The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights: Week 7

Written by Mike Wilkerson   |   Tuesday, November 03 2009

Matt Mitrione and Scott Junk mix it up during their Week 7 fight on 'The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights' (Photo: UFC)

Viewing Date: 10-28-2009
Show Title: Ultimate Fighter: HEAVYWEIGHTS Week 7
Network: SpikeHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson

Three weeks ago, we enjoyed the BEST EVER episode of SPIKE's The Ultimate Fighter. This week - well, let's just say we witness something different. Tempers, tirades, uncontrolled vocal spasms, disgusting-level conditioning and more are the focal point of this episode that hearkens back to the old, tired, sophomoric avenues of last year's The Ultimate Fighter. What happened? Will we see a fight that changes the tone of the season? Will we eventually see "the Rat Snap?" We'll find out as we engage this week's not-so-lucky 7th episode of The Ultimate Fighter on SPIKE during the 2GuysTalking Podcast: Savage Science Style!

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This review, like many of my online feature film podcast reviews, will be done in a "stream of consciousness" format, providing you essentially what I think as this episode airs. Read on below and be sure to chime in and tell us what YOU think of this review of The Ultimate Fighter via the 2GuysTalking: Savage Science-style podcast!

-- Rampage's Mouth: While I'm not nor do I have plans on being an Ultimate Fighter, I do know when people should shut their hole. Rampage's team and his reputation are so far IN the hole that he'd collect so much more respect if he'd just zip it, and try to cobble together the remaining fights inside this season of The Ultimate Fighter.

-- Giants, 49ers and Vikings Experienced Mitrione: This episode is CLEARLY not the best showcase of season 10 participant Matt Mitrione. I marvel that he was able to weather three different NFL teams but am wondering what you know about his NFL career, his stats, knowledge and overall "footprint" he left while in the NFL. Make sure you let us know what you think by accessing out website at 2GuysTalking.Com. Click the contact button on the top right hand side of the page, fill out the quick web form and let us know what you think!

-- "I have so many demons and voices in my head..." Sounds to me like Matt might actually need some kind of medication or on-going counseling to help deal with his "demons" that he showcases at this point in the episode and later on during what reminds me a LOT of playground antics back in the day. There's another instance as he gets ready to fight that makes us remember that not too long ago, people were given some hard-core drugs and kept in rubber rooms for less.

-- "My fighters are the one's quittin' on the cage": It wasn't enough to make the quote of the episode, but it was close. Rampage, during a tirade with Rashad tell s him "my fighters are the ones quittin'." Are you kidding me with this, Rampage? Those that don't lead, especially when in leadership positions get nothing when the rubber meets the road and you clearly just got stepped on because you can't keep your mouth shut. Walking away never gets the glory that Rampage wants, but it sure does earn respect, especially when your team and YOU are winless in this session of The Ultimate Fighter. While I've only seen 4 seasons of this program, and reviewed 2 formally, Rampage is clearly the worst coach I have ever seen here on SPIKE via The Ultimate Fighter.

-- McSweeney makes a good point: Things get personal and can't be taken back: I totally agree here with McSweeney on how the conversations/arguments/vocal bitchslaps between Rampage and Rashad have devolved into something incredibly personal and clearly things can't be taken back. What this would have made and might still make, is a great stage for an eventual fight that would tell the true tale of "who's got game" and who doesn't. Sadly, and very matter of coursely, Rampage has stepped out of the potential limelight of fighting and it's more likely than not we'll never see this challenge and that friends, is a very sad thing. There is TRUE dislike and a ton of hatred that would fuel a grand bout that I know I would pay to see. What about you? What do YOU think?

-- Mitrione Talked to his wife: This boys cheese has fell off his cracker: I -- don't have the words to tell you how RIGHT Rashad is here.

Tonight’s fight will follow the same format as previous seasons, with 2 5-minute rounds, and should it be tied at the end of those 2 rounds, there's a "sudden victory" round that will decide the match.

