TUF 8: Fainting Phillipe Fights Back

“The fight starts right now,” proclaimed Fighters.com’s top heavyweight contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) about his eventual UFC title defense turned fight for top UFC contendership versus Frank Mir (11-3).

UFC President Dana White proclaimed the same thing to this season’s 32 contestants to be coached by Nog’ and Mir for the TUF 8 championship at lightweight and light heavyweight; but, before he could finish his sentence, Phillipe Nover (5-0-1) hit the deck in a fainting spell.

“Fainting Phillipe” White called him; and, Nover had a tough opening challenge versus Joe Duarte (3-0).

“I’m going to have to make him faint again,” Duarte said before the fight.

But, it was Duarte who had to tap in a Nover rear naked choke in the second round to keep from fainting.

Nover opened the first round with a head kick, followed by a body kick.

“He hits like a heavyweight,” Nog’ said.

But, Duarte countered a Nover leg kick with a straight left that dropped Nover. Duarte pounced; and, Nover gave up his back and ate an elbow.  But, Nover actually pounded Duarte while Duarte had his back and attempted a rear naked choke.

In the second round, Nover tripped Duarte into half mount.  Duarte gave up his back; and, Nover slipped in the rear naked choke.

Mike Stewart (1-1) made the field of 32 when Jason Guida (17-17), brother of lightweight “Carpenter” Clay Guida (24-9), couldn’t make the 205-pound weight limit.

As quickly as he stepped-in, he stepped out after a straight left from Krzysztof Soszynski (15-8-1).

“Machete” Fernando Bernstein (0-0) “was more like the butter knife,” said White after Bernstein was quickly tapped out in a rear naked choke by Dave Kaplan (0-0).

“Sugar” Rashad Evans‘s (12-0-1) brother, Lance Evans (2-2), quit with a rib injury after one round versus “Pezao” Vinicius Magalhaes (0-1).

Built like a brickhouse Antwain Britt (3-1) won a light heavyweight spot in the TUF house in a majority decision slugfest versus “Big Deal” Ryan Jimmo (6-1).

Light heavyweight Jules Bruchez (0-0) was very confident after Eric Magee (1-1) in a rear naked choke.

Lightweight Brian McLaughlin (0-0) took it to Brandon Garner (4-1) in the first round before Garner zapped McLaughlin with an illegal knee and the fight was declared a No Contest.

White decided McLaughlin had earned a bed before the fight was stopped without a winner.

This season’s Jeremy May (5-5), Jose Aguilar (0-0), talked a lot before one round with Junie Allen Browning (1-0).

Browning rolled out of two Aguilar ankle locks on the road to an otherwise dominating striking and G’n'P display.

Aguilar quit in his corner, saying “I’m pretty.  That’s all that matters, dog.”

Browning was clearly Mir’s favorite fighter.  He coached Browning through his domination of Aguilar and told Nog’, “Don’t pick him.  He told me he hates Brazilians.”

The difference in personalities between Mir and Nog’ were immediately noticeable.  Mir talked a lot while Nog’ watched and said little.  Nog’ also revealed little about the fighters he’s eyeing for his team while Mir let slip who his early favorites were.

Next week, the final sixteen fighters will fight their way into the remaining eight beds.