The Ultimate Fighter 8 Episode 12
Dana White’s Infinite Tolerance for Junie Browning
Not only are they TUF housemates, Krzysztof Soszynskitrains under Vinny Magalhães, a BJJ coach for Team Quest.
Neither will let team association get in their way of the six-figure UFC contract awarded to the winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
Krzysztof, former student of Judo legend Allen Coage, explains his strategy to defuse Vinny’s significant advantage on the ground: hit a Black belt enough times, hard enough, he becomes a White belt.
Krzysztof comes in hot, as planned, looking to hurt Vinny early. Vinny throws some defensive punches and pulls guard, hooking onto the former pro-wrestler and towing him to the mat. Kryztof, familiar with Vinny’s ground wizardry, escapes a triangle attempt, postures then steps back to force the fight back on its feet.
Later, clinched against the cage, Vinny grips onto an arm and pulls guard again, this time turning Krzysztof and sinking in an armbar. Vinny advances to the finals of the light-heavyweight bracket to face wrestler Ryan Bader.
Junie vs. Himself
The last bout in the lightweight semi-finals is already set. Junie is supposed to take on Efrain Escudero. In training, Junie requested that Shane Nelson take his place in the upcoming fight, surprising since earlier in the season Junie jumped the Octagon cage, challenging Efrain after a fight. He feels his skills have diminished his entering the house; he’s not prepared to fight.
Junie’s self-destruction worsens later that night during a confrontation with Shane Primm. Primm, defending his teammates and coach against Junie and Vinny’s badmouthing, takes a shattering of glass to his forearms after Junie, for the second time, combusts and throws coffee mug at him.
Silver-tongued Dana White
If you ever wondered how Dana White persuaded childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta to gamble millions on a dying fight promotion and put him in charge without any prior accomplishment in business, you’ll see why in this episode.
White knows promotion. He knows the sport of mixed-martial-arts attracts few spectators, the characters, the personalities that inhabit the sport draw record crowds and post considerable PPV numbers. Junie’s a character, White needs fighters like him; booting him off the show is like burning money.
It’s fascinating to watch White twist the situation to get his ends. A traveling snake-oil salesman, White beguiles the fighters, getting them to agree with his bent logic. He makes sure he gets what he wants.
White plays psychoanalyst with Junie. He’s afraid to lose, says the UFC President, it’s easier to be kicked off the show than face the embarrassment of legitimate defeat. Browning agrees, “That’s exactly it”.
Of course, White can’t give him what he wants, even if kicking out Junie is the prudent move. White consults with the other fighters; he doesn’t want Junie running back to the Four Seasons Gym bragging that if not for his expulsion from the show, he could have won the whole thing.
The fighters (bewilderingly) vote to let Junie fight.
Junie Browning vs. Efrain Escudero
With all the fire Junie carries in him, he didn’t bring any of it to the Octagon.
In an uninspiring performance, Junie submits to Efrain’s D’Arce choke in the second round. Junie refused to tie punches together, despite Coach Mir’s persist hollering. “THREE! THREE!” He goes against the game plan, shooting on Efrain, an accomplished wrester. Efrain stuff the shot, backs into the cage, and Junie suffers some painful elbows to the head.
In the second round, Junie tanks out. Efrain takes him down and labors out the submission, earning a place in the Ultimate Fighter 8 finals against teammate Phillipe Nover.
If you missed episode 11, read about it here
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