TUF Season 9 Episode 1 Re-Cap

The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Episode 1

Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson are the coaches for this years TUF. This season we will see a UK versus USA theme. Episode 1 features 16 UK fighters fighting it out to see which 8 guys end up in the house. Dana White meets up with Michael Bisping at the Wolfslair and it looks like that is where this season of TUF starts off. This season will feature Lightweight and Welterweight fighters. Both Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson are at the fights. This is prior to their fight to see who would be the TUF coach so Dana has flown them both in to observe.

Lighweight Fight- Gary Kelly (2-1-1) vs. Andre Winner (9-2-1)

Kelly trains at Wolfslair with Bisping.

R1- Winner looks like a much bigger Lightweight than Kelly. Winner hit a big knee to the head at the two minute mark to win the fight. Neither guys looked particularly good up until that point but Winner hit the big shot and advances.

Winner: Andre Winner by KO (Knee) R1

Lightweight Fight- Jeff Lawson (13-2) vs. James Bryan (3-1)

R1- Lawson showed some jiu jitsu and got a tap out victory with an armbar.

Winner: Jeff Lawson by Submission (Arm Bar) R1

Welterweight Fight- Che Mills (7-2) vs. James Wilks (5-2)

R1- Mills rushed in and took Wilks down but quickly found himself in a heel hook and tapped.

Winner: James Wilks by Submission (Heel Hook) R1

Lightweight- Martin Stapleton (5-1) vs. Dan James (3-0)

R1- Stapleton got a take down to start the fight. Stapleton got some Ground and Pound and landed a Rear Naked Choke and got the tap. So far Stapleton looked like the most complete fighter based on what has been shown.

Lightweight- A.J. Wenn (7-2) vs. Ross Pearson (9-3)

R1- Lots of clinching early. Pearson got a sweep to get Wenn down but Wenn popped right back up and they clinched some more. Pearson got a take down at the two minute mark but again couldn’t hold Wenn down. Pearson hit some knees at the end of the round and Wenn got saved by the bell.

R2- Pearson hit a big shot to open the round and then finished off Wenn with some Ground and Pound.

Winner: Ross Pearson by TKO (strikes) R2

Welterweight Fight- Tommy Maguire (5-2) vs. Nick Osipczak (3-0)

R1- Maguire got Nick down early in the round. Maguire grabbed a guillotine when they stood up and then pulled guard with it but Nick broke the hold but let Maguire up. Nick is really thin but took advantage of Maguire and controlled the stand up and finished off Osipczak.

Winner: Nick Osipczak by KO R1

Welterweight Fight- Alex Reid (10-9-1) vs. Dean Amasinger (4-1)

Not a great record but Reid shows some fire in his ring entrance.

Only highlights are shown of this fight. Dean looked like he controlled the fight. Alex caught him in a triangle but Dean survived. This is the first fight that goes to the third round. Seemed like Alex was more worried about showboating then winning the fight but he did end up with Dean in a triangle when the bell rung. Dean looks like he has some good skills, he just looked really green.

Winner: Dean Amasinger by Decision

Welterweight Fight- James Bateman (2-1) vs. David Faulkner (2-1)

Faulkner is a Wolfslair fighter.

R1- Both of these guys looked like they knew what they were doing in the cage. Faulkner was able to get a leg lock on Bateman and tapped him.

Winner: David Faulkner by Submission (Heel Hook) R1


Lightweight Fighters:
Andre Winner (defeated Gary Kelly)
Jeff Lawson (defeated James Bryan)
Martin Stapleton (defeated Dan James)
Ross Pearson (defeated A.J. Wenn)

Welterweight Fighters:
James Wilks (defeated Che Mills)
Nick Osipczak (defeated Tommy Maguire)
Dean Amasinger (defeated Alex Reid)
David Faulkner (defeated James Bateman)

If I had to pick one fighter from each division as “guys to watch” I would pick Martin Stapleton and David Faulkner.