TUF 13, Episode 2 recap
After this past week’s season debut, “The Ultimate Fighter 13” returns for episode No. 2. And this week, Junior Dos…
After this past week’s season debut, “The Ultimate Fighter 13” returns for episode No. 2. And this week, Junior Dos Santos immediately launches into an intense workout.
“Nobody ever died by getting tired,” warns Junior while striking fear in every lazy person’s heart.
Team Junior Dos Santos’ Javier Torres (2-0) vs. Team Lesnar’s Chris Cope (4-1)
Dana does the intros, referee Herb Dean gets us started, and we’re underway.
While circling, Javier taunts Chris and asks for a punch. He then clinches, puts Chris against the cage, and delivers some knees. The fighters jockey for position as Javier delivers some short punches to the body. Javier is active, but little is landing from the close range. Chris connects on some punches, and Javier attempts a foot stomp. Chris gets his underhooks and finally circles away. He then pops Javier with a right. The fighters clinch, Chris puts his opponent against the cage, but Javier sweeps and puts him on the mat. Chris gets to his feet quickly, but Javier takes his back. Chris turns, and Javier puts him against the cage. The fighters jockey for position before Javier whiffs on a punch on the break. Chris misses on a low kick and circles. Chris lands a lunging left and follows it with a right, and he then clinches. But Chris reverses it and puts Javier’s back against the fence. Javier then reverses and mixes in some foot stomps and punches. Chris reverses it yet again and then gets through a solid forearm strike and another. Javier mixes in some knees to the body and breaks with a knee to the head that draws blood from under Chris’ left eye. It’s a close first round, but Javier likely took it, 10-9, based on aggression.
In the second round, Chris strikes first with a punch. Javier clinches, but Chris puts him against the cage. They again jockey for position, but Javier breaks off and lands a nice right. Javier follows with two decent body shots. Chris answers with a head kick that’s narrowly checked. Javier clinches again, and they jockey for position. They trade knees and continue putting each other against the cage. Javier gets through a nice forearm to the head, and the fighters finally reset. Javier lands a nice superman-punch/low-kick combo. Chris answers with a left. Javier throws soft low kicks and then partially connects a high kick. They clinch again, and it’s back to the fence. But Javier quickly breaks off. Chris lands a few lunging shots, and it’s back to the clinch. On the break, Javier lands a short uppercut. Chris answers with a low kick but is nearly knocked to the mat by Javier’s. Chris unloads a solid punch and elbow to the head before forcing the action against the cage. It’s another close round, and Chris likely took it with a little more aggression.
Dana announces that the fight, in fact, is a draw, and we’re headed to a tie-breaking third round.
Team Lesnar definitely seems to have taken the momentum, and Javier clearly is tired. Chris comes out active and fresh and lands an inside leg kick that Javier complains got his cup. The fighters trade shots from range. The fighters clinch, and Chris becomes the aggressor with punches. Javier looks for a trip takedown, but Chris avoids it before working knees and punches. Javier complains about a knee to the groin, but the ref tells them to keep fighting. However, the ref calls for a timeout when Chris’ knee does land to the groin. We quickly restart, and Chris lands a nice right and nearly lands a head kick after. Chris charges in, but Javier clinches. Chris is the stronger fighter against the cage, delivers a knee, and then breaks away. The fighters both land lunging jabs. Chris goes low with a kick, avoids a Superman punch, but is pushed against the cage. Chris reverses again, and they break and reset. Javier misses with punches but clinches. Chris reverses and gets through a solid uppercut. The fighters keep trading short punches before the round ends. It’s another close one, though Chris likely took it. It was very close, though.
With both teams cheering as though they’ve won, they await Dana’s official announcement.
Chris unanimously takes the final round, 10-9, and Team Lesnar gets its first win and ties up the series, 1-1.
