No I did not miss a week, there was no episode last Wednesday, November 24th because of American Thanksgiving. So here we are, back in action. Both semi-final fights are happened in the 2-hour special episode leading up to the finale this Saturday, December 4th.
So this episode we hear that it is not just editing, Koscheck’s team is actually disappointed in the training, or more so, lack of training they have received being on team yellow. Spending a lot of time in the sauna or texting on both of his phones, it seems like Koscheck sees he only has one guy left so he's given up on training.
Even Stevens, mini Koscheck, doesn't feel like he got much out of the experience, he doesn't feel like they have learnt a lot. Sako says he’s learnt a lot, at least more than he expected to learn. I’m really not sure that’s a good thing though. Better than I expected, that’s not exactly a big compliment. One of the fighters also mentions that they haven't said anything to the coaches about how they feel. But I don’t think they should have to. GSP hasn’t held anything back with his training, he has explained this is how I beat this fighter, and this is how I got that win... And why wouldn't he? GSP has made it clear that his goal is to clean out his division and then move up to take on champs in higher division, not move down and dominate the lightweight guys.
Koscheck’s team brings up all the great people GSP has brought in as well. It has to be hard to hear all about the great training sessions the red team is having with some crazy talented people. The team may not bring it up in front of the coaches but Stevens has no problem venting about it with a little bit of alcohol in him, impersonating Koscheck very well back at that house. Koscheck walks in, perfect timing, and offers his team some shots. Koscheck says the guys have to point the finger at themselves for their loses. Which is true, but that doesn't mean you stop training them, they have come on the show not just to win, but for the training experience.
First fight shown is Jonathan Brookins vs. Kyle Watson
These are both really great guys. Both from team GSP so again GSP will not corner either fighter. Its time to be selfish in their training though, its not about the team anymore, they are individual fighters. John Danaher, one of GSP's coaches agrees with me that this fight probably should have been the final. These guys have way more experience than Johnson and Phan and I think are overall more talented.
Watson left a great opportunity to move up in the company he was working for in
Brookins just gets cooler and cooler. He has taken full advantage of this experience. He doesn't want to influence people too much. He barely carries a cell phone and doesn't use the computer too often. A lot of people may see him as weird and different. However someone who is different like he is, often gets respect. He’s not a weirdo, he’s just humble and polite and calm, not common for a fighter. He says as long as you are prepared there is no such thing as pressure. He seems more nervous than he was before other fights, saying he thinks he is prepared, but I still think he's got it. His gameplan against Watson is to simply be quicker. He has a ton of respect for Watson and with good reason. He has won his fights by submission but Watson won’t be as easy to control.
Semi-final fights are three rounds, no more two round fights with a third if there is a tie, this is how the real boys fight now. You can loose the first two and come out with a devastating knockout win in the third.
Round 1
Watson has Stevens and Johnson in his corner while Brookins will be cornered by Bruce Leroy, Sako, and
Round 2
Brookins gets a big takedown pretty quick. He gets top control and starts to land some ground and pound. Each time Watson tries to get up Brookins is able to keep him down. He isn't doing a whole lot of damage but is smothering Watson not allowing him to make any progress. Watson is completely neutralized, he's tired and cannot improve his position. Brookins without a doubt won that round as well.
Round 3
Watson definitely starts off as the aggressor, he gets Brookins against the cage lands some big knees and punches. But when they get back to the middle of the cage Brookins goes for another takedown. Watson just isn't able to defend against that takedown. Watson lands some nice punches to Brookins' jaw as then get up but right after Brookins gets a big slammed takedown right in front of the judges. Watson is able to land some more punches from the bottom but Brookins maintains control and I think won that round as well to get the decision win.
Jonathan Brookins wins by unanimous decision. Brookins has made all his other fights look easy and this one definitely was not a cake walk for him. In his interview he says he wants to be worthy of the word humble. This is crazy talk for a fighter. He's pretty amazing. Dana White also says he is the most polite, respectful and humble fighter. Watson is very appreciative of the experience he has had as well, especially under GSP's leadership. Its sad to see Watson out of the running but as he has been somewhat of a liaison for the UFC representing this season I have no doubt he will be back fighting in the UFC, possibly even in the finale.
I was pretty impressed with each fighters corner too. Phan mostly just repeated what Sako said but between the rounds they were giving helpful advice, more so that Koscheck usually does in my opinion. Sako told Brookins to keep his chin down when going in for the combos, because Watson keeps clipping him. Johnson told Watson he can't accept the takedowns, he needs to work back up to his feet because thats where he has had the advantage. I like that the yellow team is backing red fighters, even Stevens, who I haven't been a big fan of, once he mae fun of Koscheck I started to like him a bit, no surprise.
