Tuf 12

[UkrainianGuy]

ULTIMATE FIGHTER 12 BEGINS FILMING THIS WEEK





http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/11698-TUF_LOGO_black.jpg




“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 begins filming this week in Las Vegas. The new season premieres Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Season 12 features UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and the number one contender to his title, Josh Koscheck, as opposing coaches. They will lead 28 lightweight fighters on a quest to reach the Octagon. St-Pierre and Koscheck will then fight in a pay-per-view event following the conclusion of the season.

Both St-Pierre and Koscheck have appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter” in the past. St-Pierre was a trainer during Season 4, while Koscheck was one of the participants during the inaugural season.

During the 6-week Ultimate Fighter competition, the competitors will endure a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, karate, boxing and wrestling. In each episode, opponents from each team will be selected to square off in the Octagon, officially weighed in and then, in front of their teammates, coaches, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the two combatants face off in two five-minute rounds. At the end of two rounds, if the fight is declared a draw, the two partake in a sudden victory third round.

[UkrainianGuy]

28 FIGHTERS FORM INTERNATIONAL CAST FOR TUF 12



The 12th season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” will feature 28 up-and-coming mixed martial artists in the lightweight division (155 pounds) competing for a six-figure contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

From Broken Arrow, Okla., to Los Angeles, Calif., to Manchester, England, the 28 fighters, with a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, have all gathered in Las Vegas with one goal – to become the next “Ultimate Fighter.”

As in prior seasons, 14 of these competitors will win a preliminary bout to gain a place in “The Ultimate Fighter” house, one step closer to their ultimate goal, whereas the losers of these bouts are sent home.

Two of mixed martial arts’ biggest stars – UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and the number one contender to his belt, Josh Koscheck, will serve as coaches this season. The two will square off as coaches during the 12-week run of the show, and will later meet inside the Octagon with the welterweight title on the line at a UFC pay-per-view event.

The new season premieres Sept. 15 at 10:00 PM ET/PT featuring the following cast members:

JASON AMBROSE:
Fighting out of: Santa Clara, CA/ AKA
Record: 12-2
Age: 23

PAUL BARROW:
Fighting out of: Tampa, FL/ Gracie Tampa
Record: 2-0
Age: 24

JASON BRENTON:
Fighting out of: Grand Junction, CO/ 8th St., Impact Boxing
Record: 6-0
Age: 23

JONATHAN BROOKINS:
Fighting out of: Orlando, FL/ Gracie Barra Orlando
Record: 11-2
Age: 24

MIKE BUDNIK:
Fighting out of: Broken Arrow, OK/ Triton
Record: 8-4
Age: 35

ALEX CACERES:
Fighting out of: Miami, FL/ Young Tigers Foundation
Record: 4-2
Age: 21

SAKO CHIVITCHIAN:
Fighting out of: Glendale, CA/ Gokor/ Gene Le Bell/ Hayastan MMA
Record: 5-0
Age: 26

JOSEPH DUFFY
Fighting out of: Donegal, Ireland / Falcons Martial Arts
Record: 7-0
Age: 22

PABLO GARZA:
Fighting out of: Fargo, ND/ Academy of Combat Arts
Record: 7-0
Age: 26

TOBY GREAR:
Fighting out of: Los Angeles, CA/ True Warrior
Record: 7-4-1
Age: 30

DANIEL HEAD:
Fighting out of: Sharpsville, IN/ Ibjja
Record: 6-2
Age: 23

MICHAEL JOHNSON:
Fighting out of: Springfield, MO/ Springfield Fight Club
Record: 8-4
Age: 23

AMIR KHILLAH:
Fighting out of: Kalamazoo, MI/ Jeremy Horn’s Elite
Record: 6-4
Age: 30

JEFF LENTZ:
Fighting out of: Lanoka Harbor, NJ/ Kurt Pellegrino MMA
Record: 6-1
Age: 21

SEVAK MAGAKIAN:
Fighting out of: Glendale, CA/ Hayastan MMA/ Main Event
Record: 8-3
Age: 24

