Dana announces the semi-final fights
Jonathan Brookins vs. Kyle Watson
Michael Johnson vs.
Again I am not super happy with this. I'd like to see Watson and Brookins in the final if I have these four guys to choose from. But I guess its fair, GSPs first choice was Johnson and Brookins has become his lead dog so these two being in the final would be great. Of course they both have to get past their semi-final opponents first.
Next episode...
2 hour special, both semi-final fights
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