UFC's TUF: Season Eight: How 'Bout a Little R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

Maybe it is an "age thing," but when I was growing up, showing others respect was a virtue and the mark of good character as well as a good upbringing.

Somewhere  along the way, in America, respect for others must have fallen out of favor.

As evidence of this, I would hold up Junie Browning, the bad boy on UFC's TUF: Season Eight, on Frank Mir's Blue team.

His fight was this week and, of course, before the weigh-in, he had already started rattling his opponent's cage, trying to get into his head by ridiculing the source of his black belt.

Surprisingly, Coach Mir instigated the attacks by bringing up the subject while he was visiting his team at the house.

I had mentioned how dissatisfied I was with Mr. Mir's refusal to address his team about the growing severity of pranks they were pulling on the opposing Red team, after Coach Nogueira politely asked him to intervene the week before.

One of my reader's reminded me that editing could have made Mir's behavior appear rude, but after his subsequent visit this week, it would appear that Mir's presence simply egged the bad behavior on, at least in the case of Rolando Delgado's black belt.

What shocked not only me, but Coach Nogueira and guest coach Anderson Silva, was how Junie threw a black belt at Roli after Junie challenged him and then spit on it. Written on the belt was "McDojo," which I believe came from a statement by "coach" Mir.

There was a quick scene of Nog and Anderson sitting on a bench and discussing the lack of respect while shaking their heads in wonder at Junie's audacity.

As an American citizen, mother, and grandmother, I was ashamed and offended myself. Thank heaven Junie is not related to my family. We have had our problems, but my sons were raised to respect other people, even in athletic competitions.

When it came time to weigh-in, I was not surprised that Junie was over his allowed weight. His coach, Mir, was.

So two of his teammates helped him cut weight on a stationary bike (while wearing a sweatsuit) in the Las Vegas sun.

Junie whined and complained, but somehow his teammates got him through it without having to slap him silly. Darn it!

After all his promising to declare Rolando the winner if he lasted the first round, Junie may have been surprised that the "MacDonald's black belt" lasted three rounds and had hardly a scratch on him, although Junie was bruised and battered across his eyes and was declared the winner.

So no knockouts or major injuries to Junie's opponent regardless of his supposed superiority and all of his outrageous threats. Mir did compliment Junie's blows to the body and could think of nothing positive to say about Roli.

I was more impressed that Roli went the distance and did not receive as much damage to his face as Junie did. This seemed very strange because I don't think a punch he threw ever connected with his face, although he kneed and kicked Junie a lot and was effective in that respect. Junie may have bruises yet to show on his thighs from leg strikes.

Neither fighter looked very exceptional to me as far as their ground game was concerned, and I don't think that was a significant factor in deciding the fight. Junie appeared to gas out at the end of the second or beginning of the third round. Not many matches have gone to a third round, so that in itself was surprising.

To his credit, Junie did apologies to Coach Nogueira for his despicable lack of respect as he challenged Rolando to fight. Nog, as always was calm and agreeable about accepting the apology.

Previews for next week are hinting that Mir is not as happy with Junie in the episode to come, possibly due to not making weight.

Frank Mir may have to learn that a lack of respect for one's opponent can carry over to a lack of respect for the coach and team.

If this turns out to be true, then I, for one, will finally be happy.