The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) returns TONIGHT (Dec. 7, 2012) for episode 12 of the once great reality television show's 16th season on its loving home on the FX channel at 10 p.m. ET.
THE END IS NEAR!
It's this final episode away, actually, with the two semifinal bouts taking place on this episode. That includes John Manley taking on Colton Smith and Neil Magny battling Mike Ricci.
A complete live blog with full results from the show is below.
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TUF 16 RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR EPISODE 12
Geno here.
Broadcast is live.
LET'S DO THIS, YOU GUYS, SEASON FINALE, ZOMG, SO HAPPY.
Now that that's out of the way, we get to the TUF house and guys are chatting it up as usual. Rivera is talking about how Roy Nelson isn't much of a coach and says he's probably better off just fighting instead of coaching.
Everyone else seems to agree.
In they go for a training session and we first get to deal with Colton Smith, who is fighting Jon Manley. Because they're on the same team, they're not going to get the same corner squad.
They're probably happy about this, actually.
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Now we've got the guys all huddled up in the locker room and they're having a talk with Roy Nelson about how he's treated them throughout the year and how the training has gone.
Essentially, they don't like how things have gone and he's not really responsive to that. He does apologize for hurting people's feelings but also says his have been hurt.
Yeah, I don't know. That was odd.
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Colton Smith vs. Jon Manley (170-pound limit)
Round one: It doesn't take long for a clinch against the cage, which is a theme with this season's fights. Smith is pushing but Manley is blocking and not allowing him to get underhooks. A couple knees land and that brings the two back to the center. Smith ends up getting on top of Manley only to eat a few upkicks while he tries to establish position. He finally does but Manley is making it hard on him to advance. He's in half guard now and pushing down on the head while landing elbows. Manley manages to get back to his feet and they go back to clinching against the cage. Yawn. The round ends and it was probably Colton's but it was awful either way.
Round two: As you can imagine, Colton is all over him to start the second. They go right back to the clinch game but this time Manely tries to work an arm. Oh shit, he drops down with it and it's bending up quite a bit but Smith slides out and he's back on top, pushing Manley against the cage. This is the old Randy Couture game plan where he's just smothering Manley and never letting him breathe long enough to mount any effective offense. The judges look favorably on it because it looks like Manley hasn't done anything the entire fight. Which is basically true. Just for a the final exclamation point, Colton gets a strong takedown and passes to mount where he drops a few blows before the horn sounds. The round ends and I would be shocked if the fight isn't over too.
Round three: Oh, that's right, we get three rounds for the semifinals. Colton playing passive to start, circling around the outside and staying out of range. Manley is showing the wear of the first 10 minutes, slowly moving in and coming up soft and short. Smith lands a nice shot but Manley hits a counter right on the way out. Smith pushes forward again and now he's landing big while Manley fades against the cage. He battles back, though, and lands a few good punches. They go hard back-and-forth until the end. Would still be shocked if Colton lost.
Final result: Colton Smith def. Jon Manley via unanimous decision
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Training session for Team Carwin. Coach Shane calls Mike Ricci the most well rounded guy on the show but Neil Magny has developed really well during his time on the show.
There isn't much to say before we get right into the fight.
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Mike Ricci vs. Neil Magny (170-pound limit)
Round one: They trade punches all throughout the opening round, neither willing to commit too strong until Ricci lands solid and drops Magny before he ends up on top in Magny's open guard. He works a few punches before Magny manages to get back to his feet but that ends up being the worst possible thing to happen to him. That's because Ricci lands a vicious elbow that puts Magny to sleep instantly. He falls out and that's that. Magny was so out of it that when he woke up, he started fighting the referee who pulled him off.
Final result: Mike Ricci def. Neil Magny via knockout in round one
There it is, Maniacs. The final is set for the Finale. It will be Colton Smith, the suffocating grappler, against Mike Ricci, the well rounded martial artist.
See you next Saturday!