TUF 11: 'So Easy a Caveman Can Do It'

We are almost halfway done with TUF 11 as the final preliminary fight pits two dudes

1:48 PM
May 13, 2010

http://www.ugo.com/tv/tuf-11-recap-so-easy-a-caveman-can-do-it

Credit: Spike

Poor Nick Ring. The guy barely beats the reformed drug user and pride of Amish country, Court McGee and he already has knee issues (foreshadowing?) After the fight, Ring immediately talks to a doctor complaining of "loose" ligaments around his knee.

Now, I am not doctor, but I am pretty sure that House M.D. would say --in between popping pills of Vicodin of course-- that your ligaments are not suppose to be jiggling around in the joint.

After a few interviews regarding Ring's controversial decision, we head to the final preliminary fight announcement as Tito selects Seth Baczynski of Team Punishment to fight Joe Henle of Team Liddell.

Henle's nickname may be "Leonidas" but Dana White and the coaches aren't giving him a lot of love as the fighter needed a come from behind victory just to make it into the house where he was rewarded as the final pick of the competition.

In fact, Henle has only been training for three months! That doesn't mean that the long haired, bearded one isn't confident, as Joe coyly declares "so easy a caveman can do it" in reference to beating Baczynski during the weigh-in. You can't completely blame him. After all, Seth didn't win to get on the show. He's only fighting because Chris Camozzi broke his jaw and was sent packing in the second episode.

During the Team Punshment training camp, Nick Ring's troubled knee gives out on him (Oh TUF, you're so predictable). Tito and Ring have a private one-on-one where Nick reveals that he is afraid that news of his knee being held together with scotch tape and rubber bands will spread to rival contestants. Ortiz seems far more worried that Nick is dealing with an ACL tear, but before we learn anything conclusive, say an MRI from a doctor, the scene cuts to the fight walkouts.

As the fight begins with thirty minutes left in the episode, it is safe to assume that we are headed for a three round fight. While Spike doesn't really have a choice in the matter it takes a lot of the intrigue out of a fight when you know it's going to a decision and the final round will determine the winner. Put it this way: imagine watching a sporting event and knowing that the first two-thirds are irrelevant, basically it's just every NBA game, right LeBron?

Shots at the man who would be king aside, the fight proceeds fairly predictably. Joe Henle's status as novice forces him into a grinder strategy as he tries to outwork Baczynski on the ground. It only half works as they split the first two rounds and go to a decisive "sudden victory" round. There, it's all Seth as Joe gases out faster than 300 lost it's cultural revelance.

Baczynski wins an unanimous decision an advances to the quarterfinals. The final tabulation puts Team Liddell ahead 4-3 with 1 dodgeball victory.

Now all attention turns to the coveted wild card spot, which White announces in the waning moments of the episode. Dana taps Kyacey Uscola and Kris McCray, both of Team Punishment, to fight for the wild card. But there is one more open spot as Rich Attonito of Team Liddell is injured and can't continue. White gives Court McGee, who lost a close decision to Nick Ring, Rich's spot.

Next week it's the wild card fight, quarter fight match-ups and even a quarter final fight! Guess that means we get to see a knockout... damn you time constraints!