Previously on TUF, John Kolosci (Pictures) of the Serra squad took out Billy Miles (Pictures) from Team Hughes.
With that said, due to satellite difficulties it took me a few minutes to join up with TUF this week. But using the power of deduction, I deduced the following:
1. Blake Bowman of the Hughes variety was chosen to fight Richie Hightower (Pictures) of the Serra persuasion.
2. Bowman was viewed by all as an easy target.
Bowman has virtually no experience and admits that he doesn't have the ultimate physique, but he highlights the fact that his standup has improved immensely since joining the show. His coach isn't counting him out either. Hughes thinks that Bowman is a "doer" and not a practice kind of guy. He's confident that a bad Bowman will emerge come fight time.
Trouble starts early for Hughes' fighter, however, as he suffers a rib injury near the end of a practice session. Bowman heads off to the doctor, but his injury isn't too severe to keep him from fighting.
Dorian Price (Pictures) decides that today just isn't his day, and he gets frustrated and emotional during the Team Hughes practice. After a heart to heart with a fellow fighter, he ends up getting into a minor scuffle with one of the TUF production crewmembers. Fighters are not to touch each other, or anyone else probably, so the crew is also off limits.
Price expects the worst as he packs to leave: "Dana's gonna come out and do some cursing thing and say you're f------ gone!"
Someone's been studying Mr. White's behavior patterns.
Hughes meets with White and appeals to keep Price around. It seems the infraction -- slapping a boom mike -- isn't such an atrocity that it warrants a removal from the show. White slaps Price on the wrist by giving him a stern lecture on the importance of not hitting the crew.
Price takes the words to heart, claiming that he would be quiet the rest of the show if it meant he could keep training and learn. He tells the camera that there won't be anymore shenanigans.
Novel approach.
Bowman's opponent, Richie Hightower (Pictures), is also a newcomer to MMA. Hightower reveals that he was a mortgage consultant for five years, until he decided last year to get his taxes taken out by promoters full-time instead. His bio says he lost 100 pounds to get into this 170-pound division. I don't know what he looked like before, but now he reminds me of Corey Haim with muscles. Teen Bopper magazine should keep its eye on TUF.
Mac Danzig (Pictures) has no love for Corey Haim or Richie Hightower (Pictures). Hightower's fashion has Danzig sneering, "Anybody who wears their hat like that deserves to get f----- up -- I'm serious."
Hightower's hat … let's see, well, to give you some description, it is a modern take on the flipped-up bill style.
Hightower seems like a nice-enough guy, but Danzig may be on to something. This is the same style worn by Gomer Pyle, the lead actors in "White Men Can't Jump" and that guy in Cheap Trick whom I always wanted to punch in the neck.
Hightower does look slick in practice, though, and seems pretty confident on what he can do. Bowman warns that he has a "new game plan, a new toy for Richie." Bowman thinks that Team Serra views him as "the comic relief" but vows to deal "punches in bunches" to Hightower.
In fact Bowman does come out with a game plan, as he works in some strikes immediately. He slaps Hightower with a good body kick and follows up with a knee in the clinch that turns Hightower's head.
That is the lone moment for Bowman, however. Hightower ties up with him and then brings in three good uppercuts to make Bowman rethink his plan. Bowman doesn't get a chance to think, as Hightower connects with a shot, and Bowman's knee buckles.
He falls to the floor with Hightower right on top of him, pounding away for a little too long. Bowman makes no effort to fight, covering up and actually receiving the "punches in bunches" until the ref steps in early in the first round. Bowman leaves with his leg in a splint and apologizes to his team for the loss, but they seem genuinely happy that he gave a good effort.
Still, Team Hughes is down another man, and Matt won't be happy next week.