Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 4

Finally, a competitive fight. Finding one this season has been like finding a needle in a haystack. The overall theme of the show so far has been one of intrigue and drama. (How will Kimbo do? How will Rashad and Rampage behave? What's the over under on Wes Sims lying again?) That has quickly shifted to the prospect of a Team Rashad shut-out, coinciding with Rampage's frustration. So, let's get to it with...

PTN, thought bullets:

• We pick up where last week ended with Kimbo dejected and Roy Nelson rubbing his "big ol' belly," as Rampage would put it. Nelson goes on the dickhead offensive, trying to hug an angry Jackson. Nelson gets a shove for his troubles and an under-the-breath fat comment. Nelson is well on his way to filling the void left by Tim Sylvia in terms of style and attitude.

• Nelson bumps bellies with his teammates. That just happened.

• Kimbo reflects on his loss and vows improvement. I'll give Kimbo this much, he keeps a positive attitude. This season has done a lot to paint his reputation as favorable. His skills as a fighter, as I've mentioned before, are the bigger question.

• This likable nature is reinforced further when Marcus Jones is found in the hallway drenched. Kimbo immediately tries to nurture the big man and fan him with a towel. This was the big tease of the week: will Marcus be able to compete or will Kimbo take his place? This was a massive letdown in all honesty. We never get an answer as to Marcus' condition, and for all intents and purposes, Kimbo remains in limbo.

• I should copyright that rhyme.

• This is the third time in four episodes we've seen Marcus in questionable condition. It could be the UFC is showing this footage to foreshadow a returning Slice, but after this week's teaser, I'm skeptical.

• Seeing Rashad motivated for a full sweep was cool, especially when it came to the strategic planning session. I don't know how many TUF coaches have planned this far out, but it shows the widening gap between coaching styles in Rashad and Rampage.

• It was interesting to see Justin Wren politely request he not fight Scott Junk as planned due to their friendship. Before Rashad even uttered the name "Jardine," my mind tracked back a few months to the build-up for the Jackson vs. Jardine fight, and Rashad's very public reluctance to fight his friend and teammate. Sure enough, he referenced the same incident himself to the camera. Rashad and his coaches promised Wren they'd reconsider the fight.

• This was also a nice bit of TUF history coming full circle, as Rashad and Jardine were opponents in the Season 2 semi-finals. To see how their bond has grown since that fate-changing fight has been a nice little footnote to the show's canon.

• We get a little insight into two fighters who could be game changers for Team Rashad, namely Scott Junk and Marcus Jones. Rampage sings Junk's praises as being a legit tough guy, and admittedly he does look solid. Rampage also takes time to talk up Marcus' strength. At his size, I don't think that's in question. The bigger variable is "how healthy can he stay?" Shit, if Wes Shivers found himself doubled over and gasping like a fish out of water, how Marcus will fare considering he's A) nearly passed out in training, B) apparently tweaked his knee (though this is questionable) and C) is getting cold sweats for no discernible reason.

• Somehow, Matt Mitrione thinks it's perfectly alright to tell a member of the opposing team about Rashad's planned fight lineup. Speculation runs abound that he's scared of fighting Marcus. OK... so, talk to one of your own teammates, guy! Seriously, the man can't have too much upstairs if he thought this was kosher.

• The loose-lipped Mitrione is quickly bestowed the title of "Snitch" and apologizes to Rashad. Here we see another difference in coaching... Rashad responds with confusion and bewilderment. I get the impression if this were Rampage, the response would be far more explosive.

• We have our fourth fight in Brandon Schaub vs. Demico Rogers. Now this oughta be good. Schaub seems to be a solid overall athlete and Demico is a very good wrestler. Rampage jests that he almost didn't pick Demico because he looks and fights like a bigger version of Rashad. Funny.

• Rampage admitting that he's having really shameful thoughts is kinda telling. There's a lot being shown that adds up to his personality as being fun and affable, yet easily frustrated when things don't go his way. Recall last year when he came unhinged after his loss to Forrest Griffin. Here we see him taking a severe ass-kicking in the competition. You have to wonder how much this played into his decision to focus on acting.

