TUF 15 Episode 4 Recap: Fight of the Season candidate

This week starts with a recap of last weeks fight, and fight picks. Dana White speaks on how Marcello should have come in with a different game plan. I don’t really understand what Dana wants the man to do though. Cristiano is not a wrestler, and Justin stayed one step ahead of him because his footwork is just on another level. Even when Marcello got a deep body lock he couldn’t get Lawrence to the ground. It was an unfortunate style match up for Cristiano, and Lawrence took advantage with a well timed left hook. After the fight announcement Cruz speaks about how he’s trying to go for the jugular on Urijah by taking out his top pick.

When the so called “meat” of the show gets going we see Cruz pushing his guys to the breaking points. He speaks on how the thirteen weeks of hell that is his training camp gives him the trademark smile he wears to the cage before fights. At one point he even goes up to a fighter and says “I know your tired, but i need you to step it up” in what can only be described as a scolding tone. However, it appears to backfire a bit when during some hard training Mike Rio goes down with a knee injury. He tries to gut through it during practice, but is visibly in a lot of pain while rolling. Dominick seems skeptical if Rio will have the will power to fight hard on it. Mike also advises that he will not show any shortcomings to fighters from Team Faber, but Daron talks about Rio being often injured at one point later on.

Back at the house the isolation of a house filled with sixteen mixed martial artists is beginning to take its toll. In a change from the week prior Chris Tickle speaks about missing his fiance, and two kids. Myles Jury gets away for a little “Myles time”. Andy Ogle is seen reading a letter to his significant other back home, but he seems to accept the challenge as it builds character. Some of the other guys pass the time by doing impressions of some other fighters, and famous people. Ones of Cruz and Jim Carrey are highlighted, and if they are the best ones available the others must have been terrible. Later on Urijah brings in a life coach for both teams to learn from. A lot of the guys seem to be generally happy to listen to Jim Peterson (life coach), but others are a little skeptical. Tickle in particular wants nothing to do with him, and doesn’t even participate in the meeting.

Al Iaquinta is introduced to us during a training session. He is a Matt Serra/Ray Longo trained fighter that was supposed to be on season 12 of TUF, but broke his hand before the show could begin. Its all worked out for the best though, and according to him he’s progressed immensely since that season occured. Al advises Urijah at one point that he doesn’t want to talk about defense anymore, and claims that Myles will be the one defending against him. Myles Jury time comes next with Dominick Cruz talking of training with Myles in San Diego. He talks openly about his craftiness, but also on how Jury can think too much during fights. It appears that Dominick just wants Jury to relax, and to fight more on instinct.

Fight Time:

The first round gets going with Myles playing the matador role, and Al pushing the pace. Myles lands a few left high kicks, but Iaquinta lands a nice hard overhand/straight right hand. As the round marches on Jury’s length gives him the advantage when he lands some good lowkicks, and catches his opponent coming in with good counter jabs/right uppercuts. Al never is really hurt, and stays in the round himself with a few good flurries and an attempted banana split in the last minute. Still it’s a clear 10-9 round for Jury after a good slam at the firsts end.

Round 2 is much closer. Both fighters get rocked hard, we see a few good scrambles, and both land a good amount more. Al is definitely the aggressor most of the round, and lands some good shots. Myles is no slouch though, as he keeps the kicks coming and lands a flush knee during the last minute. As the round could go either way Myles gets a good double leg to the ground, and appears to seal the fight in his favor.

However, when dealing with judges like Patricia Morse-Jarmon and Glenn Trowbridge the decision is always in question. Plus who am I to complain about five more minutes of a good fight? After over 5 minutes of a break Dana announces the draw, and we go to sudden victory.

The third is again very close, but Al is the fresher guy. Myles seems to have lost too much energy over the course of the fight and is just a step behind his pace from earlier. It’s also become apparent that whenever Al throws team Faber goes nuts no matter the strike lands or not. Al’s pace gives him the slight edge in the third. Great fight from both guys though. Cruz’s strategy to go for their best guy backfires.

Al Iaquinta defeats Myles Jury by extra round Split-decision

Back in control, Urijah picks his own Michael Chiesa to go up against Jeremy Larsen from Team Cruz, and we get a nice heated stare down as week number 5 is on the horizon.