This weeks episode gets right back into all the after math after Chris Tickles loss over Joe Proctor. Back in the locker room Coach Cruz is very hard on Tickle following the loss. He is very adamant in telling Tickle about everything he did wrong. He stresses to Tickle that the loss “shouldn’t have happened. If you listen you win the fight.” Cruz went on to discuss that he isn’t here to be on TV he’s here to win. He hate’s loosing, especially to Faber. During one point of the very public conversation between Tickle and Cruz, Faber put in his two cents and tries to offer Tickle some support. He let him know he did good, it was a good fight, and to keep his head up. Cruz get’s angry with Faber for getting involved and the two exchange some heated words back and fourth. Cruz instructs Urijah to mind his own business.
Back behind closed doors Tickle is even more angry with Cruz for saying he has no heart. He makes it very clear that he is working his ass off and left his daughter and his family to be here for this opportunity. Mike Chiesa has some thoughts of his own about the way Cruz handled things. Mike and most likely a lot of the other guys felt Cruz should have given Tickle some space after the biggest loss of his career. He felt he really didn’t handle things the right way.
A lot of concern revolving around Andy Ogle this week. After having a nightmare about his girlfriend early on in the episode he has a frustrating day at practice with Chiesa. After the training session he gets sick and is having a hard time breathing. He describes how he’s “emotionally breaking down” and his “minds not working”. He talked about how tough it can be with the camera’s everywhere in your face. On top of all the heavy emotional stuff Ogle was also having a very tough time trusting that his teammate Mike wasn’t leaking information to his best friend and Team Cruz member Sam Sicilia. After worrying all week about it Andy confronts Mike who clears up any question of him exchanging any team information. He reiterates hat he would never do that to his team. Later in the episode we see Sam having a tough practice while sparing with Vick. After talking to Cruz after practice he talks about feeling the pressure of being picked second, and having to fight soon. Cruz tries to help him work passed his concerns.
After the weigh in’s Dana White has a brief yet important talk with all the guys. He reminds the guys that this is the longest anyone has ever been on the TUF show, and that this is the point where a lot of people start to crack. He talks about that while some people may find out that this sport really isn’t for them, there is light at the end of the tunnel. He stresses to “suck it up and stick it out, that you’ll be a better fighter and a better man when you leave the house.” All the hard work will pay off in the end.
All of that finally lead up to the fight between John Cofer and Vinc Pichel. Vinc got in a lot of fights when he was younger and got arrested a lot. He had a tough family life, and because of it Cruz felt like it made him a tougher man, and a beast as a fighter. Cofer wrestled since he was seven years old, and was a State champ. On top of being a great wrestler he has very good submission defense.
Round one started slow but both fighters looked much more comfortable exchanging after being in there for a minute or two. The two stand the whole time with both fighters landing some big shots. Pichel does a great job stopping any take down attempt by the state champ Cofer. Cofer attempts to take him down again throughout the round but is unable to. Both fighters tag the other with some good shots and the fight is very close after the first round.
In round two both Pichel and Cofer come out very aggressive. Some more big shots from both guys, Pichel does a great job pushing the action. Pichel is able to take Cofer down later in the round but has to work to free his head from a choke. The two wind up in a very awkward reverse mount position to end the round. The fight is very close after the first two and goes to a third sudden victory round.
Pichel lands some big punches to start the third round. Pichel is quickly able to take Cofer down again. Pichel looks very smooth and is able to secure a side choke and force Cofer to tap to end the sudden victory round. Pichel wins by submission and re gains control for Team Cruz. That sets up the fight for next week Sam Sicilia against Chris Saunders.
-Matt Pellicane
Iaquinta Nation 