STEVE MAGDALENO:
Fighting out of: Torrance, CA/ VMAT
Record: 5-1
Age: 28

ANDY MAIN:
Fighting out of: Boonton, NJ/ AMA Fight Club
Record: 4-1
Age: 21

CODY MCKENZIE:
Fighting out of: Metaline, WA/ Fancy Pants Fight Team
Record: 10-0
Age: 22

TJ O’BRIEN:
Fighting out of: Prole, IA/ Round Kick
Record: 13-3
Age: 23

SPENCER PAIGE:
Fighting out of: Watertown, NY/ CNY MMA
Record: 5-2
Age: 24

NAM PHAN:
Fighting out of: Garden Grove, CA/ Ma Du Academy
Record: 15-7
Age: 27

MICHAEL RICHMAN:
Fighting out of: Rosemount, MN/ MN Fight Factory
Record: 8-0
Age: 24

DANE SAYERS:
Fighting out of: Fargo, ND/ Academy of Combat Arts
Record: 7-1
Age: 22

ARIEL SEXTON:
Fighting out of: San Jose, CA/ Renzo Gracie
Record: 6-3
Age: 28

MARC STEVENS:
Fighting out of: Lorraine, NY/ Team Balance/ Relson Gracie
Record: 12-5
Age: 24

KYLE WATSON:
Fighting out of: St. Louis, MO/ The Hit Squad
Record: 13-6-1
Age: 30

RAN WEATHERS:
Fighting out of: Albuquerque, NM/ Greg Jackson’s MMA
Record: 13-5
Age: 28

AARON WILKINSON:
Fighting out of: Manchester, England/ Wolfslair MMA Academy
Record: 6-3
Age: 23

[UkrainianGuy]

http://www.ultimatefighter.com/videos/sneak-peek-ultimate-fighter-team-gsp-vs-team-koscheck


Josh Koscheck will take on Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title this December, but first they must square off on September 15 at 10PM/9c to lead a group of lightweight hopefuls into battle for the chance to win a six-figure contract.

[UkrainianGuy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqSdOKgymH4

[UkrainianGuy]

TUF 12 EP 1 RECAP: 14 ELIMINATED & 14 ADVANCE


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Twenty-eight lightweights made it through the tryouts, interviews, and screening process to make it to the elimination round of fights to compete for a spot in “The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck” house.

The wild card slot introduced in Season 11 is back in Season 12.

“We’re bringing back the wild card,” explained UFC president Dana White. “The way the wild card works is after the guys fight their way into the house there’s seven preliminary fights. And for the eighth preliminary fight, we take two guys who have lost, but we feel have a ton of talent and could still make it in the competition and we bring them back as the wild card fighters. And the winner of that fight gets the last quarterfinal spot.”

After a pep talk from White, it was time for the elimination round where the winners earn a bed in the house and a spot on the show for the remainder of production, that is unless they’re injured in their elimination bout and can’t continue, quit, or do something to get kicked off.

The first elimination bout presented on the show (the fights could have happened in a different chronological order during filming) was between Marc Stephens and T.J. O’Brien.

Stephens wrestled at the University of Buffalo under Koscheck. Koscheck admitted to have never seen Stephens fight but said, “he’s an okay wrestler.”

In the first exchange Stephens landed a low kick followed by a right hand that dropped O’Brien and finished him by technical knockout with strikes on the ground securing his place in the fighter house.

Spencer Paige and Steve Magdaleno entered the Octagon next.

The first round was fast paced and competitive with each fighter having his moments. The second was back and forth in the beginning with Paige pulling out the unanimous decision win and earning residence inside the fighter house.

Nam Phan and Mike Budnik were the next to compete. Phan is a lifelong martial artist. Budnik is a former professional skater who competed in the first 10 X-Games.

Phan landed the cleaner strikes. He was taken down twice in the first round, but he quickly made his way back to his feet each time. Late in the round Phan knocked Budnik down with a body shot. Budnik turtled up as Phan fired down punches and referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. Phan won by TKO extending his stay in Las Vegas and on the show.

Andy Main submitted Jason Brenton by triangle choke after a back and forth fight.

Jonathan Brookins used grappling to control Ran Weathers and came away with a unanimous decision victory.

