TUF 13 Episode 9 Recap: Semifinals Set, but a Fight Blows Up in the House

Episode 9 begins with Zach Davis of Team dos Santos training for his next match-up. The number five pick will be squaring off once again with Chuck O’Neil of Team Lesnar. In their original preliminary bout, Zach managed to cinch up a first-round triangle choke advancing to the quarterfinals.

The highly entertaining bout earned Chuck the opportunity to return as the wildcard pick, where he met with Javier Torres. O’Neil eventually secured a d’arce choke, affording him the opportunity for revenge against Davis.

Back at the house, O’Neil says that half of his earnings in his next bout will go to his good friend Charlie Rader, both of whom are on Team Lesnar. Rader has had some trouble being able to take care of his son back at home. In what seems to be some sort of custody battle wrapped up in legal fees, Rader is at first reluctant to accept Chuck’s generous offer, however, ”Cold Steel” insists that he accept the noble gesture.

The fighters reconvene back at the gym, as the fight pitting Chuck and Zach is now underway.

Chuck immediately presses the action, storming Zach out of the gate with strong combinations. Zach doesn’t have the acumen to properly defend, and he wades in through the strikes in an effort to secure a takedown. Every time Zach clinches Chuck against the fence, Chuck displays his superior defense and manages to stay away from Davis’ strength. At the end of the first-round, Chuck rocks Zach against the fence, but he’s saved by the bell. It’s more of the same in the second, with Zach’s face looking worse for the wear. In the end, Chuck wins a well deserved unanimous decision, moving on to the semifinals, exacting revenge, and knocking Zach out of the competition.

Davis is devestated after the bout is over. He stomps his way to the locker room and blasts a hole through the door along the way.

Back at the gym, Tony Ferguson is gearing up for his bout against Ryan McGillivray of Team dos Santos.

“I hope that Tony looks as good in the Octagon as he does in practice,” says Brock, who has been ultra-impressed by his number three pick.

Lesnar’s only hope is that Ferguson fights more controlled against Ryan than he had against Justin Edwards in his previous outing.

Back at the house, both Chuck and Ramsey Nijem of Team dos Santos are seen talking amongst each other about Zach’s durability in the fight. After being rocked time and time again, Davis continued to press forward, and though he lost his chance to become ”The Ultimate Fighter,” he lost something much more important.

Zach confirms with the house that he has torn both retinas in his eyes and that the doctors have said that he can no longer fight. ?

“It’s especially hurtful to hear that I can’t fight because everything was starting to go good,” said Davis. “I just got to be happy with what I’ve acheieved and move onto something else.”

The focus now shifts back to the gym, where head coach Junior is working with McGillivray on his next bout with Tony.

“Tony is a dangerous guy, but I think Ryan has a chance to submit him,” says dos Santos.

“Apparently I’m the weak link on the team or in the house with who’s leftover,” says McGillivray, the number two pick for Team dos Santos. Despite his role as the underdog, Ryan relishes his position and is confident that he has a chance to win.

“A fight is a fight, anything can happen,” says Ryan.

As soon as the last quarterfinal bout begins, it ends. Ferguson hits Ryan early with a hard uppercut that sends him reeling, falling to his back. Ferguson follows up with a few more punches and Ryan is left turtling on the mat. The fight is over; Tony knocks out McGillivray inside of the first round.

Ryan is particuarly dejected about his performance. He has made lots of sacrifices in the past for his daughter, with the show and time spent away from her being an example of that. Now, after having missed her birthday since being on the program, Ryan can’t help but feel that he let her down.

“That was an amazing experience for all of us, now we need to bring all of our good energy for Ramsey,” says dos Santos, trying to uplift his team.

“I am still believing that the next Ultimate Fighter is going to be from my team.”

“Both the coaches feel that Ramsey and Tony are the best,” says UFC president Dana White, who will now be in charge of creating the semifinal matches.

The final bouts are announced, and Ramsey Nijem, the final member of Team dos Santos, will be taking on Chris Cope. Tony Ferguson will take on teammate Chuck O’Neil.

The fighters return to the house, and though they have spent a majority of the season opposing one another, the fighters unite in a wild celebration. Nijem is living up to his moniker as ”Stripper Ramsey” once he jumps atop the pool table and disrobes, with others spraying water on his undergarments.

“Sorry mom, but you raised me, so it’s your fault,” jokes Nijem.

Things get out of hand quickly once Charlie Rader pours water down Tony’s back. Both men are inebriated, with Ferguson the worse of the two. Tony tackles Charlie over the couch, though things seem to be all in a joking manner until Ferguson presses his forearm against Rader’s throat.

Charlie tries to resolve the issues, to which Tony is having none of it. Then it get’s ugly.

“Where’s your kid at?” screams Ferguson over and over again.

The two come nose to nose, though neither throws a blow once the other fighters separate the two.

“I don’t care how drunk you are, if you say something like that to someone you deserve to get your ass kicked,” says Ramsey.

After the blowout, everyone turns on Ferguson.

“Being told to fight Tony in the semifinals was hard to get up for, but now I have plenty of motivation,” says O’Neil.

“I’m taking his dreams away.”

Highlights of the next episode show Ferguson coming to grips with his actions after the house ousts him. And finally, the semifinal bouts are underway with the winners moving on to fight in the finale of the welterweight tourney in an effort to secure a six-figure contract with the UFC. ?

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Brian Lopez-Benchimol is a writer for MMAWeekly.com.
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