THE CANADIAN PRESS
Team Koscheck notched its second win on Season 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” with the prospect of another fighter advancing via the wild-card bout.
In the episode that aired Wednesday night, Sako (Psycho) Chivitchian won a decision over a game but outmatched Dane Sayers to cut coach Georges St-Pierre’s lead to 5-2 over Josh Koscheck’s squad.
Also in Episode 7, titled “Second Chance,” UFC president Dana White picked Team Koscheck fighters Aaron Wilkinson and Marc Stevens to meet in the wild-card bout, which provides a second chance for preliminary-round losers.
St-Pierre wanted Sayers to take on Wilkinson, arguing that his fighter was the most improved in the cast since the season began. But White sided with Koscheck in picking Stevens, who was choked out in seconds by Cody McKenzie, despite being the first chosen when the coaches picked teams.
GSP fighters moving on are Jonathan Brookins, Alex Caceres, Michael Johnson, Cody McKenzie and Kyle Watson. The other Koscheck winner is Nam Phan.
Koscheck prevailed on the baseball diamond when the two coaches met in a home run challenge at Cashman Field, home of the Blue Jays’ triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s.
“I’m Canadian. I didn’t play this sport growing up. It’s an American sport,” said St-Pierre. “This is going to be hard. I’ve never played baseball in my life.”
It showed. Koscheck picked up US$10,000 for winning, while his fighters each received $1,500.
“Get used to this feeling,” Koscheck told St-Pierre.
St-Pierre is due to defend his welterweight title against Koscheck on Dec. 11 in Montreal at UFC 124.
Wednesday’s episode also showed Koscheck pushing the buttons of Brad Tate, a medic on St-Pierre’s team.
“You’re a male nurse? Damn. That’s awesome,” Koscheck offered insincerely as the two looked at each other in the UFC Training Centre.
“That’s so cute,” he added.
Koscheck hinted of mayhem to come in a subsequent voiceover.
“It’s like bro, you’re a male nurse. You’re not a fighter, you shouldn’t open your mouth. Because I’ll choke your ass out, I’ll knock you out.”
The tease for Episode 8 showed a melee sparked by Koscheck grabbing the burly Tate’s neck.
When Koscheck wasn’t talking smack, he was speaking with some eloquence of how mixed martial arts can offer a second chance to people like Chivitchian, who was shot in the leg during a wild time in his life.
“This sport will change you,” said Koscheck. “It will show you discipline, it will show you respect. It make take a while but guess what? It will change you.”
