The Ultimate Fighter 8 Episode 4 Recap
CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED
Last week on The Ultimate Fighter 8 “Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir” Ryan Bader became the first light heavyweight to advance to the 205-pound tournament semifinals, defeating Tom Lawlor via first-round knockout.
We open up this week’s episode with the fighters sitting around the house watching UFC 84, which featured UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn vs. former champion Sean Sherk. Not suprisingly, nearly all of the clips from UFC 84 that make it into the episode are of Tito Ortiz getting beat down by Lyoto Machida. UFC president Dana White talks about letting the fighters watch the fights, something normally not allowed, and about how the fighters are at the house training to eventually make it onto the pay-per-view cards and ultimately into the main event.
Junie Browning and Shane Nelson feel it’s a “good idea” to start having a few drinks and Browning feels the house makes people into alcoholics and that if he keeps his head on straight he’ll be on of the best lightweight fighters in the world. Foreshadowing? I think so.
Sure enough, Shane and Junie continue their binge and things get ugly with the opposing team’s fighters. After a few confrontations Junie starts picking on the wrong fighter and Kyle Kingsbury throws nuts (yes, nuts) at him which Junie responds to logically by throwing a glass in retaliation. Kingsbury has just a little cut from the incident, but is pissed because a cut just about anywhere else could have ended his run on the show.
Junie is confident he’ll be booted off the show but is also confident he can beat the eventual winner. Apparently Junie isn’t content just getting booted off and insists on doing as much damage as he can before the seemingly inevitable happens. Next on his list of targets are all of the 205-pound fighters and after a brief verbal exchange he and Kingsbury are again in an altercation.
Next up it’s Nelson’s turn to look like a fool on national television and he picks a fight with Efrain, who just laughs off the attempt. Junie and Shane next throw the majority of the house’s furniture into the pool, then Junie picks up a bottle and threatens the rest of the house but picks a fight with the wrong guy as Krzysztof Soszynski takes offense and things get ugly.
Krzysztof first puts Junie’s clothes into the pool and Junie goes off the deep end. After attempting to push him into the pull Junie asks to be knocked out (if only). Now it’s Ryan Bader’s turn to piss Junie off as he kicks his clothes back into the water. Junie again goes ballistic and attacks anyone he’s able to, dragging Bader into the water and kicking Tom Lawlor to the ground.
Dana arrives at the house the following morning and calls the fighters together for a meeting, though White says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do about Junie and Shane’s actions. After calling both fighters “drunken jackasses” is a variety of ways, White decides to allow Shane to remain in the house, but he’ll be forced to fight in the first lightweight bout. In one of the more bizarre twists we’ve seen over the first eight seasons White opts to keep both Shane and Junie in the house, giving both fighters a second chance.
Team Nogueira selects Efrain to fight Team Mir’s Shane in the tournament’s first lightweight bout.
After a training session we jump back to the house where Junie’s back at it again, this time picking a fight with Efrain. There’s no physical altercation this time, as they simply trade verbal jabs ahead of Efrain’s matchup with Shane.
The fighters tip the scales next and both make weight for the 155-pound fight. The fighters and teams are confident they have the skills to win the bout and we’re quickly onto the fight.
EFRAIN ESCUDERO (Team Nogueira) vs. SHANE NELSON (Team Mir)
ROUND 1 – The fighters touch gloves and we’re underway. There’s tentative striking early as both fighters circle and look and opening. Nelson gets the better of the early standup, tagging Escudero with several combos. The fighters clinch and trade shots. Efrain works for a takedown from the clinch but Nelson defends well and remains on his feet. After a null in the action the fighters are separated and restarted. They quickly clinch again and this time Efrain is successful in getting Nelson to the ground and lands in side control. Nelson shows good defense on the ground, getting Efrain back into half guard before the conclusion of the opening frame.
ROUND 2 – Nelson again displays better striking to open round two but Efrain is again successful in taking him to the ground. After a bit of ground work the fighters work back to their feet. They’re quickly back on the ground but this times it’s Nelson working from the top in Efrain’s guard. It’s short-lived, however, as Efrain locks up a triangle choke in the closing seconds and forces Nelson to tap.
Efrain Escudero def. Shane Nelson via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2
Junie is pissed at the result, and calls Efrain out as “another boring wrestler” even though he finished the fight via submission. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira calms Efrain down, saying Junie will be the next one to be finished, but Junie is relentless and jumps into the cage to confront Efrain.
