Episode 2
The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians continues to impress after a stellar debut last week. The premiere episode closed with a heated exchange between Hayder Hasan of American Top Team and Kamaru Usman of the Blackzilians following Usman’s opening fight victory. The tension in the gym was palpable and did not dissipate at all during the second episode.
These teams genuinely don’t like each other and this animosity is fueled directly by team owners, Dan Lambert and Glenn Robinson, of ATT and Blackzilians respectively. Their long running feud has engulfed their teams and every time they enter a room there is a constant feeling that a brawl could breakout. This real life dislike is the main reason this season has been more compelling than other recent seasons.
Take this week’s weigh-in for example. Lambert and Robinson had a heated exchange filled with expletives and threats, while in the background the fighters sized each other up eagerly wanting to get their hands on each other. These teams each believe they are the best team in the MMA world and aren’t about get shown up on national television.
This week’s fight selection pitted the young and athletic Uros Jurisic of ATT against seasoned veteran Luis “Buscape” Firmio. Lambert and his team of coaches felt Jurisic, their 21 year old prospect was ready to shine and get them in the win column, while the Blackzilians felt Buscape, given his experience, was just the man to keep them rolling and maintain the coveted home gym advantage.
The energy in the gym, like last week, was phenomenal and gave off the sense of watching a fight club instead of the sterile exhibition type of atmosphere in previous seasons. The Blackzilians were there in full force, singing and chanting as the fighters entered the ring, leaving a grumpy Lambert to wonder if he was actually at a soccer match.
From the opening bell Jurisic came out wildly, swinging for the fences, allowing Buscape to seize a takedown within the first minute of the fight much to the chagrin of the ATT coaches. Perhaps the pressure of not wanting to fall to 0-2 was too much for the young Slovenian as Jurisic quickly abandoned the game plan set out by his coaches and played right into the hands of Buscape.
Buscape, which means flea, was given this moniker because once he is on you, you can’t get him off and lived up to his name as he never allowed Jurisic to shake free of his grasp. Buscape used his superior grappling to consistently maintain a dominant position throughout the fight en route to an easy unanimous decision, giving the Blackzilians a 2-0 lead and keeping the fights at their gym.
Fight selection this season is the mental chess match that will determine who wins from week to week as the teams select their own fighter without the knowledge of who the opponent will be. In this case its hard to believe that ATT would have gone with such an inexperienced fighter had they known Buscape was going to be the Blackzilians selection.
I can’t wait for next week’s episode as nothing builds pressure and drama like a losing streak. These teams have shown a ton of emotion so far and Dan Lambert and ATT might blow a gasket if they lose a third fight in a row. If ATT has an ace it will be time to show him off if they want to right the ship and bring the fights to their gym whereas the Blackzilians should expect this play and plan accordingly.
I am curious what you all think, are you team ATT or team Blackzilians tweet me to let me know, I am very curious to know how the viewers feel about these teams so far.
