TUF 10 Episode 1 Recap: That's a lot of blood

Of course the episode begins with Rampage and Rashad jawing at each other. Dana White walks in to break up the verbal sparring. I really think three of them should have a sitcom.

Kimbo Slice gets his own personal entrance and then its on to the evaluations. Luckily for Rashad he has Greg Jackson helping him out on this season.

Rashad and Rampage go on to make their picks. Rashad wins the toss and elects to pick first. Rampage takes Kimbo Slice with his first pick.

Team Evans                          Team Rampage
James McSweeny                   Kimbo Slice
Roy Nelson                             Wes Sims
Justin Wren                             Zak Jensen
Jon Madsen                            Demico Rogers
Mike Wessel                           Abe Wagner
Darill Schoonover                   Scott Junk
Matt Mitrione                           Wes Shivers
Mike Wessel                           Marcus Jones

Rampage gets to pick the first fight and picks Abe Wagner to fight John Madsen. Rashad couldn't be happier with the pick stating that Rampage picked Rashad's best wrestler to fight someone with zero ground game.

The pre-fight interviews are pretty vanilla and I am reminded why the TUF format is becoming stale.

While Abe said he knew the takedown was coming in his interview he couldn't defend it worth squat as John shot in immediately and secured the takedown. Madsen stays in Wagner's guard for about two minute before he lands a solid punch. John lands some more ground-n-pound and Abe is bloodied. After some more punches a significant pool of blood (really it's a small pond) forms on the mat and Madsen continues to posture up and land punches. Of course there are thirty second intervals between combos. Did I say there was a lot of blood before, because by the end of the round it looks like there was a voodoo sacrifice-ritual inside the Octagon.

The second round begins exactly the same as the first. If Abe couldn't do anything in guard during the first round, the loss of a pint of blood definitely prevented him from doing anything in the second round. Rampage offers insightful advice like, "hey, get up." The fighters are stood back up and Rampage begins to yell, "he's doing the same thing" in reference to the inevitable takedown. John gets the takedown and Rampage storms off in disgust. The judges score it for Madsen.

John Madsen def. Abe Wagner via unanimous decision (20-16, 20-17, 20-17).

We found out later that Abe's cut was to the bone which begs the question, why didn't the doctor stop the fight?

"The Ultimate Fighter 10" Debut coverage