Jun-18-2008

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest - Episode 12 Recap

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By Thomas Gerbasi

CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Talk about ending with a bang. The last episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest before Saturday’s finale contains not only high-impact fight action, but an unforgettable twist that has never been seen before in the history of the series.

But before we get to that twist, there is the business of finding out who will face Jesse Taylor in the Ultimate Fighter finale at The Palms in Las Vegas.

Putting on the gloves for the second semifinal match are heavily favored CB Dollaway of Team Rampage and Amir Sadollah of Team Forrest, and from the opening bell, both fighters are battling tooth and nail to stay alive in the competition. Predictably, Sadollah holds the edge in standup, while Dollaway rules when it comes to takedowns and ground and pound. Sadollah repeatedly works for submissions from the bottom position, but it doesn’t help matters when an elbow opens up a huge cut under his right eye. The two continue their intense fight into the third and final round, and when a tired Dollaway locks in a rear naked choke, the end appears to be near. But after amazingly finding his way out of the choke, Sadollah turns the tables moments later, sinking in an armbar that forces Dollaway to tap out. It’s the perfect dramatic ending to the show as Sadollah has overturned the odds to earn a spot in the finale against his Team Forrest colleague Taylor.

But…the story doesn’t end there.

After filming for season seven has ended, a few of the fighters decide to stay an extra day in Las Vegas to unwind a bit. Taylor appears to unwind a little too much though, as he is caught on surveillance cameras kicking out the window of a limousine at Palace Station. He follows this up with harassment of some female guests, and when security steps in, he is heard yelling ‘I’m a UFC fighter.’

Once UFC President Dana White gets wind of Taylor’s behavior, his action is quick and decisive. He calls in coaches Forrest Griffin and Quinton Jackson to view the tape, and then Taylor is brought in to receive his punishment – he has been ousted from the finale and the UFC. It’s a devastating moment for Taylor, who calls it “the worst moment of my life.”

Now the UFC has a dilemma. Sadollah is in the final, but now he doesn’t have an opponent. The solution? Dollaway and Credeur are called back and offered another chance to fight for a spot in the final. Both fighters eagerly agree to the bout, and for three rounds they fight it out in a back and forth match that leaves no one in attendance disappointed and that prompts White to give $10,000 bonuses to both combatants. When it’s over though, only one fighter can win, and it’s Dollaway who pounded out the unanimous decision to earn his shot at redemption against Sadollah.

On Saturday night, the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter comes to an explosive end when CB Dollaway takes on Amir Sadollah in a rematch that will have the entire mixed martial arts world on the edge of their seats.

Here are the standings leading to Saturday’s finale…

TEAM RAMPAGE
Mike Dolce – Eliminated in week three by Jesse Taylor
Daniel Cramer 1-1 – Eliminated in the quarterfinals (week ten) by Tim Credeur
CB Dollaway 3-1 – Eliminated in semifinals by Amir Sadollah – brought back and beat Tim Credeur in second semifinal match.
Paul Bradley – Eliminated due to medical issues
Matthew Riddle – Eliminated in week four by Tim Credeur
Gerald Harris – Eliminated in week seven by Amir Sadollah
Jeremy May – Eliminated in week six by Matt Brown
Brandon Sene – Eliminated in week five by Dante Rivera
Pat Schultz – Eliminated in week seven by Cale Yarbrough

TEAM FORREST
Tim Credeur 2-2 – Eliminated in the semifinals (week 11) by Jesse Taylor and in second semifinal match (week 12) by CB Dollaway.
Amir Sadollah 3-0
Jesse Taylor 3-0 – removed from finale after post-show incident in Las Vegas
Matt Brown 1-1 - Eliminated in the quarterfinals (week nine) by Amir Sadollah
Cale Yarbrough 1-1 – Eliminated in the quarterfinals (week ten) by CB Dollaway
Dante Rivera 1-1 – Eliminated in the quarterfinals (week nine) by Jesse Taylor
Nick Klein – Eliminated in week eight by CB Dollaway
Luke Zachrich – Eliminated in week six by Dan Cramer