Swinny
12-01-2012, 10:55 AM
EPISODE NO. 11 RECAP: 'THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 16: TEAM CARWIN VS. TEAM NELSON'
BY MMAJUNKIE.COM STAFF ON NOV 30, 2012 AT 10:55 PM ET
As episode No. 11 of "The Ultimate Fighter 16" opens, Team Nelson's Joey Rivera and Jon Manley discuss their impending quarterfinal fight. Both admit to being friends and lament that they have to face a teammate, but both seem excited to put on an entertaining scrap.
With two fights to air, there's no time for house drama, and we move straight to the fight.
TEAM NELSON'S JON MANLEY (7-1) VS. TEAM NELSON'S JOEY RIVERA (7-1)
Round 1 - Referee Herb Dean is in charge. Joey takes the center to start as Jon circles on the outside and opens with a few low kicks. Joey answers with a few kicks of his own, but it's a slow pace for the first minute until Jon drives in for a takedown. Joey defends well against the cage and eventually secures the neck as Jon refuses to relent on the effort. Jon scrambles and pulls his head free and finally scores a takedown, but Joey scrambles up and to the back of his opponent in a slick transition. Joey briefly looks for a rear-naked choke despite being a little off to the side but lets in go in favor of trying for mount. Jon feels it and sweeps but has to shake off a triangle-choke attempt before settling into top position. He doesn't get a chance to capitalize before the bell sounds.
Round 2 - Joey takes the center again but tastes a little of his opponent's leather to start. Jon again shoots in for a takedown and wraps the body. Joey again defends against the cage, but it's a stalemate. Dean lets the two work for several minutes against the fence, but neither is able to do anything with the position until Jon finally scores a takedown with 90 seconds left in the round. Joey defends well and locks in a modified triangle choke. Jon pulls through it and steps quickly into mount. Joey rolls and exposes his back in the final seconds, and Jon punches from the position until the bell sounds. The two fighters prep for a potential third round, but Dean signals that the fight is over.
UFC President Dana White admits he was disappointed in the fight and says Joey fought like he was on Xanax.
Jon Manley def. Joey Rivera via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18)
Jon admits he was hesitant to trade with Joey because he generally was on the losing end of their practice sessions.
With that fight over, it's time to move on to our final quarterfinal fight between Canadians Michael Hill and Mike Ricci. Tensions are high at the house, as the two countrymen trade verbal jabs and accusations of potential pasta-sauce contamination.
TEAM NELSON'S MICHAEL HILL (4-0) VS. TEAM CARWIN'S MIKE RICCI (7-2)
Round 1 - Referee Josh Rosenthal in the cage. Southpaw Ricci walks forward and paws a few jabs. Hill looks comfortable in the pocket but eats an early straight. Ricci looks for a few high kicks but Hill defends well. Ricci moves in for a takedown, but Hill sprawls against the cage and stays upright. Ricci stays tight to the body and eventually pulls Hill off the cage and on to the floor, where he goes to work in top position. Hill tries to tie things up underneath, but he eats several big punches and elbows. Hill kicks Ricci away, but he doesn't create enough room to stand. Ricci eventually moves to the back as Hill rolls, but he's unable to secure the choke. Ricci turns instead to elbows to the temple. Rosenthal warns him to watch the back of the head, and the round finally ends.
Round 2 - Hill rushes in quickly with strikes to open the second, but Ricci simply avoids the blows and guides Hill to the floor. This time, Hill doesn't stay there, and he latches on to Ricci's next as he returns to his feet. Ricci pulls his neck free and scrambles as they hit the floor. It's a slick move as he pushes back into top position and resumes his assault. Ricci transitions again to the back and uses punches to try and set up a choke. Hill again defends well, but he's obviously tiring and overwhelmed. Hill secures his opponent's arm and tries to turn in and escape, but Ricci swarms. Coach Roy Nelson begs for Hill to stand and lets a few expletives fly when his fighter doesn't follow the directions. In the final minute, Ricci appears to have a rear-naked choke in deep. Hill survives it, but when the final bell sounds, it's obvious who earned the win.
Mike Ricci def. Michael Hill via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)
With all four semifinalists confirmed, it's time for the announcements. With little fanfare, the bouts are announced, and it's teammates squaring off.
