The Ultimate Fighter Episode 2 Recap

Episode 2 of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights opened just like I thought it would, more Kimbo Slice. Of course everyone wants to fight this guy. Dana White has been pretty vocal about Kimbo's chances against an MMA fighter, so I'm sure they all want to be the one to prove Dana right.

During Team Rampage's training session, they again focus on Kimbo. They let us know the obvious, which is, Kimbo can hit, but that's about it. However the coaches all say he is very coachable, so we'll have to see. In contrast, Team Rashad's training session seems to center around Roy "Big Country" Nelson, who is definitely uncoachable. The coaches feel like he's being disrespectful, and I can't help but think that Nelson thinks these guys have nothing to teach him.

At the fight announcement, Rampage picks James McSweeny to fight Wes Shivers. Rampage's refusal to call the Evans fighters by their names seems super juvenile. It's also pretty obvious he picked McSweeny because he was Rashad's friend and first pick. He definitely squandered his first two fight picks.

McSweeny seems like a decent fighter. He trains with Greg Jackson and he is from England, so the Gals obviously love him. Wes is one of the myriad of football players that they brought in for the show. He is as big as a house, and his gameplan is to hit James very hard. Hmmmm.....

It's fight time! During Round 1, James shows pretty decent leg kicks, and Wes, who doesn't like this, takes him down and lays on top of him. James get out, and they start exchanging kicks, at which point Wes kicks James in the nuts. James takes a minute, and Wes refuses to touch gloves when the fight restarts. Classy.

Round 2: Wes starts by throwing some punches while James throws kicks. Wes catches his leg and takes him down to lay and pray again. It's obvious Wes has no ground game. He missed the perfect opportunity for an armbar. In fact, he grabbed James's arm and I thought, "Oh! Armbar!" But no, he just threw his arm to the side as if it was in the way. Wes is just completely gassed at this point, and James doesn't seem to be fairing much better. Wes just stops fighting and walks around the cage. James, instead of taking advantage and getting in some punches, walks around as well. He probably could have ended the fight if he'd been more aggressive. In the end, the fight goes to decision and McSweeny takes it. Beth would like me to point out that the most entertaining part of the fight was Evans, who exhibited excellent Forest Griffin style voice cracking screams.

At the end of the show there is a fight announcement. Roy Nelson will take on Kimbo Slice. I can't help but feel this entire episode was a commerical for next week.