The 2GuysTalking TUF Tally for the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights on SPIKE

TONITE'S FIGHT BEGINS

== Matt Mitrione Vs. Scott Junk

Round 1

Scott Junk tosses a ghostly right leg kick that misses completely and the two are both bouncing on toes ready to lay leather. they trade jabs and feints and oof! Mitrione grabs Junk's tossed leg kick and lands a hard right to Junks jaw that, when combined with a caught left lands Junk on his posterior. Mitrione belays the desire to crack a soccer kick to the legs of Junk and lets him stand and they 're off again, circling, circling. Junk loads up a huge right that misses the mark completely and 30 seconds in we're already seeing some signs of fatigue from the former UFC veteran Junk. Mitrione lands another hard right to the left eye of Junk and it seems as though he been caught in the eyelid perhaps as he gropes his eyeball checking for damage. Mitrione sees the action and moves in for an additional barrage. He lands a solid left straight. Junk misses another total miss right leg kick and spins and as he come around to face front Mitrione unleashes another strange right that puts Junk on the ground again. They go to the ground for a moment but there's nothing there for Mitrione who then stands up quickly and ushers Junk to stand and trade.

Junk stands and lands a solid right leg kick to Mitrione's midsection. Mitrione sends a couple of jabs, a left cross and a goofy leg kick that misses everything but the floor and has his hands incredibly low at this point. It looks like cardio wasn't a focus in either camp and it clearly is going to be something that will dictate the pace or lack thereof inside this fight. Junk loads another huge right hand telegraphing his move and lets the punch fly. He follows up with another leg kick that one again gets caught, and Mitrione sends a railing right down the pike and catches Junk again who immediately goes to the floor of the cage. Junk scrambles back to his feet slowly and - then does some kind of Indian-style shoot for Mitrione's legs who simply walks backwards laying leather to Junks head. Mitrione lands a gigantic knee to Junk's ribs, and lobs in a couple of punches as well and once again beckons Junk to stand. Mitrione lands two great right leg kicks that eventually cave in Junks left leg. Junk falls to the canvas while at the same time groping for Mitrione's leg. And another leg kick lands for Mitrione. Mitrione lands a series of punches to the shoulders and midsection of Junk as he moves him against the cage. Junk shoots slowly, trying for the single-leg takedown and hangs on like a 6 year old being drug out of a toy store by his cheap father.

Mitrione extracts his leg and gets back to labored business. Both fighters are physically spent, breathing hard out of their mouths, gasping for air like two goldfish left in the hot sun. Junk in particular is now only sending through looping, uncontrolled cowboy punches and hoping that he doesn't get caught by the stiff and unorthodox jab of Mitrione. Mitrione lands the hardest punch of the fight so far at the 1:53 left mark - a crushing left hook that lands flat on Junks jaw. Junk is covering up but again is physically spent, and Mitrione is simply tossing in pseudo-hail Mary shots hoping to hit home. Junk lands a stiff right and backs up Mitrione who is now gasping for breath as though he was at one time one with the sea and they go to the clinch for the first time in this fight. 35 seconds go by with nothing but a chubby and spent man-hug going on, and the ref finally calls for action. A semi-rested Mitrione lays in hands and feet and in mid kick, Junk lands a dangerous right, then two, then three, - four and Mitrione will not fall. Both fighters are physically spent at the 10 seconds-left mark, hands at their sides and flailing now and again as the horn sounds to the applause of the gym's participants.

Round 2

As round two starts both fighters come to the center of the cage, completely flat-footed, slowly circling wondering what the other is going to push forward first. A right jab pushes through and lands for Mitrione. A weak leg kick hits Junk's thigh. A crushing right to Mitrione's chin is Junk's reply. Both are pawing at each other's gloves with a kick now and again. Junk tosses through another huge right and they grope in the middle of the cage. Junk takes three goofy left straights and Mitrione shifts in to move-away mode. Junk sends and lands two back to back right hands to Mitrione's head and then shoots for a double-leg take down. And scores it. Junk falls directly into Mitrione's full guard and tries the ground and pound but is simply too spent to get it done. Mitrione is patting the back of Junk's head and holding his wrists and landing the occasional punch from the bottom. Another large right hand lands for Junk but it’s clear that conditioning was not in the plan for this fight from either camp. The ref stands them up and they wobble as they stand. Mitrione lands a front kick that backs up Junk. Junk responds again with a stiff right hand that snaps Mitrione's neck back. Mitrione is able to land a series of punches as they both flail in accidental-punches and with a minute left, both fighters can barely lift their hands or stand in front of each other. Mitrione lands several punches and then gets on his tired horse to run at 20 seconds left. As the 10 second clacker arrives both fighters have nothing left but a kick to and fro and it will go to the judges for a decision.

