The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12: Episode 2 recap and discussion

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 12, featuring welterweight coaches (and division rivals) Josh Koscheck and Georges St. Pierre, is back with Episode 2 as the new recruits get dropped off at the TUF house.

Just like in seasons 1-11, each contestant has that "Dayum" look when they see what kind of brick and mortar the fight game can buy you. Naturally the liquor cabinet is found and pillaged within the first three minutes of the show.

After a short settling in process, the group gets escorted to the training center for team picks. GSP and Greg Jackson try to fool Koscheck into thinking they want to pick a fighter they really don't want in an effort to keep "Kos" from selecting top prospect Michael Johnson.

To accomplish this, St. Pierre holds a fake list of names low enough to be seen by wandering eyes as they stand together at the announcement.

Following the coin toss, which goes in Koscheck's favor, he takes the bait and chooses Marc Stevens as his first fighter, thinking he stole St. Pierre's top pick when in reality all he did was free up Johnson for Team Rush. It was hard not to feel bad for Koscheck but round one of the mental warfare goes to the Canadian.

Here are the official team rosters:

Team Koscheck

1. Marc Stevens
2. Sevak Magakian
3. Sako Chivitchian
4. Andy Main
5. Nam Phan
6. Aaron Wilkinson
7. Jeff Lentz

Team GSP

1. Michael Johnson
2. Jonathan Brookins
3. Spencer Paige
4. Alex Caceres
5. Kyle Watson
6. Cody McKenzie
7. Dane Sayers

St. Pierre tries to rally his troops with what has to be the worst Sgt. Hartman impression ever put on screen. A Canadian aping cinema's most beloved drill instructor? You can't unwatch that.

Right off the bat we can see some of what goes on behind the scenes at Team Jackson as the support group for St. Pierre sinks their teeth into the contestants. Coach Jackson and company focus on the mental just as much as the physical aspect as they get their sweat on.

Georges insists he's not here to win the show, but to help make his guys better fighters.

On the other side of the gym, Coach Koscheck believes in "mindless training" which includes the announcement that "wrestling wins fights." No secret there. Daniel Cormier sighting! Kos tells the camera he's going to be the guy that has to carry the show but refuses to be labeled.

Josh insists he's here to win the show at all costs.

It's time to throw down, so St. Pierre lets Alex Caceres choose his own opponent (much to Dana's dismay) and "Bruce Leroy" picks Jeffrey Lentz, the red-headed chain smoker who is ready to prove to the world that he's "not a chump" -- despite being picked last.

Leroy reveals his love for Bruce Lee (duh) and his less than fortunate upbringing. He dons the gloves and does some shirtless sparring with Tatanka on the lawn of the TUF house. St. Pierre is confident is his pupil but knows nothing is certain in this sport.

Lentz gets gruff in training and promises to break his opponent. He also loves a steady diet of coffee and cigarettes. Coach Koscheck does not approve and wonders why Lentz is so hyper.

Leroy dons the Chinese formal gi to get himself mentally prepared for the big showdown. Lentz gets ready by sucking down a pack of smokes and wishing his mom was there to see him fight.

Is there more to Caceres than the fancy jumpsuits and Bruce Lee gimmick? Lentz doesn't seem to think so, but we're about to find out.

Elimination fight #1: Alex Caceres (4-2) vs. Jeffrey Lentz (6-1)

Round 1: Gratuitous Burger King logo replaced by gratuitous Dave & Busters logo. Lentz rushes and gets stopped with a kick on the way in. Leroy throwing legs. Lentz lands a high kick and they tie up. Lots of struggling and not much happens. Lentz comes close to a takedown but can't finish it. Leroy has a Thai Plum but loses that himself. Patented Ken Patera bear hug in effect. Lentz tries to scoop him and Leroy jumps into a high guillotine (think Oliveira vs. Escudero). They hit the ground and the hold breaks and Lentz gets one of his own but can't keep it. They're up, they're down, lots of scrambling but not much damage being done. Every time Caceres lands, St. Pierre howls "Ehhhhhhhh!" Do it in the GSP accent and it's funny. Final 30 seconds and they're back to the center of the cage exchanging legs. Leroy eats a right and stumbles and Lentz follows up with a sweet Judo toss. Round over. 10-9 Lentz on the unofficial Nostradumbass scorecard.

Round 2: Arianny is so unbelievably hot. They exchange kicks but nothing lands. Lentz swings wildly and they lock up and go to the cage. Leroy wrestles him to the floor but it's Lentz who assumes top position. From half guard then to full guard, Leroy looks for the triangle. He secures it and withstands a Lentz powerbomb. From there it was academic.

Alex Caceres defeats Jeffrey Lentz via submission (triangle choke) in round two

Team St. Pierre is off to a running start.

Dana admits to being a fan of Bruce Leroy and applauds the win. Lentz is disappointed and apologizes to his team and family for coming up short. As expected, Caceres is ecstatic.

Stay tuned next week as Bruce Leroy celebrates his win in style, Josh Koscheck blasts his team for dogging it, "Iron" Mike Tyson makes a surprise cameo and of course, the next elimination fight.

See you in seven!