Matt’s TUF6 Journal - Episode 10
November 21st, 2007
 First some questions from last episode:
All the fighters from the show, except for two, are fighting in the finale. So his comments don’t give away the outcome. They’re all practicing, they’re all training, they’re all getting ready to fight.
If it was me, I would have put my guys against Richie and Rude-Boy. I would have put Matt Arroyo and George together, and then Ben and John. John Kolosci lost his fight last episode and he decided to drink afterwards, then started breaking stuff in the house. But that’s what happens when you drink too much. He had a big opportunity and he lost and he was just upset, which I can kind of understand. I thought that was terrible that Serra would choose not to corner his own guys. It’s just a terrible coaching philosophy. It was obvious who he wanted to win. He wasn’t even supposed to be cornering Matt Arroyo and he was coming up with a game plan for him. I think it was disrespectful to Troy and just created a bad training environment. About the bowling, I went to them when I heard that we were doing a coaches challenge and the only thing I asked of them was not to bowl. So it’s just amazing that that’s the only thing I asked not to have and that’s what I got. I’m just not a bowler, I’ve bowled maybe four times in my life. I left right afterwards. What I was disappointed about was the fact that my guys didn’t get anything. The cash to me was nothing, it was the cash my guys could have gotten, that’s what hurt. They show Arroyo and Hightower deciding not to come train with my team, that didn’t bother me; but they did come in to our practice before their fight, at least one of them did. Hightower wasn’t going to get a good gameplan from Serra, so he definitely needed to come over. Arroyo was getting a good game plan from Serra, so he didn’t really need to come over. Troy and Arroyo’s fight went just like I thought it would. After his fight, we weren’t really overly impressed with George’s ground game or anything to be honest. He didn’t want to get hit by Hightower, there was no doubt about it. -Matt |
November 21st, 2007 at 11:27 pm
It’s ok matt i can’t bowl either. So, dont feel bad. Serra wasn’t that great either if it came down to one pin. You gave it a hell of a shot. That’s ok though Matt, you’ll get’em in the ring. Where it counts, where it’ll hurt. CAN’T WAIT!
*Manda*
November 21st, 2007 at 11:28 pm
These last 2 fights pretty much went as most people would have expected…..the wins I mean. George looks better in training then he does in fights…??
That’s too bad about the bowling……but at least you got that strike and some of the guys got their money doubled.
The big fight is coming soon. Keep up the hard work training!
Happy Thanksgiving…..Hope you can keep your mind off work and enjoy your family.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:52 pm
well I got one question about the bowling, What were the final scores, were they both pretty bad?
I can’t bowl to save my life, so I wouldn’t have done any better
I don’t think Serra would have won if he didn’t have Arroyo there telling him exactly how to do everything, but it doesn’t matter come December 29th
November 22nd, 2007 at 7:23 am
Matt, how is it that your fighters know they’re supposed to breathe when they fight? Even when Serra’s not cornering that’s all you hear from his lackey’s too. Doesn’t it get annoying? Anyway, have a great Thanksgiving.
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 am
Matt, I think Dana needs to sit down with Serra and explain the show to him. He left his two guys out to dry and had no intention of helping them out. If he had any type of character he would have made the decision on the last show and just sent both Ritchie and Troy over to your side. They are the two that really needed a lot of coaching heading into the biggest fights of their careers. George and Matt would have done alright left on their own for those fights. It just goes to show that Serra is such a classless guy who has already decided who he wants on his team to win. It is going to be interesting to see who he “sells out” next on the show. Where was he when you were looking out for you guys trying to get them some extra cash in the coaches challenge? I am surprised that he didn’t asked to double his money…in my mind as a fan, Serra should be kicked off the show for what he did last episode, wonder if he is going to give up that easy on December 29?
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Matt, please do all of your fans and MMA in general a huge favor and train like there is no tomorrow to destroy this loud mouth thug. He is a poor representation of the sport. What a bone head. While watching the TUF marathon, I had to mute the tv when ever Serra spoke. He does not know the meaning of professionalism. You have been a great coach to these young guys. It is up to them to listen to you and follow through. I look forward to seeing you re-take your rightful place the the true champion that we all know you are. Have a great Thanksgiving!!