Winner: Matt Mitrione weathers both Scott Junk and his own poor conditioning to win this fight by gooney majority decision.

-- Rampage is angry and destroys a door? Really? This showcases two things for me: 1.) How incredibly LAME the fight tonight was. Imagine if we have two guys in there that gave the energy and damage that Rampage took out on the door inside the cage this evening? 2.) I'm still down that we're never (according to Rampage, he who is all-knowing about fighting and life in general) going to see Rampage and Rashad fight. I think perhaps we're looking at a delay in that fight happening rather than a cancellation but I could be wrong.

-- Scott Junk the most well-rounded fighter on Rampage's Team? If this is the case, then it's no wonder that all fights have leaned toward the Rashad camp this season. Scott's cardio/conditioning was some of the worst I can remember on The Ultimate Fighter and I'm curious as to how he has been vaulted to "the best fighter on Rampage's team". Is it because of his experience in the UFC? There are people that have less experience that have more fighting spirit, ability and conditioning than Junk to be sure and I'm very curious on how this wasn't thought of as he was training. I'm also curious: we have seen and heard NOTHING from Roy Nelson since his week 3 beat-down/stomach mauling of Kimbo Slice. Where IS he? We see him cackling with the other frat boys earlier in the episode with the Wes Sims "Gi Ninja" Scene but other than that he is completely missing in action.

The Savage Science Moral: What we focus on in this episode is people in dire straits. Rampage is clearly facing the potential that he may finish the season as a WINLESS coach. Matt Mitrione is clearly having conversations with people that aren't there, and arguments and battles with his teammates which really does make him look bad, and bites the team energy in the ass greatly. Then we've got Scott junk that, despite some very tough UFC-style threat reels recently, was only able to weather the fight storm this evening, but just barely, with a big 'ol fat eye and LOSE. It makes for tired watching to be sure and urges us into the "move along, nothing to see here" mode that NO television show wants it's viewership to experience. Sad.

The Savage Science Quote: "Mother****er You're going to die: -- Matt Mitrione Inside this episode, it's mentioned that Matt has a wife, that he's not right in the head, that he's an ex-football player, that he has an explosive temper, and that he dances with demons and voices in his head, regularly. This doesn't all mix well at all for Matt's wife, does it. Do we all remember how other ex-football players have interacted with their wives/ex-wives? Just an observation but all of us were RIGHT THERE, multiple times tonight when Matt Mitrione completely lost it when his "switch flipped" so much so that the people inside the house started taking bets on "when the rat was going to snap." Note to Mrs. Mitrione: Get thee to a Self-Defense and firearms class.

-- Overall Show Rating: This episode befalls the same fate as many shows recently via The 2GuysTalking Podcast Review system. Several of our other reviews this week noted that the "gooney" aspects of television creeped deeply into a variety of shows we've been covering and that's disconcerting considering that we're at the launch-point for so many potentially great episodes of series on a variety of channels. What is going ON inside the writing staff and production teams inside Hollywood? Of the programs I never thought I'd need to pull out the 2GuysTalking "Gooney-Crap-O-Meter" on and that included The Ultimate Fighter but boy, this episode provided much that could easily fall into the "gooney" category. Let's see what happens next week but beware - there is gooney in the air. We give this episode of The Ultimate Fighter a poorly-conditioned 4 of 10 Savage Skullies and are eager to not have to revisit it - ever.

I'm still wondering what YOU thought of this episode and hope that you'll take just a moment to fill out the comment section below to tell us what YOU think, or send me your details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Look for more here as THE SAVAGE SCIENCE continues to review this season of The Ultimate Fighter: HEAVYWEIGHTS!

Don't miss the Savage Science Style podcast review/recap of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Episode 7!




And the 'TUF Tally' podcast for the week 7 fight:

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