TUF 10 Episode 11 & 12 Recap: "And I tapped like a @#$%^"

If Wikipedia didn't spoil it for you tonight was the final two episode of The Ultimate Fighter season ten.

The eleventh episode begins with Dana White wrapping up his "do you want to be a f***ing fighter" speech, which was totally not directed at Matt Mitrione. White bemoans the fact that none of the contestants privately stepped up to ask for Mitrione's spot so Dana decides to talk to Kimbo Slice to see if he wants to fight (and Dana says there was no Kimbo favoritism on TUF?). Kimbo tells Dana that he doesn't want to go unless he's a hundred percent referring to his knee issues from the previous episode. Well WKR called it, Kimbo Slice won't fight due to the knee. With no Kimbo return that means the show is over, right?

On to Matt Mitrione and his issues. Mitrione ends up being "cleared" to fight. James McSweeney, Mitrione's scheduled opponent, is thrilled that Matt will be fighting. Matt proceeds to confess that he played up his craziness to mess with McSweeney but assures us that his head was indeed messed up from the Scott Junk fight. Okay....

Scott Junk goes to the doctor and comes back with a diagnosis of two tears in his retina and undergoes laser surgery. Junk is told that his fighting career may be over. When Team Rampage finds out about Junk's injury Marcus Jones takes the news very badly and confronts Mitrione at the gym only to completely lose it, think the Hulk meets 'roid rage. No punches are thrown but everyone tries to calm Marcus down while Matt is befuddled over what just happened.

After the commercial break we find out that all is well with Junk who will be out of action for just two months and while the doctor doesn't recommend continuing his fighting career it is up to Junk to decide. 

SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale

At the McSweeney-Mitrione weigh-in there is a slight altercation as the two fighters push each other and talk shit. It appears the two really want to hurt each other, which should make an interesting fight.

The fight begins with a bit of circling and a few exchanges. Eventually McSweeney gets the fight to the ground and submits Mitrione in his half-guard. It appeared that Matt was looking for a way out. Who knew?

James McSweeney def. Matt Mitrion via submission (guillotine choke) - Round 1, 3:48.

In the post fight interviews Mitrione sums up the fight saying, "And I tapped like a bitch." That was probably the best quote of the entire season.

James McSweeney advances to the semi-finals. 

And it is on to the next fight is between Marcus Jones and Darrill Schoonover. Quick notw: the pace of the episode is refreshing and it actually makes the show watchable.

Jones completely dwarfs Schoonover and immediately takes him down with a nice single leg sweep. Jones immediately gets side control and works for a crucifix. Marcus then works for a kimura and Darill rolls out but Jones takes his back. Again Darrill rolls and now Marcus is in his full guard. After some posturing by Marcus he lands several unanswered shots from Darrill's guard and appears to knock Schoonover out as the referee steps in to stop the fight.

Marcus Jones def. Darrill Schoonover via KO (strikes) - Round 1, 2:32.

Marcus Jones is onto the semi-finals.

Schoonover's reward after this fight? Being recalled to active duty in the Army...

Dana White announces the semi-final fights, which will be three five minute rounds. Roy Nelson will fight James McSweeney while Marcus Jones will fight Brendan Schaub. Out of the four semi-finalists only one is from Team Rampage but hey, there was only one fighter out of eight in the quarter finals that was from Team Rampage, so things are looking up.

It wouldn't be a TUF 10 episode if Rampage and Rashad didn't get in each others faces. Once again these two aren't fighting so this is a big fat yawn.

During Marcus' training session Tiki shows Rampage several giant pink stuff animals he bought to prank Team Rashad. They also paint the locker room pink and add a disco ball.

At the TUF house there is some more teasing of Zak Jensen but that is so episode four.

When Rashad comes to the gym he sees the pinkly renovated room and has a good laugh. After some more forgettable filler it is on to the McSweeney-Nelson fight.

The McSweeney-Nelson fight begins fairly even until Nelson lands two big right hands, which daze James. Roy is able to close the distance and secure the takedown. From there Roy transitions to a crucifix and pounds out a victory.

Roy Nelson def. James McSweeney via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 4:11.

Roy Nelson is on to the finals and Dana White says that he is finally impressed.

After a brief interlude of training sessions and some more lip between Rampage and Rashad --can you blame WKR for fast forwarding?-- we are on to the Marcus Jones Brendan Schaub fight.

Brendan comes out and throws some punches and Jones immediately gets the takedown. Marcus moves to side control but decides to go to half guard and then transitions to mount. Things are looking bad for Schaub but before any damage is landed he gets back to half guard. Brendan works to his feet and throws several punches and Jones responds with a knee. Brendan lands a big over hand right and Marcus falls to the ground but is trying to defend himself even as Schaub unloads at least fifteen more punches until the referee stops the fight.

Brendan Schaub def. Marcus Jones via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 2:11.

It is an all Team Rashad finals as Brendan Schaub will face Roy Nelson.

For an updated The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale card go here.

In the aftermath Jones says he might be done fighting and gets the Truman Show hero shot as he heads in the paramedic's truck after the post-fight interview.

Oh yeah, Kimbo is fighting Houston Alexander at the finale--Duh.