(Props: iBakedAcake)

This poor, misunderstood Jamie Yager kid just can’t catch a break. During last week’s fight, he cheers for his buddy Brad Tavares, instead of his Team Punishment teammate James Hammortree, which just gives Nick "Blown-Out O-" Ring something else to be upset about. "You’re with us or against us…you need to support us, friendships aside," Nick says. "I hear what you’re saying, and I respect where you’re coming from," Yager says. But Ring doesn’t feel very heard or respected. He goes back to the house to bitch about Yager some more with his housemates.

Yager has his own crew — himself, Tavares, Kris McCray, and Kyle Noke — which he has dubbed "The Minority Report." Noke is not sure why he’s been included with the other multi-ethnic types, but he’s cool with it.

Anyway, this is one of those two-fight episodes, thank God, so we won’t have to suffer through too much girly-ass drama and house bullshit. Still in control, Chuck Liddell chooses his boy (and ours) Rich Attonito to go up against Kyacey Uscola. Uscola (18-15) is a skilled wrestler, and has had a long career that’s seen him lose to such notables as Chael Sonnen, Gegard Mousasi, Joey Villasenor, Mike Guymon, and Kyle Noke. He’s going to miss the birth of his child while being on the show.


Rich Attonito is a heavy-bag-humpin’ wildman. He shares some of his aliases with us: Richie Boom-Bats, Richie the Raging Bull, Richie No-Nose, Richie Two Times, Richie "The Guido" Attonito. John Hackleman thinks the ATT product is one of the top guys on the show right now, skill and experience wise. Liddell will miss his fight, however, due to previous commitments. 

So, to make a long, boring story short, Kyacey loses his sweatshirt and finds it in the closet in Yager’s room, so obviously he accuses Yager of being a thief. Turns out Kris McCray took it, but Kyacey has pretty much made up his mind. He and Yager jaw at each other. In the van to the fight, Yager says he’s going to "Put these tips on yo ass, and you’ll understand how to breathe in breathe out," or something like that, I’m not going to rewind the show just to transcribe that line, and Uscola is like "Yeaahh, homey." The argument continues into the prep-room, in front of Tito Ortiz. "I didn’t put my hands on your shit," Yager says. "Dick suckin’ make you deaf?" [Ed. note: OH!] Tito has Yager’s back in the argument. Later, he explains the kinship he has with his loudmouthed protege. "He came from nothing, so he’s always defensive on every situation…and I understand that completely."

(Random thought, but wasn’t Team Punishment supposed to include a public-relations advisor? Where’s he at? Or is striking coach "Razor" Rob McCullough doing double-duty?)

Rich likes his coffee like he likes his wife: thick and dark. He shows Yager some pictures. We’re expecting: Melyssa Ford. We get: Sammi Sweetheart.

Time to do the man dance…

Round 1: Uscola lands a straight right. Attonito returns it. Attonito starts peppering Uscola with punch combinations. He drops Uscola with a hook and tries to swarm for the finish. Uscola turtles and frantically rolls to avoid damage. Attonito transitions to Uscola’s back, looking for a choke, but Uscola escapes and gets to his feet. Attonito picks him up and slams him on head. On the mat, Uscola latches onto Attonito’s arm. He uses a kimura to reverse Attonito and get on top of him. Uscola with some short elbows to Attonito’s head and body. As Attonito gets to a knee, Uscola fires two savage illegal knees at his dome-area. The ref stops the fight. Attonito looks dazed. The doctor asks him where he thinks he is. "Fighting in a cage?" he guesses.  It’s a DQ loss for Uscola, who’s furious: "No! Get up! Let’s see the replay before you disqualify me, this is my life!"

But the knees look a little questionable in the replay. The first one hit Attonito in the chest, and the second one may have grazed his face but it’s hard to tell from our angle. Still, Uscola shouldn’t have been throwing those knees in the first place. Dana White says the ref made the right call. Tito destroys a door in frustration. And it seems that Attonito broke his hand in the fight. He goes to the doctor, and comes back in a cast, telling his housemates that he’s done.

For the next fight, Chuck picks Charlie Blanchard to go up against Jamie Yager. The size difference is ridiculous; Blanchard could probably compete at lightweight if he wanted to. Tito is sure that Yager’s got this. If he doesn’t, he’ll shoot himself. Still, Chuck’s picks have been dead-on so far. Maybe he knows something that we don’t?

Round 1: Blanchard shoots and works his ass off trying to get Yager to the mat, but Yager defends nicely. Yager lands a monster right hand to put Blanchard down, and finishes him against the cage with strikes. Between this and his elimination fight in episode one, Yager is turning out to be one of the nastiest strikers in recent TUF history.

The win finally gives Team Punishment control of the matchups, as well as a much-needed confidence-boost. Uscola still wants to smash Yager’s face one day.