Jonathan Brookins file photo: Spike TV
With impressive wins over undefeated fighters, Jonathan Brookins and Nam Phan earned berths into the semi-finals of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 lightweight tournament on the Nov. 10 episode.
Despite extensively drilling ways to keep Brookins off his back, Judo specialist Sako Chivitchyan fell victim to a lateral drop takedown in the first round, followed by a swift back mount and rear-naked choke. It was Chivitchyan’s first loss; Brookins, a WEC veteran, set himself apart from the pack with the win.
Phan overcame a first-round deficit, fending off takedown attempts from Alaskan guillotine master Cody McKenzie to successfully work his superior boxing in the second. McKenzie looked woefully limited standing, as Phan connected with damaging shots, including a left hook to the body that crumpled McKenzie.
Next week, the two other semi-finalists will be determined, as Aaron Wilkinson fights Kyle Watson and Michael Johnson fights Alex Caceres.
The latest episode did a 1.3 rating on Spike TV, an average of 1.8 million viewers. That’s up from a season-low 1.6 million on Nov. 3.