“Anarchy in the octagon” kicks off next weeks episode as we witness the conclusion of Junie’s in-ring confrontation with Efrain and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva stops by to train with Team Nogueira.
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Junie is an idiot, he belongs on Jerry Springer not the ultimate fighter.
Junie is nuts. Nelson got what he deserved by losing. Junie did make Dana look like a fool for keeping him, and maybe he’ll be gone next time. A part of me wants to see Junie kicked off, but I’d rather see him lose a fight, badly. I’m tired of Spike saying they have extra footage on the website when they don’t. I tried to go watch the extra footage or whatever from tonight, and its not there. They did this to me last week. I wasn’t highly impressed with Efrain, but he got the win, and he got a finish. Nelson probably did not show what he’s really got. I expected a lot more out of his ground game, the pressure got to him.
junies not gonna get kicked off. yet. if u remember the season preview it shows dana sayin something along the lines of “you shouldve been kicked off this show 3 times.” this is numba 2 so we have atleast have 1 more dumbass junie moment. as for nelson i expected more off his back bein a purple belt under bj.
huertarogerhuerta,
I don’t recall that line, however, I don’t doubt you. I wonder how long that will take to come up…probably the week after next.
if junie doesnt get kicked off it will be amazing to see him live through another week…
he needs some serious help…
as for nelson, i think it wasnt just the pressure, it was also his own drinking problem, all that wasted energy spent on pointless rage is what blew his shot, he loooked weak, and while efrain doesnt seem to have much right now he does have a great set of skills to build upon… his triangle reminded me of an old gracie video where one of them fought a kung fu guy(in yellow shorts of course), he put him into the triangle rolled around and pounded the guys face until he made him tap…
I liked the fact that Efrain said “I baited him into it.” I think it says a lot that he was thinking, and finding holes as the fight progressed, and adjusting on the fly.
” his triangle reminded me of an old gracie video where one of them fought a kung fu guy(in yellow shorts of course), he put him into the triangle rolled around and pounded the guys face until he made him tap…”
that was Royce and Jason Delucia, they would rematch in UFC 1 or 2. Royce armbars him.
Junie is a punk, but shane in his little sidekick like that cartoon with the bulldog and the chihuahua. Kyle should’ve handled him in “self defense” Dana would understand.
Junie needs to go. I was hoping Krystoff or Big Van Bader knocked his d!ck in the dirt. This punk will never amount to anything more than some small show on the outskirts of Kentucky. How much do the other guys, who are there to fight not just to be on tv,have to take of this abuse?
Yeah I’m ready to see Junie leave as well after last nite’s show. He’s mildly entertaining but that sht gets old REALLY quick. I agree though that I think I’d rather see him get his ass beaten then just get kicked off.
They also alluded to a scene where Dana White says something along the lines of “You need help, you’re a sick fu@k…” which wasn’t in last nite’s episode so I’m holding out hope that he’ll be booted next show.
This season will take an entirely different tempo when he’s gone.
Also I think it says a ton for the character of the other fighters that they’ve all been able to restrain themselves. I’m sure a number of those guys would love to (and be more than capable) KO Junie but everyone’s kept their cool. Pretty impressive.
I agree with Ryan that I’m impressed that the other fighters haven’t been baited into a fight with Junie. I was a little disappointed that some of them seemed to egg him on during last nights episode, but the rest of them were at least mature enough not to fight him there in the house.
It is sad watching Junie … he has some serious demons.
Dana’s ‘not sure why he’s keeping him on the show’ yeah right – umm ratings and marketing. He see’s that Junie has personality (when not drunk) talent and wants to exploit him. Seems disrespectful to the others in the house.
at first i thought junie was just a “bad drunk”, now i say he is an *sshole too! loved it when shane tapped! niiiiiice!
Junie is a moron. A total emotional wreck. Talks **** whether he is sober or not. I hope someone KNOCKS him the F out. I never wish for someone to be hurt badly unless I have a personal problem with them in my own world. Junie is not in my world but needs to be humbled. I want to see him bleed for a while and then go unconcious. Junie is bad for the UFC. I have a feeling Spike producers may have told Dana keep him around for “ratings.” In any case, Leben and JT Money don’t have **** on Junie. He is by far the worst. I cannot imagine he wins over the fans.
