TUF 17 Episode 1 results recap for 'Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen' on FX

[VCURamFan]

From MMAMania.com:

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17: "Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen" finally made its season premiere earlier this evening on FX Channel, featuring UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones coaching against unlikely division number one contender Chael Sonnen.

Joining them was a cast of middleweight hopefuls trying to bag the 'six-figure contract."

Episode one, "Enter the Octagon," gets underway as both coaches put over the horrors of living under the confines of a combat sports reality show, complete with select fighter sob stories profiles giving us all the more reason to care, despite doing this dance for several years now.

But the slate is wiped clean, as far as I'm concerned. Hey look, a Station Casinos cameo!

What's different for this season is that for the first time ever, the contestants can bring their friends and families to watch them compete for a spot on the show. Just what every prospect needs: more pressure! The coaches meet for the first time and exchange pleasantries.

Dear God, I hope that doesn't last.

Speaking of, there sure are a lot of close up shots on this show. Anyway, the fighters are ushered in and what we have are 28 hungry middleweights. The winner of the show -- and his coach -- gets a custom-built Harley Davidson, along with the usual spoils.

Sweet!

We're not even 10 minutes in and we have our first fight. I like it. Oh yeah, half the group goes home today. Sucks to be them! Whoa, gratuitous product placement featuring a non-descript protein powder. That takes us to Jake "Honey Bear" Heun -- "a Chris Leben guy" -- getting submitted by the smaller Adam Cella.

Peace out, yo.

Next up is Zak Cummings (and his spartan beard) taking on Nik Fekete. These guys must hate the letter C. Fekete charges in with a kick, gets punched in the face and drops like a sack of Yukon golds, only to get pounded back into obscurity.

Poor bastard.

Why is Donald Cerrone auditioning for TUF? Oh, never mind, that's "Cowboy" clone Eldon Sproat. Opposing him is Kevin Casey and his "anger issues," along with a Gracie influence that proves to be too much for Sproaties 10 gallons of doom.

Rear naked choke FTW.

Here comes Scott Rosa and he's bouncing all over the cage while waiting for "The Hammer," Tor Troeng who mumbles something about math problems. Turns out the equation to beating Rosa was by way of submission in what Sonnen called an "underwhelming performance."

Clint Hester up next. He takes on Fraser Opie and Hester did what Tor couldn't and "impressed" the "American Gangster" by his unanimous decision win. Jones already tells the cameras he wants Clint on his team, which gets an eye roll from his opposing coach.

Uh oh, someone is reading Winston Churchill quotes.

It's Ryan Bigler and his boys, who must win the war against "Bones'" training partner Robert "Bubba" McDaniel and his tears of hard knocks. What, no piano solo? Step your game up, FX. Looks like it's Bigles turn to do some crying after getting pounded out in the second stanza.

Even worse, I now have that Bubba Sparxxx song in my head now.

Here comes Josh Samman, who is trying to get into the TUF house for the fourth time. Unfortunately, it has to come at the expense of Leo Bercier, who talks like Mason Verger and carries a few hundred years of Native American oppression into the cage with him.

Samman wins by way of "goofy double-fisted ground and pound" (Dana's words, not mine).

Kito Andrews shows up with his kids (single dad alert!) and gets paired off against Kelvin Gastelum before informing viewers that "losing is not an option." On TUF 17 it is, especially when you leave it in the hands of the judges.

Moving on.

Jimmy Quinlan and Mike Persons get express introductions and Quinlan smashes his way to a first round technical knockout win. Their entire segment was about 60 seconds long. I guess they didn't have any hardships to share with the camera.

That takes us right to a "terrified" Uriah Hall and his battle against 21-year-old Andy Enz (some people would rob their mothers, for the Enz). Turns out Andy is the one who should have been scared -- of the judges' scorecards. White wonders if Hall is "the guy to beat."

We shall see.

Gilbert Smith is shootin' the •••• in his hotel room, looking very loosey-goosey, before the realization of living his dream catches up to him. On the flip side, Eric Wahlin is in Las Vegas because he's on the run from his past-due bills.

Smith, who's built like a comic book superhero, collects his debt by way of arm-triangle choke.

Nicholas Kohring and his Nate Diaz-ish drawl will tangle with Luke Barnatt, a towering Brit with an undefeated record. Nicky was game every step of the way, but wasn't able to overcome the massive reach of his foe and eventually got swept on the scorecards.

Time to speed up the fights as time is winding down.

