Scars and Stripes - Recap

Recap of previous episode is shown. Dana says he was impressed by the British fighters and hopes that the US fighters will be as good. Dan Henderson is named the coach of Team USA because he beat Rich Franklin at UFC 93. Right of the bat several problems
appear a couple of UFC hopefuls.

One fighter, Jason Pierce, a welterweight, faints. Dana and Dan are concerned because it might be more serious than just a faint. Another fighter John Shackelford, has herpes on his head while another fighter Christian Fulgium shows up overweight.

Dana White can't believe that after nine seasons of the show guys still come to the unprepared. In his own words "it's so f-ing ridiculous that these guys don't show up on weight. It's season nine mother-fers". The USA hopefuls are a complete disaster. Christian tries to cut the weight but ends up falling of the treadmill. White while upset of the lack of competition, offers Christian the chance to continue cutting the weight. Christian gives up though. With several fighters now gone, the fights are now six instead of eight.

The first fight is Welterweight Mark Miller vs. Kevin Knabjian. The two were actually training partners. Round 1 is for the most part just a striking match with neither fighter coming out on top. Round 2 is different as both fighters are more aggresive. Kevin comes up with a flurry of strikes actually knocking down his friend. Mark is able to fend him before Kevin finishes him off with his legs. However, Kevin grabs his legs for an ankle lock. Mark is able to fight his way out of the hold, and the two end up striking again.

Mark and Kevin exchange strikes with Mark coming up slightly ahead on points. Then during the last fifteen seconds of second round, Mark explodes with a devastating uppercut almost knocking out Kevin. He proceeds to wail away at Kevin who doesn't put much up resistance. The ref stops the fight for the winner Mark Miller.

The next fight is a Lightweight with Richie Witson.vs. Paul Bird. Bird does a nice takedown on Richie. Richie stands up and Bird tries a rear naked choke. Richie is able to power out of the hold. The two stand up and fight again with Richie coming up ahead on points.

Bird tries another take down on Richie but he is able to block it and punches away at Bird. Bird throws a kick which misses while Richie continues the assault. Bird is now showing several bruises on his face from Witson. Richie corners Bird to the cage continuing the attack. It looks like Richie will win but Bird manages to stay alive. He goes for another take down but he is too tired to do anything big. Richie now has Bird at guard. Witson throws several elbows that land on Bird. Witson is dominating his opponent as all Bird can do is cover up. Richie then applies a rear naked choke for the win.

Another Lightweight fight is coming with Waylon Lowe vs. Santino Defranco. Dana tells fans that Santino was actually a contestant on Season Two but was released due the fact that he had a brain aneurysm.

In Round 1, the two lockup and Waylon throws Santino down the mat.The two grapple on the mat for the next minute. Waylon is able to use this time to get an angle at Santino to rain down a couple of strikes. Santino doesn't put much defense at all. In fact, several fighters are yelling at him to fight back.

Santino says this was the biggest fight of his life but isn't showing it. This attack continues for the whole round and surprisingly the referee doesn't stop it.

Round 2 starts with a desperation knee by Santino that rocks Waylon Lowe. It practically knocks him out. Santino smelling blood goes for the rear naked choke. In a complete shocker, Santino wins.

The next fight is a Welterweight one with Jason Pierce vs. a fighter named Berger. With the show running out of time, this fight is edited. Dana White provides commentary for the fight. White is bias to Berger as he says he's a kid he likes. Pierce, from the way the fight is edited, controls the fight. He knocks Berger down in the first almost knocking him out. He applies a choke but can't pull it off completely to win. However, after three round, Pierce is the winner.

The next fight is a Lightweight fight with Cameron Dollar and Tom Hayden. This is another edited fight with Dana again providing his opinion on the fight. Hayden dominates the first round but midway in the second out of nowhere Dollar pulls out a rear naked choke for the win.

The next fight is a Welterweight fight with Damarques Johnson vs. Ray Elbe. This fight is shown in its entirety. Elbe fighting in the red trunks and Johnson are cautious in Round 1. They both do a lot of circling around and throwing a couple of punches that have no effect. Elber goes for the take down in the next minute but Johnson is able to black and is now on top of Elbe. Elbe is now in a dire position with Johnson on top of him who basically can now just tee off on him. Elbe puts up no effort to fight back. Johnson has now busted him open. The referee stops the fight with the obvious winner Damarques Johnson.

This is the last fight so Henderson starts handing out the Team USA jerseys. Dana says though that two fighters didn't fight so a couple of alternates are chosen: Rob Browning (Junie Browning's brother) and Frank Lester.

With the fighters now introduced Dana sets up the last official fights Jason Dent vs. Rob Browning and Kyle Reed vs. Frank Lester.



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