CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – With two fights left in the quarterfinals, it’s all even at three wins apiece in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir. Who will put their team in the lead this week - Krzysztof Soszynski or Kyle Kingsbury?
CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – With two fights left in the quarterfinals, it’s all even at three wins apiece in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir. Who will put their team in the lead this week - Krzysztof Soszynski or Kyle Kingsbury?
Knowing that he’s going to fight in the final quarterfinal matchup for the 205-pounders, Team Mir’s Soszynski is going to have to gut it out against Team Nogueira’s Kingsbury after injuring his right hand. His coach, Frank Mir, brings in renowned trainer Don House to look at the hand, which Soszynski believes is at 65-70%, and shows him some techniques to lessen the wear and tear.
Back at the house, eliminated fighters Dave Kaplan and Tom Lawlor are feeling no pain as they go through a few drinks one night. One thing leads to another, and 155-pounder Kaplan – who claims that he can’t be knocked out – dares the 205-pound Lawlor to hit him. After much badgering, Lawlor obliges and knocks Kaplan out with a single right hand to the jaw.
Kaplan insists that he wasn’t unconscious though.
“I wasn’t knocked out, but my jaw does hurt,” he said.
After a series of pranks orchestrated by Soszynski, Team Nogueira gets even by placing all movable objects into his room. Soszynski takes it well, but promises revenge. He gets it later by taking all the dishes and silverware, as well as the dining room table, and putting it out on the basketball court.
With the season’s end drawing closer, it’s time this week for the traditional Coaches’ Challenge. This time it’s a penalty kick competition between Mir and Nogueira on the soccer field. Mir isn’t happy about it, assuming that Nogueira must be a soccer ace since he comes from Brazil. Nogueira laughs. “I’m the only guy who don’t play – I’m the worst player in Brazil.”
Nogueira gives it his all once on the field though, and due to some diving saves and quick goals, he wins 10-6 over an annoyed Mir, who gets even more frustrated with Kingsbury yelling ‘Gooooallll’ at him constantly. With the win, Nogueira grabs the $10,000 prize, and each member of his team gets $1,000.
In the Octagon though, Soszynski – with the aid of his Team Quest teammate Dan Henderson, who came to the gym during this week’s episode – gets even for Team Mir with a quick victory over Kingsbury, who was forced to submit to an armbar.
Team Mir is now back in the lead at 4-3 heading into the final quarterfinal matchup between John Polakowski and George Roop. Here’s how the teams look:
TEAM MIR
Krzysztof Soszynski 1-0
Vinny Magalhaes 1-0
Elliot Marshall 1-0
Tom Lawlor – Eliminated in week three by Ryan Bader
Junie Browning 1-0
Shane Nelson – Eliminated in week four by Efrain Escudero
Dave Kaplan – Eliminated in week eight by Phillipe Nover
George Roop
TEAM NOGUEIRA
Ryan Bader 1-0
Shane Primm – Eliminated in week five by Elliot Marshall
Kyle Kingsbury – Eliminated in week nine by Krzysztof Soszynski
Jules Bruchez – Eliminated in week seven by Vinny Magalhaes
Phillipe Nover 1-0
Efrain Escudero 1-0
John Polakowski
Roli Delgado – Eliminated in week six by Junie Browning
For weekly recaps of The Ultimate Fighter, as well as fighter profiles, stay tuned to UFC.com.