Episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13, featuring heavyweight coaches and division rivals Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, gets underway and Tony Ferguson is getting the cold shoulder from his castmates for last week's drunken tirade directed at Charlie Rader's kid. "A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts," insists Chuck O'Neil.
"The Boogeyman" doesn't like being shunned and later that night approaches the rest of his roomies and issues an apology. "Cold Steel" doesn't buy it and does a lot of eye rolling before informing Tony he won't have his boys to corner him when they fight.
Ferguson doesn't look too concerned.
We get right to the weigh-ins for the first semifinal bout which pits Ramsey Nijem from Team Dos Santos against Chris Cope from Team Lesnar.
Both guys make weight without incident and start pumping themselves up for the fight. Whoo! Find out who wins after the jump.
Semifinal elimination bout #1: Ramsey Nijem (4-1) vs. Chris Cope (4-1)
Round 1: They touch gloves and Ramsey flies in with a wild combo. Cope gets on his bicycle and they go to the cage. Ramsey drops down a level for the takedown but can't get it and pops up to reel off a few punches. He drops down again and they struggle for position and then stand, still pressed against the cage. Cope with a few knees and tries to break away but Ramsey chases him down with fists of fury and they go back to the fence. Ramsey changes levels and Cope hammer-fists the back of his head to earn a warning from referee Steve Mazzagatti. Ramsey gets a warning of his own for grabbing the fence. Mazz gets tired of the huggery and separates them with 90 seconds to go in the opening frame. Stinging jab from Cope upon restart. Cope goes in wild and eats a jab of his own followed by a front kick. Ramsey charges like a bull and Cope sidesteps like a matador. Round ends with Cope in retreat. 10-9 Nijem says Nostradumbass.
Round 2: No touch of gloves and Ramsey darts in with a shoot and gets Cope down who wiggles free and gets to his feet. Low kick lands for Cope. Jab lands for Nijem. Big overhand right lands on Cope and Ramsey charges and bullies him to the fence. From there he unloads a barrage of punishment and Cope wilts under the onslaught.
Result: Ramsey Nijem def. Chris Cope via technical knockout (strikes)
Right away we shift to the weigh-ins for Chuck O'Neil vs. Tony Ferguson. No problems hitting the 170-mark for either semifinalist.
We get a glimpse of Tony getting all dressed up and Chuck carrying a grudge. Typical pre-fight hype. Let's get to it.
Semifinal elimination bout #2: Tony Ferguson (10-2) vs. Chuck O'Neil (8-3)
Round 1: Touch of gloves and both guys exchange jabs. Hard low kick lands for Tony. Chuck with a combo but misses. Low kick for Tony and Chuck answers with a high kick and right cross. Tony overhand right is an airball. Both guys appear tentative. Tony gets one in the junk but shakes it off. Chuck lands a good jab but allows Tony to walk him down. Tony snaps Chuck's head back with a Superman jab. Chuck answers with a low kick then eats another jab. Tony catches a low kick and drops Chuck to his keister before allowing him to rise. Chuck starting to fight scared and eats a few at the horn. 10-9 Fergie.
Round 2: Touch of gloves and low kick lands for Chuck. Tony answers and backs him up with a combo. Hard low kick for Tony and Chuck is backing up. Both guys letting their hands go but Tony is getting the better of the exchanges. Bizarre overhead rotating camera angle has Nostradumbass feeling queasy. Chuck with a hard low kick and Tony returns fire. Both guys going punch-for-punch but Tony landing harder and cleaner. Tony turning up the heat and Chuck is starting to fade. He's getting picked apart now and is in a perpetual state of backpedaling. Chuck bleeding from the nose and misses with a spinning back kick. Flying knee from Tony at the horn. 10-9 Fergie.
Round 3: Touch of gloves and Chuck looks like he's finished right out of the gate. Tony stalks him and unloads a series of leg kicks that has Chuck hopping around the cage. Chuck is trying to fight defensively and failing spectacularly. Tony drops him against the cage and backs up to let him rise. He probably should have stayed down as Tony finishes what he started and stops him with just over a minute remaining.
Result: Tony Ferguson def. Chuck O'Neil via technical knockout (strikes)
Ramsey Nijem (Team Dos Santos) vs. Tony Ferguson (Team Lesnar) set for TUF 13 Finale on June 4 in Las Vegas. Who will win it all?
Find out on Saturday night!