Team Nelson's Jon Manley vs. Team Nelson's Colton Smith
Team Carwin's Mike Ricci vs. Team Carwin's Neil Magny
BY MMAJUNKIE.COM STAFF ON NOV 30, 2012 AT 10:55 PM ET
As episode No. 11 of "The Ultimate Fighter 16" opens, Team Nelson's Joey Rivera and Jon Manley discuss their impending quarterfinal fight. Both admit to being friends and lament that they have to face a teammate, but both seem excited to put on an entertaining scrap.
With two fights to air, there's no time for house drama, and we move straight to the fight.
TEAM NELSON'S JON MANLEY (7-1) VS. TEAM NELSON'S JOEY RIVERA (7-1)
Round 1 - Referee Herb Dean is in charge. Joey takes the center to start as Jon circles on the outside and opens with a few low kicks. Joey answers with a few kicks of his own, but it's a slow pace for the first minute until Jon drives in for a takedown. Joey defends well against the cage and eventually secures the neck as Jon refuses to relent on the effort. Jon scrambles and pulls his head free and finally scores a takedown, but Joey scrambles up and to the back of his opponent in a slick transition. Joey briefly looks for a rear-naked choke despite being a little off to the side but lets in go in favor of trying for mount. Jon feels it and sweeps but has to shake off a triangle-choke attempt before settling into top position. He doesn't get a chance to capitalize before the bell sounds.
Round 2 - Joey takes the center again but tastes a little of his opponent's leather to start. Jon again shoots in for a takedown and wraps the body. Joey again defends against the cage, but it's a stalemate. Dean lets the two work for several minutes against the fence, but neither is able to do anything with the position until Jon finally scores a takedown with 90 seconds left in the round. Joey defends well and locks in a modified triangle choke. Jon pulls through it and steps quickly into mount. Joey rolls and exposes his back in the final seconds, and Jon punches from the position until the bell sounds. The two fighters prep for a potential third round, but Dean signals that the fight is over.
UFC President Dana White admits he was disappointed in the fight and says Joey fought like he was on Xanax.
Jon Manley def. Joey Rivera via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18)
Jon admits he was hesitant to trade with Joey because he generally was on the losing end of their practice sessions.
With that fight over, it's time to move on to our final quarterfinal fight between Canadians Michael Hill and Mike Ricci. Tensions are high at the house, as the two countrymen trade verbal jabs and accusations of potential pasta-sauce contamination.
TEAM NELSON'S MICHAEL HILL (4-0) VS. TEAM CARWIN'S MIKE RICCI (7-2)
Round 1 - Referee Josh Rosenthal in the cage. Southpaw Ricci walks forward and paws a few jabs. Hill looks comfortable in the pocket but eats an early straight. Ricci looks for a few high kicks but Hill defends well. Ricci moves in for a takedown, but Hill sprawls against the cage and stays upright. Ricci stays tight to the body and eventually pulls Hill off the cage and on to the floor, where he goes to work in top position. Hill tries to tie things up underneath, but he eats several big punches and elbows. Hill kicks Ricci away, but he doesn't create enough room to stand. Ricci eventually moves to the back as Hill rolls, but he's unable to secure the choke. Ricci turns instead to elbows to the temple. Rosenthal warns him to watch the back of the head, and the round finally ends.
Round 2 - Hill rushes in quickly with strikes to open the second, but Ricci simply avoids the blows and guides Hill to the floor. This time, Hill doesn't stay there, and he latches on to Ricci's next as he returns to his feet. Ricci pulls his neck free and scrambles as they hit the floor. It's a slick move as he pushes back into top position and resumes his assault. Ricci transitions again to the back and uses punches to try and set up a choke. Hill again defends well, but he's obviously tiring and overwhelmed. Hill secures his opponent's arm and tries to turn in and escape, but Ricci swarms. Coach Roy Nelson begs for Hill to stand and lets a few expletives fly when his fighter doesn't follow the directions. In the final minute, Ricci appears to have a rear-naked choke in deep. Hill survives it, but when the final bell sounds, it's obvious who earned the win.
Mike Ricci def. Michael Hill via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)
With all four semifinalists confirmed, it's time for the announcements. With little fanfare, the bouts are announced, and it's teammates squaring off.
Team Nelson's Jon Manley vs. Team Nelson's Colton Smith
Team Carwin's Mike Ricci vs. Team Carwin's Neil Magny