Alright guys, now that I'm pretty much healthy, it's time to play catch-up with some articles. We start off with the most recent episode of "The Ultimate Fighter" which began with yet another Rampage/Rashad altercation. The highlight from this was Rampage claiming that it's not his coaching that has failed his team, its the fighters themselves. He then turns to the team that he's just knocked and asks them if they're behind him. One or two guys mumble "yeah," while the camera looks around at the blank, non-responsive faces of Team Rampage. At this point, all of the fighters seem just as frustrated at having to watch this same animosity over and over again as we, the viewers at home, are.
Oh yeah, just before that, this week's fight was announced: Matt Mitrione vs. Scott Junk. Just like last week, we spend the episode learning about these two, mostly Mitrione. The bit that we see of Junk is people talking about how he is Team Rampage's most well-rounded fighter, and the best chance they have of pulling out a victory, ending their embarrassing losing streak. Junk is being treated as the altar upon which Mitrione will be sacrifically slaughtered. That's it. The rest of the episode features Mitrione's declining sanity.
First, we start with Mitrione giving a note to Junk that apparently states that Mike Wessel was scared of Junk, so that's why the fights are happening the way they are. The second Wessel hears about this, he cuts an amazing rant against Mitrione. This is one of the two moments of this episode that you really have to watch, rather than hear me explain. The intensity and rage that Wessel throws at Mitrione make him, for the first time in this competition, seems like an animal who could win the show. Side note: Who passes notes? Why not just have the conversation? It's not like the teacher's watching from the front of the class.
Back at the gym, James McSweeney fills Rashad in on what's going on at the house. For the record, this is the second time that McSweeney has ratted somebody out to the coaches. Last time it was telling on Darrill Schoonover for drinking, and this time it's on Mitrione for being an idiot. Rashad just shakes his head, acknowleding that Mitrione "ain't alright upstairs." We are about to find out how true that is.
First, Mitrione gets into it with fellow teammate Jon Madsen over some orange juice. Basically Mitrione takes some orange juice that's labelled for Madsen and when Mitrione leaves, Madsen says how much he would like to slap him in the face. Then, the undercover shit-disturber, McSweeney decides to tell Mitrione what Madsen just said. During sparring, Mitrione lets loose, going balls-out when they've been instructed to go 60%. When Madsen pulls out, Mitrione loses his freaking mind and is escorted to the locker room, where Rashad rips into him with a tongue-lashing more intense than anything he's said to Rampage (this would be the second thing you have to see). While he's being berated, Mitrione pops up aggressively, but seems to change his mind, which ends up making him look even dumber.
Back at the house, Mitrione has become the new victim of choice after Zak manned up during his fight last week. Yet another "When will he snap" chart is made. Wes Sims dresses up like a ninja (called "The Gi") and stalks Mitrione. The abuse continues as Sims continues to invade Mitrione's personal space before he vaguely threatens Sims and goes to bed. During this altercation, I found myself questioning whether Mitrione is actually insane or whether he's just very transparently camera-aware, as though he's trying to craft this "crazy man" persona for the audience.
I lean toward the second because we get a glimpse of Mitrione having a conversation with Brendan Schaub where the former talks about voices in his head that only get silenced when he's performing acts of violence (hence the name of the episode). If this isn't all for show, then the last thing that Mitrione should be doing is participating in full contact sports. He should be seeking counselling and medical attention.
The crazy keeps on rolling when Rashad later asks Mitrione if he is re-focused. The answer is "yes" because he has gone on a trip in to the beach, where he spoke to his wife. Oh, and that all of this happened in his mind. Rashad responds by saying that Mitrione's "cheese has slid off his cracker." As much as I would love for Team Rashad to get the sweep, there are equal parts of me that want to see Mitrione punched repeatedly in the face. This week's fight is a win-win situation for me.
Before we get to the fight, I don't remember whether it was Mitrione or Junk, but someone
during this episode said "I see myself banging him." I don't think it really came across how he meant it to.
Onto the fight. First of all, Mitrione has a ridiculous 8'' reach advantage despite both men being of the same height. Once the fight starts, Junk keeps throwing huge bombs, which leave him unstable on his feet, allowing Mitrione to get three knockdowns in the first half of the first round. By this point, both men are gasping for air, with Mitrione's jaw especially living somewhere around his belly button. All form has gone out the window as both men throw the biggest punches they can muster between uvula-fluttering wheezes.
The second round is more of the same, with the fighters exchanging big, although somewhat lethargic blows. The difference is that Junk is doing what he can to check them, while Mitrione, who is landing more, is otherwise leaving his arms at his side, taking Junk's punches square in the face. I would have thought that Mitrione, who spent so much time on the bike during his "injury" a couple of weeks back, would have better cardio to show for it. Apparently not. The second round ends and the score cards come back with a majority decision for Mitrione.
Following this is a moment that has shown up on nearly every piece of promotional material released for this season. Rampage breaks a door. Rather than marvelling in Rampage's rage and strength, I couldn't help but speculate that these doors were made weaker to facilitate dramatic temper tantrums. I am no jouneyman of doorsmithery, but I don't think that cardboard, or anything that looks like it, can be expected to construct a stable door.
Aperture destruction aside, "Voices In My Head" was funny, cleverly edited episode with one of the better fights of the season. Kimbo is finally being treated like the regular cast member he is, and Rampage is being manhandled. Everything is right in the world.
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