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Well I cant do bowling to save my life. When I was at school it was all the rage
Anywho…I suspect they picked the one sport you told them not to, so that Serra has something to talk about between the Finale and the Fight. I mean, they have to try and get someone other then himself to believe he’ll win LOL.
At the end of the day he can go round chanting that he beat you at bowling, wont mean a thing if he cant beat you at Fighting. Nice smoke screen though to make us think he stands a chance! I can just hear him now “Of course i’m gonna keep my belt…I beat Matt at Bowling”….yeah and if you believe that…
Regards
Vortex
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I think the way some of these guys trash the house is so disrespectful to Dana and the oportunity they have before them. They are such babies. Matt, you have more class in your little finger than these idiots. I will be watching in December for you to finally put Serra in his place. Walk quietly but carry a big stick. Love Ya, Nancy
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Matt, I think you are right. Serra should have coached two, and you should have coached and cornered the other two. It got past the point of them being loyal or disloyal to Serra - there can only be one Ultimate fighter. How could he not corner his guys? He could have put other coaches in too.
I always figured that Serra’s trash talking was for the cameras - what he thought he was supposed to do for the cameras. However, more and more, his side comments to the camera seem both real and inappropriate.
I think you may have underestimated Hightower during tryouts. He seems like a lightweight, but he has some natural talent and his heart was in it. If he could hone his ground skills, he might be someone to contend with.
I think Tommy has a lot of potential, but he needs to train more with someone like you to get more ground skills. Strength can get you so far, but he needs to be able to defend and then reverse from the ground - I too saw him tap on the TV replay. Not to say that he didn’t deserve the win, but Tommy himself knows, I think that for a split second he really did tap in the rear naked choke from War Machine.
Matt, I think you are a great coach, and martial artist. Keep up the good work; you have fans out there too.
Matt O.
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:19 am
Matt, I woke up this morning and heard that Serra is not going to fight now. I’m ticked!! He is scared!! What is going to happen now? I know there will be a lot of questions but your true fans will want to know what’s up so try to keep us posted. God Bless! John King
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
I am sure Serra is really hurt, as I have said before I would never challange the courage of any fighter in the UFC, however it sure does look a little funny. After spending all that time around a class act as yourself he now hurts his back and has to pull out of the fight? Could it be he started to over train because he was getting a little nervous about the fight and knew he could be losing his title in a couple weeks? Just doesn’t seam fair to you Matt, maybe he should have breathed better!!!Any idea when the fight will be rescheduled?
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:35 am
hey matt i know what it is with serra he let his big dog ass over run his mouth and now he fakes an injury so he does not have to fight you he has made an exscuse to hold onto your title belt longer i hope you still get a match on dec29th i herd serra was injured and would not dface you and i flipped i started screaming obfanities and everything and hey that title will come back when the fight happens you should talk with danna and have him schedule the fight when anderson silva faces dan henderson in march ya it is a long way away but hey that is alot of training and prep for the bout while serra has to rest man take care i belive that a quote right from serra was “i can not wait to fight that d*c* man very unprofessional and a horrible discrease for a champ man good lord and hey how much did gsp pay you to lose that fight in the first place matt? i always say that to people that the fight between you two was set because he could not even deffend it 1x and that was against serra come on but hey god bless matt and i look forward as well as all those great people who are your fans about what is going to happen take care
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
November 23, 2007
Why are we not surprised that Matt Serra found a way to avoid facing you in
the Octagon on December 29th? He is such a pygmy - mentally as well as
physically! In the clips of his “win” over Georges St. Pierre - when they put
the Welterweight belt around him - he is so short, he looked like he was wearing a turtleneck! It is becoming more and more obvious that he is no
Champion - just a sawed-off “one trick pony” with a big mouth and the worst
case of “Short Man Syndrome” I’ve ever seen! We admire your ability to rise
above the childishness and pettiness of his team and to give your team the coaching and leadership they came for - the mark of a REAL champion!
November 28th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Just watched episode 10. Quite honestly Matt Serra’s constant “I hate Hughes” attitude is getting old and disappointing. I’ve trained with guys like that before, heck, I went through second grade with guys like that.