TUF ‘The Smashes’ Episode 3 Recap: Action in the House Heats Up

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC.

TUF The Smashes Episode 3 opened as both teams returned to the house, with Team UK finding a newfound respect for the guy they used to call “Fox Piss,” Ben Wall, after his performance in the loss to Colin Fletcher

“He was a tough kid,” said Fletcher. “I’ll start calling him Ben now.”

Team UK went for an early morning training session and found some hills in the city for shadow boxing and sprints to take them to a more natural setting.

“The weather was shocking,” said Brad Scott. “It felt like we were back home in England.”

Australia chose to have their training session in the gym where they went through a vigorous session on the pads and bags, as well as sparring.

“They’re putting in the work,” said Australian coach George Sotiropoulos. “They’ve got a terrific attitude.”

In revenge to The Freak Show’s edits to George Sotiropoulos’ portrait in the gym during episode 2, Team Australia decided to spend some time making UK coach Ross Pearson look like UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste.

When the UK team returned to the gym, Pearson found the funny side to the prank, although the rest of the team thought it was a lame attempt at a joke.

Once again the two teams met to announce the next welterweight fight. Ross Pearson chose Luke Newman (UK) vs. Robert Whittaker (AUS).

“As soon as he said my name, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Whittaker said. “It’s just happy days.”

With UK’s Luke Newman training out of American Top Team, the same camp Australian coach George Sotiropoulos is from, Ross Pearson made the point by asking Sotiropoulos who he’s picking, “country or teammate,” with the Australian coach replying, “my boys.”

After already having a win under his belt, Colin Fletcher decided to cause some mischief by making a mask out of some of the loose things around the kitchen, before waking up some of his teammates to give them a scare.

Worries were sent through the UK camp when Newman went to check his weight on the morning of the weigh-in and he was 9 pounds overweight, while the day before he was just 7 pounds.

A pre-weigh-in indulgence was the cause after he decided to consume some coconut water the night before and the water held in his body.

“I’ve never known a fighter to do that the night before a weigh-in,” said Pearson. “It’s just crazy.”

Newman was forced to put on layers of clothes and sweat it out with exercise. When the teams arrived for the weigh-in, Sotiropoulos played mind games with Pearson, announcing that it’s 1-0, although both teams have won a fight.

Robert Whittaker weighed in at 170.5 pounds, while Luke Newman had cut the weight and also weighed in at 170.5 pounds.

With boredom kicking in back at the house, Ben Wall challenged The Freak Show to a Wasabi challenge. Fletcher got through three lines of Wasabi, while Wall also stepped up to the mark and got through his lines.

They then moved on to “Peri Peri” sauce with both fighters again getting through the challenge before Wall spewed up at the end and Colin Fletcher also felt the effects.

Robert Whittaker (AUS) vs. Luke Newman (UK):

Round 1: The fighters touched gloves and Newman came forward, landing with his jab, before Whittaker snuck through with a right hand, dropping Newman, and after some quick ground and pound the fight was waved away.

Robert Whittaker def. Luke Newman via KO at 0:19, Round

“I felt a few hits collide, then he dropped” Whittaker said. “I saw him hit the floor and you don’t stop. I will be in the UFC one day and it will take more than one man to stop me.”

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