Sherdog's Guide to 'The Ultimate Fighter 10'

The final week of this season’s “The Ultimate Fighter” is underway and we have a doubleheader of episodes and three bouts remaining to decide who advances on to this Saturday’s live finale. It’s been a superb season, with smash ratings for the good folks at Spike TV -- and they did it without any drunken blowouts, which was no easy feat.

The curtain rises on UFC President Dana White’s do-you-want-to-be-here speech, which is more or less directed at Matt Mitrione. Afterward, Dana pulls Kimbo Slice aside to find out if he’s still interested in stepping up and getting back into the competition, as Mitrione still appears on the fence for his quarterfinal match against James McSweeney.

“I fight on my toes,” Slice tells White, voicing his reluctance to fight courtesy of an arthritic knee.

White is incredulous that Slice won’t at least take cortisone shot to allay the pain for the potential fight.

“I never expected him to turn down a fight in here,” says White.

Slice rationalizes his decision.

“I’m not Einstein or Abe Wagner,” he tells the camera, explaining that despite his limited mental capacities, he has to be smarter about his career and competing at 40 percent isn’t fair to his fans, his family, and most of all, himself.

The speculation ends when Mitrione gets medical clearance to fight. Coach Rashad Evans is convinced that Mitrione had clearance all along, but preps his fighter for the bout.

Some of McSweeney’s teammates are worried that the Brit’s ill will toward Mitrione might have an adverse affect on his game plan. Worse, Brendan Schaub is worried that McSweeney could be overlooking Mitrione.

“Meathead” Mitrione might not be an Einstein or an Abe Wagner himself, but he seems to be outfoxing his opponents and teammates by keeping them on their toes.

“I’m kind of unstable, but not that unstable,” says Mitrione.

Scott Junk has some real maladies to contend with. Junk’s been seeing spots since his bout with Mitrione and a visit to the doctor brings the worst news imaginable. Junk has torn his retina, which will require surgery and leave his future fighting career in question. His teammates are crushed by the news, especially sensitive, big man Marcus Jones.

As soon as “Big Baby” arrives at the training center, he gets right in Mitrione’s face, threatening to kill him. Mitrione and others at the gym are caught off-guard by Jones’ outburst, but are just as sad as everyone else to hear about Junk’s eye injury later.

“I think he’s the nicest guy in the world, but he’ll kill you,” says coach Quinton "Rampage" Jackson of Jones and his fierce loyalty for his friends. Jackson tries to calm the big man down and makes Jones promise him not to make a move on Mitrione.

Luckily for everyone, Junk has surgery and comes out with a favorable prognosis. Everyone is relieved, especially Mitrione’s limbs.

White feels that if Mitrione fights the way he did against Junk, he can cut off the cage and “… literally, and I mean literally, put McSweeney’s lights out.”

McSweeney gives Mitrione a hard shove after their weigh-in and Evans isn’t so sure that p---ing off a wild man is such a good idea.

In the fight, an explosive Mitrione rushes McSweeney with hard punches and McSweeney looks for a leg trip to take things to the ground. Mitrione falls to the mat and goes for a half-hearted kneebar attempt. Trying to stand, he leaves his head wide open and McSweeney takes his opening, latching on the fight-ending guillotine choke.

Mitrione goes out with a whimper and draws the ire of his coach, who felt Mitrione could have attempted to escape before the tapout.

“Reality is McSweeney has what it takes to be a fighter,” says White, impressed that he made the most of the opportunity.

Marcus Jones and Darrill Schoonover face off in the other quarterfinal match. There’s no animosity between these two -- just a fight and both seem ready to go.

“You get past this fight today, you the man of this show, homey,” an optimistic Jackson tells Jones.

Schoonover is no pushover, but Jones takes him down with ease. The monstrous Jones moves to side control and throws a leg over to trap Schoonover’s face in a crucifix, then starts dropping bombs. Schoonover has no answer for Jones’ size, power and athleticism and takes a beating in the process. Jones knocks out Schoonover for the first time in his career.

“An awesome force of gorilla man-ness, grizzly man-ness,” says Evans of Jones’ performance.

The semi-final matchups are announced next. Roy Nelson will be facing McSweeney, which means the two former NFL football players Schaub and Jones will meet in the other bracket.

“If Marcus can believe in Marcus the way Rampage believes in Marcus, we got this thing going on, ya feel me?” says Jackson, happy to have a fighter with a chance to make it to the finale.

It wouldn’t be a TUF 10 episode if the coaches weren’t nose to nose, as they have yet another face-off at the gym.

After working with Jones on his game plan, Jackson and assistant coach Tiki Ghosn get a few of their fighters to perform a while-you-were-out interior decorating number on Team Evans’ locker room, complete with a powder-pink paint job on the walls. They fill the room with frilly pink throw pillows, stuffed animals and blow up dolls, and a disco ball as well. Again, Evans and his team take the practical joke in stride.

The boys at the house are back to screwing with Zak Jensen -- or “Linderman” as they’ve been calling him all season. McSweeney decides to block the bathroom door, so Jensen will be stuck.

It turns out, that Jensen is very claustrophobic and after a season of being screwed with it’s the final straw. He comes out madder than a hornet and beelines for McSweeney, even throwing a few blows.

Once McSweeney realizes he’s for real, he slaps on a quick guillotine and keeps it on until Jensen finally relents.

“I hate him, he’s a pr--k,” says Jensen later. “He’s a prostitute’s used douche bag.”

McSweeney admits later that he is actually happy Jensen stood up for himself, a common theme among his tormentors.

Coach Evans arrives at the house to show his fighters some visualization techniques. Nelson doesn’t partake, relying on himself and his experience as he heads into battle.

In their bout, McSweeney pushes the pace on Nelson with sharp leg kicks and wild punches. Nelson doesn’t match McSweeney’s intensity at first and pays for it by eating a stiff left hand.

McSweeney waves in Nelson with a smile and quickly has that smile professionally removed with a ridiculous overhand right. Nelson puts McSweeney on his back and smothers him. Just like in his fight with Slice, Nelson elects to take away McSweeney’s arms with a crucifix and pounds away. This time Nelson puts a little more pepper on his punches and referee Steve Mazzagatti jumps in to stop the fight with a minute left in the first round.

“Good job, Roy. You finally impressed me,” says White afterward.

In the second semi-final bout, Schaub comes out swinging, looking for that big shot, but Jones just tackles him to the canvas. Jones passes quickly to side mount. Schaub bucks several times to sneak out, but Jones keeps him down.

Schaub finally scrambles free and unloads a few good shots on his feet. Jones connects with a big knee. Schaub comes in again looking for anything and connects with a right hand that sends Jones to his back. Schaub rushes in for the kill, posts up on one knee and drops the biggest punches he can throw for the stoppage.

Coach Jackson says he swallowed his whole heart down into his esophagus with the loss. Jones announces it might be his last fight for good, not wanting to put his wife through any more torture. Jones leaves the show tearfully and even Rampage admits to almost crying himself for the big man.

So, Saturday night it will be Schaub vs. Nelson. It’s an athletic newcomer versus a cagey and buttery veteran, but only one can be “The Ultimate Fighter.”