Michael Johnson vs. Nam Phan is the next semi-final fight.
GSP is not shy in saying that Phan has a better standing and ground game on paper. But Johnson is a great overall athlete. He has a good transition from going to striking to the ground. He has a lot of motivation and is very confident going into this fight.
So I didn't see a point in bringing up the Phan shower situation but this joke was funny! What does the yellow team and Phan's stuff have in common... they've both been choked on national television! Oh no!! So funny. I agree with Phans reaction and also Brookins feelings towards the situation though. Pranks are one thing and they're funny, but its about the timing, don't prank a guy that still has a fight coming up, especially such an important fight. They pick on him because Phan is accused of being two-faced, talking about other people behind their back. He is completely alienated by his team. Even Brookins has realized he has taken a step back and think about it, he may be nice to me now but is he going behind my back and not wishing me well when we are not face to face?
I still think Phan is a pretty cool guy though. He has to go to a day of training by himself. His team had a late night and his coaches, as he says, are "doing their own thing". That definitely shows a lot of dedication to have the motivation and self discipline to do that. Phan compares himself to a honda civic. Im not the biggest strongest or fastest on the lot. But I'm great on gas, so the longer the fight goes, the more beneficial to him. Personally I would not want to be compared to a civic but the metaphor makes sense.
Round 1
Johnson gets a really fast takedown but Phan throws some major elbows to Johnson's head from his bottom position. They get back up and Phan throws some big punches and kicks to the body. Johnson is able to get a few hits in to but goes back to what he does best and takes Phan down again. In the second half of the round Johnson definitely steps his game up and lands some big punches to Phans face. I have to give this round to Johnson, Phan landed some big hits but Johnson landed more in addition to getting a few takedowns. While they were in the clinch Johnson also landed a big knee that opened up a cut on Phans face.
Round 2
Neither fighter is letting up at all. Phan shows some great takedown defence but Johnson keeps pushing forward with combinations, pushing Phan against the fence. When Johnson goes for another takedown Phan is able to maneuver out of harm and ends up getting top position. This is when Johnson has fallen apart in past fights, unable to defend from the inferior position but he gets out of trouble really quick and they get back on their feet. This round was a lot more even and I think Phan probably did more damage, landed some huge body shots and snagged the 10. So going into the third I think its one and one.
During the round Koscheck yells "he's tired" a lot. I'm not sure how this helps. If that was me and someone was yelling they're tired, talking about me, that would give me motivation to push through. I'd say eff you, no I'm not, look! He's creating motivation not just for Phan but for Johnson as well. Saying it in the corner is one thing, pump up your own guy, but yelling it during the round I see kind of pointless.
Round 3
Johnson gets the first takedown but Phan does more damage from the bottom landing elbows and punches to Johnson's head. The round is a complete back and forth battle, Johnson and Phan both landing combinations and Phan getting some big body shots. Both fighters are completely gassed by the end of the fight but neither gives up. As Dana says, it was a dog fight. Takedowns count for a lot but each time he gets it Phan has landed 4 or 5 enbows to Johnsons head. It will depend a lot on what the judges give more points to, damage or aggression.
Koscheck is really grasping at straws, yelling takedowns don't do damage, he didn't do anything with it loud enough to try to persuade the judges while they are awaiting the decision. While GSP is calmly telling his own fighter, you won that. I agree that after a fight you can't look defeated, you have to walk around the cage, raise your arms, feel confident. Trying to yell to persuade the judges is a little silly.
Michael Johnson wins by split decision!!! Koscheck only blames himself for not having a fighter in the finale. He's right, he picked the team, that was his decision. This is so weird that earlier in the episode he was mad at his team for blaming him, now he's putting it all on his shoulders. Oh well, either way, its both of their fault. Yes these fighters are the ones in the cage, once the training is over its up to them to use the skills they have been taught and win. But Koscheck didn't do enough teaching. So its unfortunate for team yellow and a haha right at Koscheck.
Next episode...
Saturday, December 4th, 2010 live from
JOHNATHAN BROOKINS vs. MICHAEL JOHNSON!!!
and a TUF marathon leading up to the finale all day! Wohoo!
Johnson has improved so much since his first fight where he used to turtle as soon as he was on the bottom, he didn't know how to defend or improve his position. Brookins also went the distance in a fight for the first time this season. He really is an incredible fighter and I think this fight will be a real battle.
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