Sako Chivitchian relied on his Judo background to get Toby Grear to the ground and maintained top position to take the decision and advance in the competition.

After the fight, Chivitchian said, “This is the greatest day of my life. You could never know how great it feels. There’s no words to say it. You’ve got to get in here to know how it feels,” while Spike TV showed clips of him puking after the fight.

Jeffrey Lentz and Daniel Head were next in line.

Before the fight started, coach St-Pierre crossed out Lentz on his sheet listing the contestants with photos, saying he’s going to lose.

Lentz put a beating on Head before submitting him with a rear naked choke in a one-sided affair.

Following the match, coach Koscheck showed Lentz that St-Pierre crossed him out before the fight began. “He crossed you out before it even started,” he said. “Just know it.”

Lentz replied, “I ain’t worried. Never count me out.”

Paul Barrow and Alex Caceres made their way to the cage. Caceres, nicknamed Bruce Lee Roy, walked out in a replica yellow jump suit of the one Bruce Lee wore in the movie “The Game of Death.”

Barrow got a single leg takedown early, but couldn’t keep Caceres down. Barrow closed the distance and the two jostled for position inside the clinch. Caceres took Barrow’s back and sunk in a rear naked choke, ending the fight.

“I love this kid,” said White. “Bruce Lee Roy might be for real. This kid has takedown defense. He’s got some submissions, and his stand-up looks pretty good. It will be interesting to see how far Bruce Lee Roy can make it through the competition.”

Michael Johnson vs. Pablo Garza was next with Johnson securing takedowns and unleashing vicious ground and pound. Johnson was unable to finish, but walked away with a clear-cut unanimous decision, impressing the UFC president and Koscheck in the process.

“Michael Johnson is a great wrestler, and he seems like a kid that goes in to finish,” commented White. “He’s nasty.”

Koscheck predicted great things from Johnson.

“Michael Johnson is going to be a contender, for sure, in this competition,” said the welterweight contender.

Aaron Wilkinson displayed good takedowns and the ability to ground and pound his opponents, defeating Michael Richman by decision, becoming the only Englishman in the house.

Kyle Watson used his jiu-jitsu skills to get Joseph Duffy to the canvas and force him to tap out due to a rear naked choke. The Matt Hughes trained Watson will have 13 roommates in the fighter house.

Sevak Magakian escaped J.J. Ambrose’s early submission attempts and used his wrestling to win by unanimous decision.

Cody McKenzie, a commercial fisherman in Alaska residing in Washington, entered the Octagon first against Amir Khillah, who soon followed for their elimination bout.

St-Pierre was familiar with McKenzie and predicted he’d win by guillotine choke, and the welterweight champion was right. Khillah took McKenzie down and then came the guillotine. McKenzie tightened it down and the Egyptian fighter went to sleep.

“I know Cody by name, “stated St-Pierre. “He has one thing that he does unbelievably well. It’s his guillotine choke.”

The final elimination bout to get in the fight house was between Dane Sayers and Ariel Sexton.

Sayers opted not to touch gloves and ran across the cage with a flying knee to start the first round. Much of the round was a slugfest with Sexton landing often. At the start of the second stanza, Sayers looked fatigued. White predicted Sayers would get “knocked out this round.”

Sexton was in complete control when Sayers applied a guillotine choke and immediately pulled guard to lock it on. Sexton escaped, but Sayers took his back and secured a rear naked choke to the standing Sexton forcing him to tap.

The Blackfoot Chippewa Native American joins a diverse cast of fighters in “The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck” house.

The 14 cast members advancing to team selections and moving into the fighter house were: Marc Stephens, Spencer Paige, Nam Phan, Andy Main, Jonathan Brookins, Sako Chivitchian, Jeffrey Lentz, Alex Caceres, Michael Johnson, Aaron Wilkinson, Kyle Watson, Sevak Magakian, Cody McKenzie, and Dane Sayers.

The coaches, UFC welterweight titleholder Georges St-Pierre and Josh Koscheck, will rematch at the conclusion of the Spike TV reality show’s twelfth season at UFC 124 in Montreal on Dec. 11.