The Ultimate Fighter Season 11: Liddell vs. Ortiz

Finale preview

Episode 11 Review

Last show for season 11 and it has the two semifinal fights to see who will fight at the Ultimate finale. Last Team Ortiz member Chris McCray is happy with the training he has had with new coach Rich Franklin. Between all the training with both coaches, he should be ready to take on Josh Bryant again for the second time and actually beat him. McCray lost to Bryant last time they fought and the loss has motivated him. I can see McCray scoring multiple takedowns in their fight and controlling the fight to a unanimous decision. In his last fight, Brad Tavares was cracked in the head with an illegal soccer kick. His mindset may not be right after such a vicious and unprotected blow. He is fighting Court McGee, who was not a favorite to win the show at all. McGee has some talent but his biggest asset is his heart and will to win. I see McGee taking this one but wouldn’t be surprised to see Tavares getting a KO. On the night before weigh-ins, some of the guys decided to play a joke on the “Minorities.” Well, the “Minorities” didn’t take it well and started to break stuff. Nobody resorted to violence though.

Fight Results

Court McGee def. Brad Tavares by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 3
McGee landed a few leg kicks early just before they really start to battle. After a few strikes, they ended up against the cage with McGee attempting a takedown. Tavares couldn’t defend it and McGee took him to the ground. They went back to their feet and back down again as McGee put on a relentless pace. Although Tavares landed some good shots, McGee controlled most of the first round. In the second, McGee landed some heavy shots but Tavares managed to press on and not get rocked. With two rounds in the books and McGee taking a clear advantage, Tavares needed to finish the fight to get the win now. The third started with the two fighters throwing punches and wrestling against the cage wall. McGee landed some heavy shots and performed a slamming takedown. McGee then took Tavares’s back and made Tavares tap with a lights out rear naked choke.

Chris McCray def. Josh Bryant by Unanimous Decision in Round 3
After trading some kicks, Bryant landed a huge knee that put McCray down. After a few takedowns by McCray, the two fighters traded some nice strikes until the round ending buzzer sounded. The second round was the closest I have seen this season with both fighters landing tough strikes and nobody taking a clear advantage. Even though the fighters have slowed down, they still continue to fight hard and trade a variety of strikes as the third and final round ends. This was a close fight but McCray sneaks the decision and is heading to the finally to take on Court McGee. McCray vs. McGee will be interesting. If McCray can wrestle McGee down, then he could score points with some G&P. McGee is well-rounded but his wrestling may not match well against McCray.

Continue on to read the Episode 10 review.

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