THE UFC TAKES a well-deserved rest this weekend after back-to-back events but there was some spectacular action in “The Ultimate Fighter” to keep fans ticking over.
This series sees Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen star as opposing coaches looking to help the next potential group of UFC stars on their way to a lucrative contract with the organisation.
Having pulled out all the stops to get two of the current biggest fighters to coach the hopefuls, it seems as if the standard of the talent on the show is beginning to live up to Dana White’s expectations with one man leading the charge. Urijah Hall was singled out by both coaches as being the strongest competitor on the show after being labelled the number one pick and Sonnen wasted no time on getting him on his team and putting him into action as soon as possible.
Adam Cella and Hall were paired off on Tuesday’s episode and the result prompted Dana White to say “That was one of the nastiest knockouts I’ve ever seen in the fight business, let alone in ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.”
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The perfectly-timed spinning back kick has made Hall the one to beat this season and it has to be noted after a brief hospital visit Cella returned to the house to recover and see out the season hoping for a second chance in the wildcard picks.
McGregor and Parke discover opponents for debuts
The news this week that two-division Cage Warriors champion Conor “Notorious” McGregor has signed with the UFC means that two Irish fighters will soon be making their debuts in Europe. It has been confirmed that McGregor will face Marcus Brimage in Sweden in early April while later on that month Norman Parke will take on undefeated fighter John Tuck in California.
Marcus Brimage has won his last three fights since his stint in the “Ultimate Fighter” household back in 2011 and the stocky and durable Brimage will prove a tough opponent for McGregor but one he will be quietly confident of overcoming. Parke faces unbeaten BJJ specialist John Tuck in his first fully fledged fight since winning “The Smashes” and “Stormin’” Norman will test his already impressive ground game against lightweight from Guam. Elsewhere, Anthony Pettis has been rewarded with a shot at Jose Aldo after his impressive win over Donald Cerrone last week.
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Dana White due in Dublin
Dana White rather dangerously revealed on twitter this week that “the pints are on me” when he touches down in Dublin to become an honorary patron of the Philosophical society of Trinity College on Tuesday. He is due to receive the Gold Medal of Honour and then take part in a question and answer session with the audience before flying onto England to prepare for next week’s event in London.
He revealed on Twitter that he hoped to share a few pints with fans in Ireland before moving on although some followers joked that he may need a lot of money if he is to get the first round in.
