Ultimate Fighter Season 12 Episode 9

Wedneaday, November 10th, 2010

Time for the first quarter final fight. Jonathan Brookins vs. Sako Chivitchian.

GSP is going to put his team through the same training he does for himself. The hardcore training and sparing is over, its time to get technical. He doesn't want them to go too hard, this way they will be more hungry for the fight. This is definitely smart, wearing yourself out by training too hard isn't smart especially at this point when you could be fighting three times in the next two weeks, quarters, semis and the final. 

Brookins is a very humble person, I like him a lot. He wants to ride his bike, go to the library, just like he always does. There is no shortage of cockiness in the house and Brookins is the exact opposite. He appreciates the opportunity and understand thats what it is, an opportunity to make it to the UFC, not to be a UFC star, but to get in on the action. He's a very mellow person which makes him seem a little weird to people, initially myself included, but now I definitely think he's a cool guy.

Sako thinks Brookins is the toughest guy on GSP's team. Brookins fought Sako's friend Sevak in the first round of fights so he is not only fighting for himself but also to avenge the loss of his buddy. Sako is undefeated and his game plan is simple, don't let Brookins take his back. His wins have come from submissions, rear naked choke, so don't give him that option. In his pre fight interview he says... Better be ready to get down and dirty because I'm down to fight to round thirty... wow... that's pretty much all I have to say to that comment.

Round 1
Sako gets Brookins against the fence early but Brookins manages to get a big takedown. He holds onto Sako's back. Sako tried to avoid another takedown but is caught holding onto the fence. Brookins is getting close to a rear naked choke but doesn't have Sako's neck right away. A little bit of effort he gets it and Sako taps out. He does it again, takedown, take his back, choke him out.

Jonathan Brookins wins by submission via rear naked choke. He moves on to the semi-finals. After the fight Sako is upset he didn't follow the main gameplan to not give up his back. This is his first loss. I like his outlook on it though, this loss wont break him, he has made the mistake once and he wont make it twice.

Next fight in the quarter finals Cody McKenzie vs. Nam Phan.

GSP says Phan is better than McKenzie at jiu jitsu as well as his standing game. The plan is to get Phan against the fence, this way his striking and jiu jitsu are both neutralized. All but one of McKenzie's professional wins has come from guillotine choke. He doesn't use a lot of technique, but it works. He's a scrappy, random fighter which makes him very dangerous and unpredictable. 

Koscheck is treating this fight personally for him, McKenzie is one person who is trash talking him, the rest of GSP's team is just ignoring the idiot boy. Phan is focusing training a lot for guillotine defense. The team knows that Phan is more experienced and skilled but again with the random tactics of McKenzie, its hard to plan for the fight. 

Round 1
Cody charges first takes the center. He gets Phan against the fence gets a half takedown and throws some knees and punches to Phans body. McKenzie looks really tired in the last minute, he eats some big punches from Phan and doesnt do any damage really when he throws kicks or punches. That round was a weird one, I think McKenzie took it because he did get a few takedowns and had Phan against the fence for most of the round but it wasn't total domination

Round 2
Koscheck is yelling Cody's tired and its pretty obvious he is. He lands a couple headkicks and gets Phan against the fence again following the game plan. McKenzie looks really tired, he's not defending against some big hits from Phan. Phan lands some big punches right to McKenzie's chin and puts him to the ground with a big punch to the body. 

Nam Phan wins by TKO due to strikes. I wanted McKenzie to win but I'm really not too surprised after seeing the first round. McKenzie at this point is a one trick pony. Dana says its great to win fights that quickly by guillotine choke but its also good to get the rounds under your belt. Of course Koscheck is just ecstatic, no respect or sportsmanship. He admits it was personal and says this was the best day of the show. Really? Seeing one of the bottom and least experienced guys be eliminated, not the hugest victory there buddy. McKenzie is pretty torn up about it but he knows life goes on. He'll improve, he definitely has potential.

Next Episode...
The last two quarter final fights.
Johnson vs. Leroy battle in and out of the cage.
The Semi-final match-ups are announced