MMA: TUF Team Rampage Vs Team Griffin, Episode Seven Recap

Unlike the action-filled sixth episode that started out of the gate with bad blood and bad intentions, episode seven started with...plenty of pauses...and plenty of silences...as Rampage looked to draw out the power of "control" for as long as he could.

The end result was him picking Gerald, who had a strong background in wrestling, to go up against Amir, who is a strong kickboxer. Considering that Rampage referred to him as "mini-me", it meant that he was very serious about trying to maintain control into next week.

Traditionally, this is not a good MMA match up for a kickboxer, since they need to work on takedown defense in order to deliver punishment.

Despite the slow beginning, episode sveven goes straight to the octagon walk-in before even the first commercial, with only a brief montage for each of the fighter to tell you something about them. It seems that Dana White is very serious this year about not wasting camera time on people that don't earn it.

 

Tale of the Tape

Amir Sadollah        Name        Gerald Harris
    27                        Age                    28
    5'11''                    Height              5'11''
    74,5''                 Reach                76,5''
    0-0                      Record              7-2

Round 1: Josh Rosenthal is the referee. Gerald immediately goes for, and gets, the takedown. Amir has his back against the cash, with Gerald working from Amir's guard. Not a lot of action as both fighters are inching their way in trying to get a better position.

Amir really does not seem capable of fighting on his back. He keeps trying for triangles, and Gerald keeps making him pay when he gets out of his weak attempt. Halfway through, and both fighters stand, before Gerald picks up Amir and body slams him "Rampage style", on his back.

Amir stands back up again, only to be picked up and slammed again on his back. The third time Amir stands up, he immediately goes for a hard knee, knowing Gerald would shoot in—but Gerald avoided the knee and took Amir down. As the seconds wind down, Gerald appears to be gassing out.

10-9 for Gerald Harris. I may have given Harris a 10-8, if he had been a bit more effective one he got Amir on the ground, but Amir did enough on the ground to maintain his nine points.

Round 2: After circling each other for a bit, Amir starts landing a couple of leg kicks, perhaps hoping to stop the explosiveness of Harris. Instead, Gerald lands a nice right, before shooting in and again getting a take down.

The problem is that once Gerald gets Amir to the ground, he seems incapable of doing anything else. Amir is able to wrestle his way back to his feet, and this time catches Gerald with a knee. Amir is able to stop Gerald next take down attempt, but is breathing really heavy as he gets taken to the cage anyway. They stand back up, and Gerald is trying to land big shots.

But Amir gets a clinch, and this time lands a good knee that drops Gerald. Gerald is holding on to Amir's leg, but was not defending against Amir's repeated strikes.

Winner: Amir Sadollah by TKO

 

You have to like Amir's chances against what we have seen so far. He can take punishment and still keep coming. Gerald Harris may have a strong future in MMA. He is exciting, but needs to learn how to finish on the ground.

They jump right to the next fight. It's going to be Cale Yarbrough out of Team Forrest going up against Patrick Shultz. Both fighters love standing and trading blows, so this should be an entertaining fight.

 

Cale Yarbrough       Name        Patrick Shultz
    21                        Age                   32
    6'1''                    Height              6'1''
    71''                     Reach                73''
    0-0                      Record              7-1-1

Round 1: Steve Mazzagatti is the referee. They start off swinging, with Cale's leg kick being kinda blocked by Patrick's right arm as the rest of his hand want to Cale's face knocking him off balance.

Both fighters exchanging strikes, with Patrick very much more accurate with his punches. Each time they throw at the same time, and it's Patrick connecting, until he knocked Cale down after a minute in. Cale was only momentarily stunned, and Patrick seems surprised by the quick knockdown because he did not jump on Cale to finish him off.

Patrick again lands a right hand as Cale was kicking, which knocked Cale down but again he stood right back up unhurt. Three minutes into the fight, and Patrick seemingly is gassing out. He is loading up to throw single punches. Cale sees then, and gets the takedown.

They stand back up, and Cale just missing connecting with a head kick. Patrick continues with single punches, and Cale takes advantage to score a 2nd take down. They both seem to take the last 20 seconds off.

10-9 for Patrick Shultz. Cale did have a better second half, but it was too little too late. That being said, he may have found a new gameplan.

Round 2: Round 2 is beginning the same way Round 1 ended, with Patrick only throwing one punch at a time. It only took 45 seconds for Cale to realize that, and take Patrick down.

Like in the preliminaries to get into the house, Patrick showed ZERO ground game. It's looked like he has never even seen BJJ on TV. All this guy is doing is impersonating a ground-and-pound bag dummy.

Patrick is just utterly useless on the ground. Does anyone know if K-1 is doing a reality show? Because Patrick is on the wrong one.

With 45 seconds left, it looks like Patrick would have tapped out if he didn't need his hands to stop Cale from punching him.

10-8 for Cale Yarbrough. I score the match 19-18.

 

"Forrest, get in your corner" is what Patrick Shultz to Coach Griffin. The look at Forrest's face said it all. For those of you that missed it, it was a "who in the hell are you to say something stupid like that to me after the weak ass performance you just made on national television" face.

Cale Yarbrough wins by "Majority Decision". Rampage was not impressed, saying to Forrest, "I betcha our fight don't go to no decision. I betcha! I bet my whole purse on it!" before storming off.

While I love Rampage as a fighter, this is not the first time I am disagreeing with him as a coach.