Dylan Andrews, who grew up in a "marijuana grow house," gets a five-second intro before tangling with a psychopath from New Jersey named Tim Williams, who goes down on points in a spirited affair. Up next, Collin Hart is called "The Dick" but doesn't fight like one, showcasing a well-rounded game en route to taking a submission win over.Mike Jasper.

That's that.

The finalized TUF 17 cast:
Dylan Andrews (16-4-1), 32, Gold Coast, Australia (by way of New Zealand)
Luke Barnatt (5-0), 24, Cambridge, England
Kevin Casey (5-2), Hawthorne, Calif.
Adam Cella (4-0), 27, Fenton, Mo.
Zak Cummings (15-3), 28, Kansas City, Mo.
Kelvin Gastelum (5-0), 20, Yuma, Ariz.
Uriah Hall (7-2), 28, New York City (by way of Jamaica)
Collin Hart (4-1-1), 23, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Clint Hester (7-3), 25, Atlanta
Robert McDaniel (20-6), 29, Albuquerque
Jimmy Quinlan (3-0), 26, Metheun, Mass.
Joshua Samman (9-2), 24, Tallahassee, Fla.
Gilbert Smith (5-1), Colorado Springs
Tor Troeng (15-4-1), 29, Umea, Sweden

Now it's up to Jones (first fight) and Sonnen (first fighter) to pick their teams and here's what we end up with.

Team Jones:
Dylan Andrews
Adam Cella
Collin Hart
Clint Hester
Bubba McDaniel
Joshua Samman
Gilbert Smith

Team Sonnen:
Luke Barnatt
Kevin Casey
Zak Cummings
Kelvin Gastelum
Urijah Hall
Jimmy Quinlan
Thor Troeng

Dana tells the teams that not only is he brinbging back the wildcard, which gives an eliminated fighter the chance to return, he's also dishing out a bevy of fight bonuses.

$5,000 per finish
$25,000 for best knockout of the season
$25,000 for best submission of the season
$25,000 (each) for best fight of the season

Game on!

Stay tuned next week (at the regularly scheduled time of 9 p.m. ET) as Gilbert Smith takes on Luke Barnatt.

[County Mike]

Dylan Andrews, who grew up in a "marijuana grow house," gets a five-second intro before tangling with a psychopath from New Jersey named Tim Williams, who goes down on points in a spirited affair.

Just because he LOOKS like a psychopath doesn't mean he isn't really a nice guy.

Still hoping he gets a shot at the UFC soon. He could really do well and Millville, NJ needs another hero. Mike Trout just isn't enough anymore.

[flo]

I thought it was a great opening night for TUF. Some really good fights and I think the rivalry between Chael and Bones will be fun to watch.

[Pastor Chris F]

Zak Cummings is a Local guy here in the SPringfield area. He is a real great guy happy to see him make the show. Hope he GNP's his way to a contract

[TexasRN]

I haven't watched the last few seasons but DVRd this one because of the coaches. I thought I'd give it a chance. The fights were good. I'll keep watching it and hope they don't cheese it up too much.


~Amy

[Bonnie]

Did anyone see Episode 3, that "spinning hook kick" Uriah Hall landed on Adam Cella's head? I saw it was on and clicked over, Adam was on the ground knocked out already, but they replayed it...wicked, and the sound it made!

[rearnakedchoke]

Originally Posted by Bonnie

Did anyone see Episode 3, that "spinning hook kick" Uriah Hall landed on Adam Cella's head? I saw it was on and clicked over, Adam was on the ground knocked out already, but they replayed it...wicked, and the sound it made!

yes .. that was killer ... felt bad for adam as did everyone that was there ... i was sure when they said the biggest KO ever, they were playing it up, but for once, they didn't .. LOL .. .. i wonder if it is eligible for KO of the year .. people are comparing it to the barboza/etim KO .. i think this was better ... edson's kick was much better in technique, but i think the sheer power and perfect landing of halls makes it better ...

[wavetar]

I have to say, I've enjoyed this season of TUF a lot. No BS going on in the house to speak of, and lots of good fights. I think Bubba was beaten before he even stepped into the cage with Uriah.

[TexasRN]

I agree. This is the first season that I've liked in a long time. I think this was a good choice of fighters and the editing was, for once, not idiotic.


~Amy

[rearnakedchoke]

Originally Posted by wavetar

I have to say, I've enjoyed this season of TUF a lot. No BS going on in the house to speak of, and lots of good fights. I think Bubba was beaten before he even stepped into the cage with Uriah.

i agree .. bubba didn't want to be there and i actually thought he took a dive .. LOL .. but when they showed his face, it looked like his eyeball was smashed into his head ... crazy ...