The Ultimate Fighter Serra vs Hughes – Episode Twelve Recap

TapouT TUF 10 Team Rashad T-shirt - Black/Gold Related Products TapouT TUF 10 Team Rampage Compression Top - Black/Silver TapouT TUF 10 Team Rampage Football Jersey - Black/Silver TapouT TUF 10 Team Rampage T-shirt - Black/Silver TapouT TUF 10 Team Rashad Football Jersey - Black/Gold Related News Official UFC 106 Weigh-In Results Tito Ortiz’ New Beginning Forrest Griffin – The Quest to Get That Winning Feeling Back Parisyan is out of UFC 106; Bout with Hazelett Off ‘Kos’ and Effect Headlines Official UFC 106 Weigh-In Results Tito Ortiz’ New Beginning Forrest Griffin – The Quest to Get That Winning Feeling Back UFC 106: Fantasy Preview Parisyan is out of UFC 106; Bout with Hazelett Off

By Thomas Gerbasi

CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – And then there were two. But who will the two fighters making it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter’s sixth season be? This week’s semifinals will provide that answer.

Shockingly though, early on in the 12th episode it is revealed the Team Serra’s Matt Arroyo will not compete in the semifinals after cracking a rib during sparring. It’s a tough decision for Arroyo, but even after speaking to his coach Matt Serra and UFC President Dana White, he decides not to risk further injury by fighting Mac Danzig.

Now left with an opening against Danzig, White and Serra meet with the remaining members of Team Serra to determine who will step into the semifinals. Ben Saunders is eliminated immediately because of a broken nose, and Jon Koppenhaver and Richie Hightower are concerned about cutting 20 pounds each to make 170, leaving John Kolosci – who has already lost to Danzig in the quarterfinals – to save the day. He immediately requests the fight and his enthusiasm convinces White to grant his wish.

Danzig isn’t too happy about having to fight the same man he decisively beat already, but when the bell rings, Kolosci is definitely more confident and competitive in the early going. Eventually though, the vast experience of Danzig pays off, and after a takedown with less than two minutes to go, the Californian works to get Kolosci’s back and he again submits his foe with a rear naked choke.

The other semifinal bout between Team Serra’s George Sotiropoulos and Team Hughes’ Tommy Speer is the more intriguing one, and after a slow start, Speer tries to pick up the pace and in the process inadvertently pokes Sotiropoulos in the eye. After a brief break, the action resumes, but Sotiropoulos is still visibly bothered by the injury. Moments later, a right hand by Speer drops Sotiropoulos, and the follow up barrage on the mat knocks him out, putting both Team Hughes members in the finals, an amazing comeback from first round troubles that saw them only win two of eight matches.

On December 8th at The Palms in Las Vegas, and live on Spike TV, Team Hughes’ Mac Danzig and Tommy Speer square off in the TUF6 finals. Below are the final standings.

TEAM SERRA
Joe Scarola 0-1 – Eliminated in week one by Mac Danzig
George Sotiropoulos 2-1 – Eliminated in semifinals by Tommy Speer
Matt Arroyo 2-0 – Eliminated due to injury before semifinals
John Kolosci 1-2 – Eliminated in quarterfinals by Mac Danzig; brought back to replace Arroyo, eliminated by Danzig in semifinals
Ben Saunders 1-1 – Eliminated in quarterfinals by Tommy Speer
Roman Mitichyan – Eliminated during week one due to injury
Jon Koppenhaver 0-1 – Eliminated in week eight by Tommy Speer
Troy Mandaloniz 1-1 – Eliminated in quarterfinals by Matt Arroyo
Richie Hightower 1-1 – Eliminated in quarterfinals by George Sotiropoulos

TEAM HUGHES
Dan Barrera – 0-1 -Eliminated in week six by Ben Saunders
Mac Danzig 3-0 – In Finals
Tommy Speer 3-0 – In Finals
Billy Miles 0-1 – Eliminated in week three by John Kolosci
Jared Rollins 0-1 – Eliminated in week seven by George Sotiropoulos
Paul Georgieff 0-1 – Eliminated in week five by Troy Mandaloniz
Dorian Price 0-1 – Eliminated in week two by Matt Arroyo
Blake Bowman 0-1 – Eliminated in week four by Richie Hightower

Share |