Clark Kent
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12-03-2009 12:00 AM:
The world's most unathletic body has reached the pinnacle. Roy Nelson, the pre-show favorite on season ten of "The Ultimate Fighter," made it to the heavyweight final but his opponent was a bit of a surprise. Brendan Schaub, a Jackson's Submission Fighting camper, made it all to the final by pulling off an upset against the massive Marcus Jones.
Nelson and Jones square off this Saturday night during The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas at The Palms.
Nelson, a veteran of 17 professional fights and a former champ with the International Fight League, was expected to do well on the show. He cruised by Kimbo Slice in the first round and took out Justin Wren in round two. He got matched up against kickboxer James McSweeney in tonight's semifinals. Nelson finished the Brit using the identical move that took out Kimbo. Midway through the first Nelson stunned the showboating McSweeney with a huge right and scored a takedown. Once on the ground, "Big Country" made it look like child's play. He quickly got side control and pinned down McSweeney's right arm. He unloaded 23 unanswered punches and bloodied McSweeney's nose, forcing referee Steve Mazzagatti to stop the fight at the 4:11 mark of the first.
If Las Vegas sportsbooks could have taken action before the other semifinal, Jones would've likely been at least a minus-200 favorite. He destroyed Mike Wessel and Darrill Schoonover on his way to the semifinals. He scored a takedown in the first 25 seconds against Schoonover using brute strength. Once on the ground, Jones, who had just five professional fights entering the show, stay composed working for a kimura and delivering some nasty elbows and punches. Schoonover got it back to the feet but the made the mistake of shooting on "Big Baby's" legs. Jones overpowered him again and blasted out Schoonover with punches from full guard.
It looked like the same thing was going to happen to Schaub in the semifinals but he showed great gumption when he found himself on his back. The 6-4, 235 pounder giving away 30 pounds to the 6-6 Jones, bucked and bucked before he finally freed himself. Once on the feet again, Jones showed his true weakness. Defensively, his hands were all over the place. Schaub floored the big man with a right hand straight down the pipe and then destroyed him on the ground. The former Colorado Buffalo fullback nearly punched Jones' skull in before referee Josh Rosenthal stepped into save the former NFL first round pick at the 2:10 mark of the round. Schaub landed 13 punches on the ground. Jones appeared to be out on punch No. 7.
In a very emotional moment, Jones said he was done fighting and nearly broke down during his confessional. The 36-year-old Jones said he gave it a run but he couldn't put his wife through this again. His coach Quinton Jackson, who hadn't been there often for his fighters, gave Jones a nice pep talk. It must've worked because Jones is coming back to fight on Saturday against the guy everyone loves to hate Matt Mitrione.
Nelson may be the most polarizing figure on the show. Physically, he's a mess but you can deny his smarts. He steamrolled his way to The Finale taking little damage. Schaub poses a real threat. He's more athletic and clearly has punching power plus he's more than capable on the ground. There's little chance Nelson will be able to run a clinic on him like he did with Kimbo and McSweeney.
Nine TUF fighters made Saturday's Spike card:
Nelson v. Schaub - Heavyweight Finale
Kimbo v. Houston Alexander - Catch Weight of 215 pounds
Jones v. Mitrione - Heavyweight
Justin Wren v. Jon Madsen - Heavyweight
Darrill Schoonover v. TBA - Heavyweight
The early highlight show was Kimbo electing not to fill-in if a spot opened up. He was given the option of a cortisone shot and turned it down. He said he couldn't afford to fight injured and suffer another loss. It was a moot anyway because it looked like Mitrione was really playing mind games with McSweeney. Doctors cleared Mitrione to fight. He didn't put up much of a fight. He was submitted via choke and was called a wimp by coach Rashad Evans.
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
Nelson and Jones square off this Saturday night during The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas at The Palms.
Nelson, a veteran of 17 professional fights and a former champ with the International Fight League, was expected to do well on the show. He cruised by Kimbo Slice in the first round and took out Justin Wren in round two. He got matched up against kickboxer James McSweeney in tonight's semifinals. Nelson finished the Brit using the identical move that took out Kimbo. Midway through the first Nelson stunned the showboating McSweeney with a huge right and scored a takedown. Once on the ground, "Big Country" made it look like child's play. He quickly got side control and pinned down McSweeney's right arm. He unloaded 23 unanswered punches and bloodied McSweeney's nose, forcing referee Steve Mazzagatti to stop the fight at the 4:11 mark of the first.
If Las Vegas sportsbooks could have taken action before the other semifinal, Jones would've likely been at least a minus-200 favorite. He destroyed Mike Wessel and Darrill Schoonover on his way to the semifinals. He scored a takedown in the first 25 seconds against Schoonover using brute strength. Once on the ground, Jones, who had just five professional fights entering the show, stay composed working for a kimura and delivering some nasty elbows and punches. Schoonover got it back to the feet but the made the mistake of shooting on "Big Baby's" legs. Jones overpowered him again and blasted out Schoonover with punches from full guard.
It looked like the same thing was going to happen to Schaub in the semifinals but he showed great gumption when he found himself on his back. The 6-4, 235 pounder giving away 30 pounds to the 6-6 Jones, bucked and bucked before he finally freed himself. Once on the feet again, Jones showed his true weakness. Defensively, his hands were all over the place. Schaub floored the big man with a right hand straight down the pipe and then destroyed him on the ground. The former Colorado Buffalo fullback nearly punched Jones' skull in before referee Josh Rosenthal stepped into save the former NFL first round pick at the 2:10 mark of the round. Schaub landed 13 punches on the ground. Jones appeared to be out on punch No. 7.
In a very emotional moment, Jones said he was done fighting and nearly broke down during his confessional. The 36-year-old Jones said he gave it a run but he couldn't put his wife through this again. His coach Quinton Jackson, who hadn't been there often for his fighters, gave Jones a nice pep talk. It must've worked because Jones is coming back to fight on Saturday against the guy everyone loves to hate Matt Mitrione.
Nelson may be the most polarizing figure on the show. Physically, he's a mess but you can deny his smarts. He steamrolled his way to The Finale taking little damage. Schaub poses a real threat. He's more athletic and clearly has punching power plus he's more than capable on the ground. There's little chance Nelson will be able to run a clinic on him like he did with Kimbo and McSweeney.
Nine TUF fighters made Saturday's Spike card:
Nelson v. Schaub - Heavyweight Finale
Kimbo v. Houston Alexander - Catch Weight of 215 pounds
Jones v. Mitrione - Heavyweight
Justin Wren v. Jon Madsen - Heavyweight
Darrill Schoonover v. TBA - Heavyweight
The early highlight show was Kimbo electing not to fill-in if a spot opened up. He was given the option of a cortisone shot and turned it down. He said he couldn't afford to fight injured and suffer another loss. It was a moot anyway because it looked like Mitrione was really playing mind games with McSweeney. Doctors cleared Mitrione to fight. He didn't put up much of a fight. He was submitted via choke and was called a wimp by coach Rashad Evans.
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
