THE CANADIAN PRESS
After notching its first win last week, Team Koscheck took it on the chin in the latest episode of Season 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter."
In the first of two fights won by Canadian Georges St-Pierre’s team on Episode 6, titled "Win or Die," lightweight Cody McKenzie showed off his trademark guillotine submission in stopping Marc Stevens.
Watch the episode on Sportsnet (check local listings).
Stevens was coach Josh Koscheck’s first overall pick on the reality TV show while McKenzie was St-Pierre’s sixth selection.
Then Jonathan Brookins choked out Sevak Magakian to increase Team GSP’s lead to 5-1 with one fight (Dane Sayers versus Sako Chivitchian) and a wild-card bout to come.
Koscheck’s coaches warned Stevens about McKenzie’s guillotine but it fell on deaf ears. McKenzie rushed his opponent as the fight started and Stevens shot for a takedown.
McKenzie grabbed his neck and it was over in less than 20 seconds with a slumped Stevens unconscious on the mat.
"It was kind of like a sick belly feeling," said a subdued Koscheck.
"Did that just happen?" he added.
It happened again with Brookins dispatching Magakian in minutes.
"Brookins is my secret weapon," St-Pierre said prior to the fight. "Nobody knows how good he is. Even Jonathan Brookins doesn’t even know how good he is."
After taking Magakian down, Brookins climbed on his back when his opponent got to his feet He improved his position until he was able to sink in a rear naked choke.
Koscheck’s fighter tapped two minutes in.
Outside the cage, Koscheck’s attempts to get under St-Pierre’s skin continued to hit a brick wall. Of course, hiding a flip-flop is hardly the prank of the century.
St. Pierre also refused to bite when Koscheck noticed a cut he had suffered training with Brookins.
"It’s a pretty bad cut," said Koscheck.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in December," replied St-Pierre.
The two welterweights are due to face off for the title Dec. 11 in Montreal at UFC 124.
But some members of the GSP’s team did display irritation at the trash-talking from their rival fighters and coach.
"Don’t play that game. Be nice," counselled St-Pierre.
The UFC champion did suggest that his turn-the-other cheek attitude might change if someone were to lay hands on him.
"If he crosses the line and if I feel my well-being is jeopardized, boom," St-Pierre added, pounding his fist into his palm. "Now it’s time to go.
"The day he physically does something to me, boom, finish. I’m telling you it’s going to be a disaster."
The promo for next week’s episode showed the two coaches wielding a bat, in a baseball home run challenge.
