It didn’t really take much time for this season to have its first share of conflicts between competitors. Team Bisping’s Diego Brandao and Marcus Brimage take a 60% power sparring session to 100% as each of them claim to only be giving back what they are being hit with. The escalation happens pretty easily as it would only take one punch thrown too hard to set it off especially with guys who are ultimately competing with each other even though they are on the same team. I’m curious what Brimage will have to say about this encounter on his next video blog (as seen HERE at MMAsucka.com)
The pranks wars are heating up too as Bisping fires back from Miller’s tire prank. Bisping puts Miller’s car on jack stands and takes off all 4 tires and leaves them in Miller’s locker room. Well played Bisping. Miller gets a kick out of it as it is still all in the spirit of good fun, for now.
Dustin Neace didn’t take as kindly to the prank that was pulled on him. Apparently he has three testicles so team Bisping’s Akira Corassani thought it would be funny to put a three-ball inside Neace’s gloves with a little note and a diagram of his nut sack. Neace thought it was a low blow so he poured a jar of rice all over Akira’s bed and they had a nice shouting match with each other. I wouldn’t mind seeing these guys go at it. Grudge matches on TUF never disappoint!
Up for the next fight, Team Mayhem chooses their fighter Johnny Bedford to fight team Bisping’s Josh Ferguson. Right after the fight announcement, as the fighters are about to square off, Ferguson pulls out a sign out of his shorts saying “F**k You Bedford.” Team Bisping already knew the fight match up. Later on in the show it is revealed that team Mayhem’s John Dodson who is friends with several of team Bisping’s fighters including Josh Ferguson, is revealing information to the opposing team including an injury to Bedford’s hand that he sustained in his preliminary fight. The stupid thing was that Bisping goes and blabs to Mayhem that he knows about Bedford’s hand issues. Wouldn’t you want to keep your inside information to yourself to keep your mole hidden? From watching the preview for the next episode, it looks like Miller is already going to squash the mole issue. Smart move Bisping!
Team Mayhem looked on taking advantage of Bedford’s huge reach and height advantage over Ferguson, the smallest of the bantamweights. I was hoping to see Ferguson set off another huge KO as his first fight on the premier was finished quickly in the first round but Bedford stuck to a great game plan through both round in keeping Ferguson just on the end of his punches and outside of Ferguson’s power. When Ferguson would close the distance, Bedford was able to secure a take down and beat up Ferguson from inside his guard. It wasn’t the fast pace fight that we expect from a bantamweight fight, but in the end team Mayhem did what they needed to do to keep control of the fight picks.
Johnny Bedford, defeated Josh Ferguson via unanimous decision at 5:00 of round 2.