Junie’s Needs:
Phsychiatric help for his mental/emotional disorders.
A life threatening beating so he can learn to appreciate life.
Charm School- that show with chicks from Flavor of Life/Rock of Love.
Chill pills or marijuana
3 years in Ethiopia
One more thing, I am very happy none of the fighters fought back when pushed by Junie or Shane. Very smart guys who do not want to blow their opportunites.
THIS SEASON IS TURNING OUT TO BE THE BEST ONE YET. IMO WEVE HAD SOME GOOD FIGHTS AND ALOT OF DRAMA AT THE HOUSE. BUT I AGREE THAT JUNIE IS BAD FOR THE SPORT. THAT GUY IS UNCONTROLABLE… I DON’T THINK I CAN JUST SIT THERE AND NOT DO ANYTHING WHEN BEING PUSHED AND HAVING WINE THROWN IN MY FACE… THAT WOULD DO IT AND I’D BE DONE. ANYONE ELSE AGREE THIS IT THE BEST SEASON YET?
i think the best season is the 1st just because of how much talent came out of it. and most of the guys that made it to the ufc from that season r still around. kos diego leben swick bonnar forrest florian quarry karalexis(hes in the wec but still owned by zuffa). theres never been another season where so many guys earned a spot in the ufc.
One of the brief previews in the first two episodes gives away the “sick ****” thing. Junie is hammed and alludes to eating one of the other fighter’s ****.
At least that is the way it is made out to look.
I hate stupid drunks and scat freaks, therefore Junie is not on my love list. The guy needs to be beat within an inch of his life.
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=14969
THATS PRETTY INTERESTING. JUNIE SAID THAT THERE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THEY WERE FIGHTING BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS JUNIE WAS HELP THEM WORK OUT. LIKE HE WAS HELPING HIM DEFEND A FRONT KICK WHEN HE KICKED HIM DOWN… BUNCH OF BS…
Junie is a punk ****.
Everybody knows or has known one….here’s the M.O.:
Cocky, grandstanding, ignorant, half-witted, wife-beating asshole with a big mouth, low tolerance to alcohol and no nuts to back up what he spits out.
I only hope he gets what he deserves.
If Junie stays again it means that he’ll have to shoot someone to be kicked off, he is talented, but he is a jackass. Dana is thinking about ratings and the fact that he is propably the best lighweight, but he needs to go.
junie really isnt that good he is very inexpierenced 2-1 pro record i really dont think he is the best lw in the house i think that definitly john but im biased because i like john
but in the end i really see this as the finale at least for now because i was impressed and like them
Krzysztof Soszynski vs ryan bader…if they dont ever have to fight each other
Efrain Escudero vs John Polakowski
Well the good thing about this episode is, with Shane Nelson out the only 24 year old lightweight left is Phillipe Nover so he must be the next Anderson Silva (based on Dana White’s comments).
KO – I concur on the remedy, but preferable all at once – ie all tyhat **** but it happens while he is in Somalia.
maybe he is clinically mildly retarded and so more tragic than anything else…
Junie is one of those people I despise the most. The worst possible representation for the sport. He deserves to spend his days in a jail cell where the stupid punk belongs. Although im sure it wont be long until he ends up there…
junie is great for rateing and is fun to watch, what pisses me off is when people dont hit him i mean wtf just put the little prick on his arse, junie is a hot head who should be in elite xc with the likes of kimbo, i dont understand why people become such wankers when there pissed plus he seems to know he becomes a prick, so why do it u ****ing retard. ide like him to come down my local and start acting like that he’d leave in a body bag or ambulance and that just the girls lol
pissed as in drunk or pissed as in pissed off
as in drunk mate
That’s what I thought u meant I was just double checking, and he probably drinks because he hates himself also when people drink because they have “issues” or “problems” they tend to focus on those issues instead of doing something about them… See I dislike when these guys think that they are badasses simply due to the fact they are on a show… Might be talented fighters yes but to go challenging the entire 205 guys simply because u have small man syndrom get over it u will never be 6ft tall u little sh!t don’t be jealous of those who are… But the little F~er is entertaining…
mate, your not from aust. are you….if so do you drink fosters alot…just wondering if the stereotype is true
Junie is the biggest douche bag in the history of MMA. His own website is a mockery of all that is HTML. Look him up in the Dictionary under the entry “Mixed Martial Arts: All That Is Wrong”.