• I'm not justifying the above at all. Rather, I think it's justified in Rampage's mind. This is really jarring to watch because honestly, I love Rampage as a fighter and a character. I guess his negative side comes out just as easily as his comical side.

• Again, the differentiating coaching styles are further emphasized in the locker room. Rampage and crew show up minutes before the fight while Rashad and his coaches are with Schaub from the word go. I'm having flashbacks to Season 7 where Rampage showed up after the fight announcement because he overslept after a night of watching movies. He's a natural fighter, but he just doesn't seem to have the discipline commonly associated with modern MMA.

• Again, this is a precursor of things to come. I can just feel it.

• The above scenario isn't leaving Rogers with a warm feeling... I don't blame him. I have some inkling of what coach support can do. It's huge... I'll explain later.

• The fight is pretty aggressive and Demico looks really, really good in the takedown game. Even on the ground, he looks strong, passing the guard easily into side control and maintaining a good position until he goes for mount. Mount is tricky for big guys... you have to keep your opponent pinned down solid. I'm almost 6'2", and have pretty long legs. In cases like that, it's tough to keep your weight pressed down and still maintain a vertical posture, which looks like it happened hear. Schaub is able to scramble out of the mount and wind up in Demico's guard. From here, he passes and leaves Demico scrambling with a wide open neck. Cue the anaconda choke, and damn... it is tight. A tapout later leaves Team Rampage 0-4. Ouch.

• Rampage asks if he just tapped out to that choke. Yes. It was an anaconda, and I can pretty much verify that with the exception of the D'Arce choke, it's the tightest no gi choke in grappling. Not pleasant at all.

• The scene that follows is disheartening. Now, you could argue that if Rampage were in good grace with Zuffa right now, they'd edit around this somehow. But I honestly don't know how you could downplay it... Rampage doesn't even get off his chair to console his fallen fighter. He stays put and leaves that duty to Rashad. Wow. Just wow.

• In a twist of irony, we have li'l Rashad consoling big Rashad. Something fitting there in a metaphorical sense, but I'll leave that for you to decipher.

• Rampage finally communicates with his fighter outside the cage, gently criticizing him for not sticking with a ground n' pound gameplan. It's not overbearing, but in the first few moments after a loss, I can only imagine what kind of taste that must have left in Demico's mouth.

• Rampage calls a team meeting and vows no more losses, instructing his coaches to focus on the fighters strengths rather than their weaknesses. This seems so counter-intuitive to me, I think I need a scotch.

• I really thought Demico looked good and controlled most of the fight. He made a wrestler's mistake of leaving his neck too exposed and paid for it. But on the whole, he's got a lot of genuine potential. This was the best fight on the show thus far and offers hope for improved contests.

In the second half of this episode, you pretty much forget Kimbo's involved at all. The paradigm has shifted to the dynamic between coaches, and man, is it telling. Frank Hyden at MMA Torch had an excellent analogy in his review that I'll let speak for itself:

"Rampage not consoling Demico after his loss speaks a lot to Rampage's character as a coach. Some people can't coach, Rampage is one of them. Being a bad coach doesn't mean that you're a bad fighter, it just means that you can't teach. It doesn't make you more or less of a fighter. Michael Jordan might be the best basketball player of all time (a debatable topic, to be sure), but he's horrible as a GM. I really, really like Rampage, he's such an entertaining personality. However, the fact is, he can't coach worth a damn."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Permit me to step on my soapbox and relate a moment to the importance of support. As I've mentioned, I train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and have been at it for a year. My teacher is a black belt under Renzo Gracie, and is a phenomenal coach. I saw him corner my classmates in a tournament once, and marveled at his technical expertise, ability to communicate clearly and eagerness to support us in both victory and defeat. It makes a huge difference in team confidence for the competitors and spectators.

I cannot for one second imagine him abandoning any of us the way Rampage did with Demico. And yes, I'll use the word "abandon." The role of a teacher, even in disgust, is to be supportive. That's why teaching and coaching martial arts and fighting isn't for everyone.

I foresee more of Rampage coming unglued in the weeks to come. He has very few true studs on his team, and if he does manage to snare any victories, they will be few and far between.