TUF 7 - Episode 8

As usual, this weeks episode starts off with a recap of last weeks fights, and the verbal bout between Rampage and Forrest.

Forrest is shown in the back "remodeling" the dressing room. His anger fueled tirade is capped off with a little shadow boxing, all the while his eyes are glazed over and he is muttering something to himself. Seriously, I think Forrest would have gladly stepped in the ring with Rampage right then and there. This dude is nuts. Luckily Dana White and his team of doctors are on hand and they give Forrest a shot of Ritalin. He spends the rest of the episode playing barbie dolls in the corner while drooling on himself. OK, that last part was a joke but it could have happened. The guy is that crazy.

In a surprising move, Patrick Shultz makes a sincere apology to Forrest for popping off last week after his loss. He tells Forrest how much he respects him and how he should have kept his mouth shut and the two share a hug. Give me a break. I'm ok with hugging after a fight. Heck, I am even ok with the apology, but the hug was over the line. Whats next, a soothing cup of tea? This is fighting for Pete's sake.

Forrest decides that it is time to have a little fun with Rampage. Somehow, they acquire a gun that shoots out a net that will wrap around your intended target. After a few test fires, Forrest decides that they need to net Rampage. This is a 50/50 move in my book. Sure he may take it as joke, but if he doesn't, the chances of Rampage killing a couple of people isn't off the list of possibilities. Forrest throws caution to the wind and heads out to the Octagon where Rampage is training, aims, and lets fire. A direct hit. Rampage is now tangled in the web. Luckily for Forrest, Rampage takes it all in stride. Later in the show, he takes his revenge by hosing Forrest down with a super soaker.

Quick side note. Rampage is a great guy. He is also absolutely hilarious. The whole "netting" prank leads to some really funny comments from Rampage. The fact that this guy can turn the switch between hardcore trainer/fighter/killer and fun loving dude is really cool. In my opinion the first Griffin/Bonnar fight is the best MMA fight I have ever witnessed and since that fight, I have been a Forrest fan. However, since watching this season of TUF, I cant help but find myself hoping Rampage beats him like a rented mule. He really comes across as a guy that people will want to root for. At one point during the show, he clowns C.B. for getting locked in a knee bar. C.B. throws a playful kick at Rampage. Rampage decides that the kick was an invitation to spar and immediately empties his pockets on the Octagon floor. C.B. squares up and after a couple seconds of circling the ring, C.B. locks in a choke and forces the light heavyweight champ to tap out! Rampage is shown smiling and remarks "He really kicked my ass. He's - he's pretty good."

On to the fight. This weeks fight features C.B. Dolloway (6-0) vs Nick Klein (4-0). Dolloway was the first overall pick for Rampage and thus has a lot of pressure to win this fight. Dolloway comes off as extremely confident and even a little cocky. Klein on the other hand, expresses doubt and even calling himself the weakest link on the team leading his team mates to give a quick counseling session. This really ticked me off. Hey Klein, you are a fighter. Grow a pair and stop acting like a little kid who just got called out by the neighborhood bully. I always root for the underdog in situations like this, but now I was hoping that Dolloway would ground and pound him for the knockout win.

The fight starts and surprisingly Dolloway, a former All-American wrestler at ASU seems content to stand and trade. Even more surprisingly, Keline shoots in and scores a take down. The advantage doesn't last long as he is quickly swept and Dolloway is on top. Dolloway starts the ground and pound but Nick does a great job of staying active and scrambling from the bottom. He takes some punishment but is able to avoid suffering too much damage. Dolloway clearly wins round one but looks a little tired heading back to his corner. Do we have an upset in the making?

Round two starts and again the fighters appear ready to stand up and throw. Forrest is in the corner begging and screaming for Klein to throw some hard punches. The fighters go to the clinch and this is where the fight turns. As Dolloway grabs Klein in the clinch, Klein inexplicably decides to pull guard. WHAT?! Dolloway wasnt even trying to take him down and he falls to his back. Great plan Klein, being on your back and having a steady diet of BBQ elbows worked really great for you in the first round. Did I mention Dolloway was an All-American? This might have been the dumbest move so far this season and it really only lends one conclusion. Nick Klein wanted no more of C.B. Dolloway. He soon gets his wish as Dolloway punishes him for a while before sinking in the guillitine choke for the win. This was probably the most technical fight of the first round and I think inexperience got the best of Nick Klein. I would not be surprised to see both of these guys in the UFC someday.

After the first round of fights it is Team Forrest 6, Team Rampage 2. The fighters are interviewed to see who they want to fight. C.B. Dolloway begs for a fight against Cale Yarbrough because Cale made fun of his sun glasses. I dont get it C.B. I really like your glasses......my wife has a pair just like them. The second round fights are posted and they are as follows....

Jesse Taylor (Team Forrest) vs. Dante Rivera (Team Forrest)
Amir Sadollah (Team Forrest) vs. Matt Brown (Team Forrest)
Dan Cramer (Team Rampage) vs. Tim Croduer (Team Forrest)
C.B. Dolloway (Team Rampage) vs. Cale Yarbrough (Team Forrest)

Overall I would give the first round of fights a B-. I was really hoping that the "fight your way in" aspect of the show would weed out the lesser fighters. For the most part it did, but we still saw some guys lay down in their fights. It is however a show to promote new fighters so I guess some of that is to be expected.