Clash of the Titans: B/R Featured Columnists Blog for TUF 14, Episode 1

Spike TV’s final season of the Ultimate Fighter is airing on Wednesday nights, and there are no two people more excited for it than Bleacher Report featured columnists Vince Carey and Sal Derose. 

The 135- and 145-pound weight classes are the most entertaining in the sport, and to top it off coaches Jason Mayhem Miller and Michael Bisping are bound to create some drama of their own.

Derose considers Miller one of his favorite fighters of all time, and Carey might be the only person outside of England to love Bisping, so expect some verbal assault from both writers to take place as the season goes on. 

We hope to give fans a little insight and a lot of entertainment with this weekly blog that we humbly named Clash of the Titans. As always, hit us up in the comments section with questions or comments. 

Most Impressive Fighter: Featherweight

Sal Derose: 

I thought Micah Miller was the best featherweight coming in, but Steven Siler definitely impressed me and probably has the biggest upset of the season so far. I think the way he beat Miller and the fact that he beat the best featherweight make him the man to beat. My second pick would go to Dennis Bermudez, though, who I'm heavily rooting for this season.

Vince Carey:

Diego Brandao has some vicious power in those hands, but what impressed me the most was his finishing ability. That admittedly "Henderson-esque" flying forearm was a thing of beauty and with a weight class filled with wrestlers, his stand up could carry him a long ways.

Most Impressive Fighter: Bantamweight

Sal Derose:

For Bantamweight I have to go T.J. Dillashaw. Before the first episode he was my pick to win the season at bantamweight. I think he has some solid striking to back up his awesome wrestling. His wrestling and training at Team Alpha Male will take his game (and his ability) to the next level. This is his season to lose.

Vince Carey:

It’s got to be Johnny Bedford. He took out Carson Beebe (who was a favorite due to his family tree) and looks like he could really be a force in this competition. His wrestling looked solid. He was landing better punches throughout. And he ended it with a submission. Bedford showed he had skills in all areas, something only he and Dillashaw were able to do as far as the 135-lb fighters go.

Least Impressive:

(Both writers agreed that all Bantamweights looked impressive; therefore we only selected featherweights.)

Sal Derose: 

Unfortunately I have to pick TUF 14 blogger for B/R, Bryan Caraway. I think grinding out to a decision kind of shows his one dimensionality and hopefully I'm proven wrong because I'm 110 percent rooting for him.

Vince Carey:

I’ve got to say that Dustin Neace looked the worst out of all the fighters who made it into the house. Granted, we only saw some highlights of his fight, but if both coaches and Dana thought he lost, then that’s good enough for me to say he didn’t deserve the win.

Sal's Corner: The Best Fits for Team Mayhem

BW: I personally hope T.J. Dillashaw gets picked by Mayhem. With his wrestling and Mayhem's ground ability, it would perfectly mesh together. I think adding in Mayhem's BJJ background makes Dillashaw a more deadly fighter.  FW: Dennis Bermudez definitely could learn a thing or two from Mayhem. Bermudez's last two fights coming into the house were losses by rear-naked chokes. Under Mayhem's tutelage, he could defend himself and get a really good ground game to boot. Bermudez looked really good and, even in the first round, showed a lot of heart to hang in there and rally for the win.

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Vince's Corner: The Best Fits for Team Bisping

BW: I’ve got to say that TJ Dillashaw would benefit most if he gets put on Team Bisping. His ground game is solid, so I’m not sure how much Mayhem could do for him. His main problem was that he kept dropping his hands, something that a technical striker like Bisping would be able to correct pretty easily. 

FW: Bisping seemed to really like Diego Brandao, so I’m guessing he'll end up picking him for his team. Diego threw some wild punches, and like Dillashaw, a little technical striking coaching would help immensely. Bisping’s main flaw is his supposed lack of knockout power, but Brandao doesn’t have that problem and would be a force on the feet with a little help from "The Count."

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