TUF 11, episode 3 recap
With a supposedly outmatched Team Liddell taking the season’s opening quarterfinal fight on the previous edition of “The Ultimate Fighter…
With a supposedly outmatched Team Liddell taking the season’s opening quarterfinal fight on the previous edition of “The Ultimate Fighter 11,” episode No. 3 opens up with Team Ortiz looking to close the gap. But first, UFC president Dana White has an important announcement.
With all 14 fighters gathered in the gym, White comes in with both Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz and announces that Chris Camozzi is being forced to leave due to a jaw fracture suffered in his preliminary round fight.
Ortiz is upset, Camozzi is disappointed, and both teams rally around the departing fighter.
“It’s horrible to be leaving now,” Camozzi says. “I was ready to go. I didn’t want to give up on my dream, injury or not. I would have loved to have stayed.
“It took me years to get hear, and it took seconds to lose it.”
Camozzi tries to stay positive as he departs the gym, but his pain is obvious. White announces that four fighters who were eliminated in the preliminary fights have been medically cleared to return, and Ortiz and his coaches are tasked with picking someone to come back.
We flash quickly to a Team Liddell training session, and after a win, the energy level is high in the camp. Liddell is seen offering some hands on advice to his fighters, and the team seems to be responding well to the instruction. John Hackleman also says the overall vibe is very upbeat.
After a commercial break, Team Liddell’s Charles Blanchard, trained neuromuscular therapist, is shown offering some therapeutic massages. Nick Ring is the recipient of the attention, and Team Ortiz’s Kris McCray points out that the late-night body work isn’t his cup of tea.
There’s a bit of uncomfortable exchanges between Ring, McCray and Jamie Yager before bedtime regarding the “3 a.m. man-on-man massages,” but it’s light banter overall.
The next morning, both teams are gathered, and Team Ortiz’s replacement fighter is named: Seth Baczynski, who lost a hard-fought battle to Court McGee in the preliminary round.
Baczynski admits his quick reversal of fortune has thrown him for a loop.
“It hasn’t even really all set in yet,” Baczaynski admits. “I’m just still wandering around like a chicken with his head cut off. I don’t really know the system, so I’m just kind of getting adapted and used to everything.”
The next fight announcement is due, and while Team Ortiz assumes their new recruit will be heading immediately to the chopping block, Liddell picks MMAjunkie.com blogger Brad Tavares to meet James Hammortree.
Ortiz calls the fight a must-win, and White says he believes both fighters are tough and talented.
