Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
The last time Mike Tyson threw a punch on camera, he was putting a beatdown on some dude in “The Hangover.” Tonight, Iron Mike takes a step away from Hollywood and back to the world of fighting – a small step, but a step nonetheless – when he appears on The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC is bringing in Tyson seemingly as a hybrid of WWE Raw guest host and American Idol guest mentor, but if he only teaches these 14 mixed martial artists one thing, I hope it’s the art of trash-talk. Because let’s face it, we’re never going to hear any “I’ll eat your children” promos coming from anyone training under TUF coach Georges St-Pierre.
In last week’s first preliminary-round fight, Alex Caceres was dominated for nearly two full rounds before catching Jeffrey Lentz in a triangle choke and submitting him. Tonight they are bonding over shots of Jagermeister, and before long the good sportsmanship gives way to continued tension, with Alex going so far as to suggest that Jeffrey “underestirated” him. The other guys in the house are quickly getting annoyed with Alex’s high self-esteem. Sevak Magakian tells us that Alex talks too much, and is only on the show to be on TV…a point that loses steam when you consider that Sevak is making it in front of a TV camera.
An onslaught of generic heavy-metal music guides us into the UFC training center, where Team GSP is in the throes of a workout with Gia Sissaouri, a former Olympic silver medalist in wrestling. GSP says he wanted to give his fighters the chance to train with a world-class athlete. Yeah, because all they had before was some UFC champion or something. Gia says the fighters have potential, but according to the footage we see, the only potential they seem to have is getting totally handled on the mat. Still, Team GSP members say they appreciate the lessons, even if it means looking foolish in the process. As if this is the most embarrassing thing that will happen to any of these guys this season.
Later, opposing coach Josh Koscheck and his team get their time in the gym, and the coach is determined to light a fire under his guys so they can get their first win. Before long, Team Koscheck is feeling the burn of its overzealous coach’s workout, with one guy sitting out simply because “it’s hard.” Man, I would have loved to have heard someone give that excuse to a short-fused Ken Shamrock during Season 3. Koscheck is not happy with his fighters’ lackluster efforts, and lets them know with a mid-workout pep talk. The speech seems to work, as the guys pick up the pace during the second half of practice.
Later both teams convene at the gym, where GSP announces that the next fight will feature his top pick, Michael Johnson, taking on Team Koscheck’s Aaron Wilkinson. Both fighters express confidence, with Koscheck supporting Aaron while being careful not to actually predict a win. While Aaron thinks his superior wrestling will make the difference, his coach praises only his fighter’s heart and work ethic. I’m already seeing Michael’s hand being raised before the night is through.
TUF producers may have chosen to subtitle Aaron’s cockney accent, but perhaps they should have had someone decipher Michael’s mumblings during the next segment. Between more f-bombs than even UFC president Dana White would drop, Michael slurs his way through what I believe was a desire for a UFC victory. GSP says Michael can neutralize Aaron’s boxing by looking for a takedown, even though Aaron has already told us he expects to win the bout with his wrestling. Michael says Aaron will be extra motivated by the prospect of defeating the show’s first selection, but says that it won’t happen because he was “the top pick for a reason.” Yeah, that reason was your coach somehow managing to outwit a guy who champions something called “mindless coaching.”
Upon arriving at the gym for its workout, Team Koscheck realizes GSP’s car is still in the parking lot, so a couple of the guys pull cars up to GSP’s vehicle on both sides, parking so close that he won’t be able to open his doors. Cool, pranks between coaches. What’s next, feed a bunch of chickens some crumbs and stuff them into GSP’s car? Been there done that, thanks. Outside, GSP is not impressed, and manages to defeat the prank fairly easily by just squeezing in.
Back inside, Aaron is hard at work, concentrating on his standup. Koscheck says Michael is a good wrestler, so he is instructing Aaron to keep the fight standing as long as possible. Koscheck actually seems to think Aaron has a shot at winning, and lets us know that if Aaron pulls off the upset, he plans to run over to GSP and “motorboat his ass.” Thanks, there’s the visual I needed. Gotta admit, though, it’s a pretty creative threat – even Tyson might want to make note of that one.
Later, both teams arrive at the gym for what an on-screen graphic says is the “official weigh-in.” As if it’s to be distinguished from all those non-official weigh-ins. After both guys tip the scales under the 156-lb limit, Dana gives us his usual insightful thoughts, saying that a “tough” Aaron will bring a “tough” fight to Michael, a fight that “could go either way.” Good thing the show’s producers decided to include that sound bite – now I’m informed and ready to watch the bout.
It’s fight day, and both guys are excited. Aaron enjoys being the underdog, and says he typically rises to the level of his opponent. Michael, meanwhile, reminds us that he was the number-one pick in the house, then for some reason says that he’s got some big shoes to fill. I totally missed the connection there, but OK, I’m on board.
