TUF 12, Episode 8 recap
Marc Stevens (12-5) vs. Aaron Wilkinson (6-3) Herb Dean gets the action started, and we’re underway. Both fighters patiently circle…
Marc Stevens (12-5) vs. Aaron Wilkinson (6-3)
Herb Dean gets the action started, and we’re underway.
Both fighters patiently circle and throw weak leg kicks to test their range. Aaron starts to stalk and throws the first punches, which are blocked. Marc then throws a nice low kick and shoots to score the takedown. He lands in side mount and throws some short elbows. Meanwhile, other than corner instructions, it’s dead silence in the training center. Marc soon moves into full mount, unloads some punches, and then takes his opponent’s back as Aaron tries to roll free. Aaron continues to scramble, but Marc is relentless. Aaron, though, briefly gets free while on the ground, but Marc again quickly takes his back and looks for the choke. Aaron is bleeding from under the eye, which may make things a bit more slippy for Marc. Nevertheless, Marc looks to improve his position and rolls into an armbar. Aaron is on his knees and looks to escape. Aaron finally pops his arm free but is quickly pulled into a triangle choke. Aaron tries to stack his opponent and shove him into the cage and delivers punches to the body. Marc can’t tighten the choke, and the pace slows as Aaron keeps him pressed against the cage. With a minute to go, Marc finally gets some leverage and tightens the choke but eats a series of punches before the round ends. It’s a great bit of survival for Aaron, but Marc wins the round, 10-9, for the overall control.
As the second round ends, Aaron opens with strikes to open the round, but he’s clearly concerned about the takedown. Marc wings a haymaker that misses wide but then scores a takedown. Aaron secures a guillotine choke on the way down, and once again, Marc is quickly forced to tap.
In a subsequent confessional and with a deadpan look, an incredulous Marc gives the line of the night.
“I guess I need to work on my guillotine defense,” says Marc, whom Cody McKenzie choked out with the same move in a 17-second preliminary-round fight.
Teammates such as Andy and Jeff Lentz are bummed and think they could have posted a stronger showing than Marc, who was clearly gassed heading into the second round.
Josh immediately tells Aaron to start icing his cut since his next fight is just days away. But he’s confident and happy to be alive in the competition.
After the fight, Dana has a closed-door meeting with the coaches to decide the quarterfinal-round matches.
