Team Nelson’s Jon Manley submitted Team Carwin’s James Chaney in a dramatic first-round comeback on episode eight of The Ultimate Fighter 16.
At the start of the fight, the two came out throwing heavy leather with Manley landing the crisper punches. Chaney then initiated a clinch, pulled guard and quickly locked in a triangle choke — just like he did in his fight to get into the house against Jerel Clark.
Chaney had the hold secured tightly, but unlike Clark, Manley did not tap. While stuck in the triangle, Manley remained clam and slid his left shin over the chest and face of Chaney and began throwing hard punches with his left hand that were landing flush. This led to Chaney loosening his grip and Manley eventually escaped.
The Team Nelson fighter briefly moved into side control before swiftly transitioning into mount, where he attacked with a guillotine choke from the top. Manley slowly tightened the choke; Chaney had no escape and tapped out.
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After the fight, Manley got up with marks on his ribs and said Chaney bit him when trying to escape from the guillotine. Chaney, who is aptly nicknamed Snake, admitted afterwards that he did indeed bite his opponent because he would have done anything not to lose the fight.
“I really, really wanted that win and I still believe in my heart I should’ve won the whole show,” Chaney said. “What would I have done differently? I would’ve avoided being taken down, I would’ve really pursued the finish on the feet and stayed away from him being on top because that was his best chance of winning. I was extremely disappointed, but my coaches and teammates were supportive and thought I fought well.”
Manley was happy he was able to get the fight where he wanted.
“The fight with ‘Snake’ was pretty intense,” Manley said. “It was the biggest fight of my life and I felt unbelievably awesome after the win. I was stoked to get the only submission of the season so far. I always wanted to be on TUF — and to finish my first fight in the house in the first round was sick. I am a jiu-jitsu fighter and I was really happy to represent my school and coaches.”
The win was Team Nelson’s third consecutive victory and they now have a record of 4-3, with Team Carwin’s record mirroring that at 3-4.
It was also the first time this season that a tournament fight did not go to the judges.
Outside of the cage, unlike the previous episodes this season, it began with UFC president Dana White making a house call and giving the fighters a pep talk.
“You guys need to start fighting,” White said, referring to the fact that every fight up to that point had gone the distance.
He informed the fighters that if they didn’t start performing they would not be placed on the TUF 16 finale fight card on Dec. 15 in Las Vegas.
Later that night inside the TUF house, Julian Lane lost control of himself after he and some of the housemates had a few too many drinks. Lane smashed his head into the walls, punched paintings while attempting to pick a fight with Dom Waters, but the others intervened. Tempers were raised, but no punches were thrown.
It was a typical immature, drunken tantrum often seen on TUF when fighters have been eliminated from the competition.
While all this was going on Canadian Mike Ricci — who although is one of the youngest fighters in the house is arguably the most intellectual of the group — said he is ashamed to be associated with the sport of MMA when certain fighters act the way Lane was acting.
Also, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin competed in a track and field themed coaches challenge. Carwin and Nelson took part in shot put, javelin, discus, long jump and it was capped off with a 400-metre sprint.
Carwin ended up winning all five events, which earned him a cool $20,000 and each of his fighters $1,500.
On the next episode of TUF 16, Ricci finally gets the chance to fight, as he takes on Waters in the final bout of the preliminary round. Then, White will announce the four quarterfinal matchups.
