Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 2

There's a term that WWE commentator Jim Ross is fond of. "Bowling shoe ugly." That more or less sums up the culmination of this week's episode of TUF. However, the payoff may very well be worth the letdown. One atrocious fight gives way to one worthy of the hype.

PTN, thought bullets.

• I’d never think to characterize Roy Nelson as “difficult to coach.” However, Rashad and his crew have basically deemed him “uncoachable.” However, you do have to understand Roy Nelson is truly an MMA vet. He has fought in various promotions for more than five years now, and probably has some very standard techniques and approaches he acquired while studying under Renzo Gracie. To be told to do something else when what you’ve been doing has worked for so long is kind of difficult to adjust to. So far, no real evidence of him being a jerk has been aired, though.

• Don’t believe Nelson has a long history? Fun fact: his first professional fight was on April 17, 2004. One week to the day after Rashad Evans’ first pro fight.

• The show’s portrayal of Kimbo is interesting thus far. He’s gotten a lot of attention, obviously, and he is apparently being promoted as a one-dimensional fighter who wants to learn and improve. Team Rampage seems intent on upping his ground game.

• Of course, all that gets pissed away when he proudly proclaims, “I’m a fighter, not a mixed martial artist.”

• Kinda neat to see Kimbo and Rampage bonding. It’s clear no one wants to give Kimbo credit of any sort, so to see a pro like Rampage embrace him so willingly is almost a nice change of pace.

• Onto the fight itself… this was one of the most difficult fights to watch in TUF history for me. Not because of a crazy knockout or big gash (like last week), but because it was painfully boring. Note to Wes Shivers: if you get a spot on the TUF Finale, please work your conditioning. The sight of you huffing and puffing with your hands on your hips has been burned into my brain, a stark reminder that my conditioning is apparently better than yours.

• Yes, that’s a dig.

• As for Rashad’s number one pick, to say his coming out party was underwhelming is like saying Rampage sometimes struggles picking fighters. I couldn’t understand for the life of me why this guy wasn’t going in for the kill when his much taller opponent is bending over (to eye level) gasping for air.

• Rashad’s reaction says it all. Damn, he screams like a little girl.

• If I were James McSweeney, I’d try to finish just to shut him up.

• Did Wes win that first round? I lean toward no. He started strong, but his gas tank emptied fast into the first. I would say a few sharp moments don’t make for a 10-9 round.

• Maybe I’m just biased, because I couldn’t stand a split decision that would take us to a sudden death round. This fight began in the second half-hour of the show, and to think the remaining ten minutes would be consumed by more of the same would drive me to my liquor cabinet.

• However, the payoff is nice. Very nice. It’s an interesting strategy by Rashad putting Nelson up against Kimbo. Now make no mistake, Nelson will be Kimbo’s biggest test to date. Recall how badly he struggled against James Thompson, a so-so fighter with a very solid ground game. Roy Nelson is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He’s also the most accomplished fighter on either team. Send in the most experienced to take out one of the least experienced. I’m going to stand by my pick of Nelson to win the season.

• That said, if Kimbo wins (especially if he finishes), he deserves credit for improving. Roy Nelson is no one to trifle with.

Well, God willing that fight will be better than this week’s. If nothing else, it’s worth the hype. This will probably pop the second biggest rating of the season, next to the premiere itself.

Until then…