Just as the main purpose of this week’s show is about to take off, Dana sidetracks it by showing up at the gym with Mike Tyson in tow. The former champ finds the Team GSP dressing room and makes his way inside, shaking hands with a clearly excited-slash-confused Michael. Later, Tyson tells us he is an old-school UFC fan, then proves his knowledge by dropping names like Ken Shamrock and Dan “Sevren.” Hey, I’m not going to be the one to correct him. He then goes on to say the following: “You know, I’m enjoying, in California, from the fights, and I met him around. And I’m just happy to be involved with this, and to come down.” Chris Nowinski might want to get a head start on that Mike Tyson file.
Both fighters have entered the cage, and referee Steve Mazzagatti gets the action started. Michael comes out with some crisp striking, landing both punches and kicks before scoring a takedown against the fence. Aaron gets back up, and breaks from the clinch by connecting with a standing knee that hits Michael flush in the chin. They then exchange jabs and kicks for the next couple of minutes, until Michael executes a perfect double-leg takedown out of nowhere and gets the easy takedown. Aaron gets back to his feet, though, and moments later gets a takedown of his own. For the remainder of the round, Aaron has Michael down against the fence, scoring points with some pretty impressive-looking ground-and-pound.
Round 2 starts with more exciting standup, with both fighters landing several shots before Michael earns a takedown exactly a minute in. Before long, though, Aaron has worked his way out, and once again scores a takedown of his own. Eventually both guys make it back to their feet and separate, though they end up against the fence for the remainder of the round. Not sure who won which round, but the judges have declared the bout a draw, meaning we’re headed for the third round.
Outside the cage, Mike Tyson cheers for his namesake as Round 3 gets under way. Less than 10 seconds in, Michael drops Aaron with an uppercut, then unleashes some ground-and-pound until Aaron rolls over to give up his back. Michael slips in a rear naked choke, Aaron taps out, and just like that, Team GSP has gone 2-0. Afterward, an uncharacteristically nice Koscheck expresses pride in Aaron, and says that overall, regardless of its record, he is still high on his team. Though if the team’s losing ways continue, Koscheck may want to consider getting high on something a little stronger.
Random thoughts:
How is it that this season’s cast was revealed just two weeks ago, yet when I saw them during the opening credits I had no recollection of most of them?
When one of the fighters told Alex he’d stopped listening to him 10 minutes ago, how did he know Alex was still talking?
Was Koscheck channeling a Season 6 Matt Hughes when he threatened his own team by vowing that he would be “whipping somebody’s ass today”?
Did Koscheck really lecture his fighters by telling them to adopt his philosophy of “mindless training,” then moments later implore them to “get your mind right”?
During the fight-announcement faceoff, why did Aaron keep scratching at his face, even when it meant breaking out of his pose?
Why did Spike TV run a promo declaring next month “Brocktober,” featuring Brock Lesnar’s title defense against Shane Carwin, when that same fight preceded tonight’s September episode of TUF?
Was it just me, or did it seem like Michael spoke with several different accents all rolled into one?
Why did Michael establish his across-the-board superiority, then say his opponent would have a “downhill slope” to face? Shouldn’t that have been “uphill battle”?
How come GSP didn’t close the trunk of his car prior to squeezing into it, since he was presumably about to drive off?
Has Aaron been tanning in the same places as WWE superstar Sheamus?
Wasn’t it weird to see Mike Tyson step out of Dana’s SUV wearing a pair of white shoes, considering he made his living in nothing but black boots with no socks?
If Dana is such a Mike Tyson fan, and Tyson (who lives in Las Vegas) is such a fan of the show, why is he just now getting an invitation to sit in?
What would have led Michael, at any point during his training, to suddenly think about “how tight it would be to meet Mike Tyson”?
And did GSP make Tyson feel old by taking him back to the 1980s classic “Mike Tyson Punch-Out” video game?
During the final minute or so of the first round, didn’t several of Aaron’s elbows look like they were landing on the back of Michael’s head?
Does anyone have any clue what Tyson said to Dana in between rounds?
Why did we need to see and hear Dana shouting the announcement of sudden victory both before and after the commercial break?
Did you hear a Team Koscheck coach yelling for Aaron to roll over onto his stomach toward the start of Round 2, putting him in perfect position for the rear naked choke?
Who was responsible for the random one-person round of applause during Koscheck’s post-fight locker-room speech?
Am I the only one who thinks it looked kind of weird to see Michael wearing an actual necklace (with microphone) on top of the tattooed rosary beads on his chest?
Mark Carpowich can be contacted at markcarpowich@hotmail.com.
