Team Mojo opens up this week's episode training with Chuck Liddell. Just about the time the training starts Matt Hughes shows up unannounced and you can see the expression on Georges St Pierre's face change dramatically.
After a few minutes, St. Pierre leaves because he doesn't want to be too friendly with Matt and jeopardize his intensity in their upcoming rematch.
Matt trains with the fighters and he really went out there and gave it his all which says a lot for Matt's generosity and character.
The four semi-finalists are each brought in to be interviewed by Dana, Chuck, GSP, Randy, and the other trainers. They are asked who they would like to fight and why. I was pretty spot on as to who wanted to fight who.
After the decisions are made, Matt Hughes takes all of the fighters out to a sushi bar. During the meal, Matt really makes himself seem less cool to the fighters by sort of picking on GSP who takes it in stride. Matt states that he would gladly not show up if GSP was going to be there and then says "Maybe we can roll together. You can teach me a move". GSP responds with, "only if you teach me one, too." Georges is winning me over more and more while Matt is making me believe the talk on the internet forums about his arrogance each and every time I see him on television. Don't get me wrong, I am a Matt Hughes fan all the way, but he does seem to come across very wrong a lot. On the way back to the house, Matt Serra is vocal about his displeasure with Matt Hughes's antics at the restaurant and vents his frustrations in the van to the other fighters.
Chris Lytle and Din Thomas are to square off, but still they train together strangely enough. Thomas feels that they bring out the best in each other in training and since they have been training together all along they decide to continue.
Round one of their fight starts and some good striking exchanges take place right off the bat. Din shoots in, but Lytle stuffs it and gets Thomas on his back. After some tame ground and pound they are stood back up and engage in some more striking exchanges before Lytle reverses another takedown and gets in Thomas's guard again. They get back to their feet and some more good punches land before the round ends.
Note: The Nevada State Athletic Commission timekeeper makes a mistake and the round goes six minutes instead of five. Neither fighter seems to care even the slightest bit, but Dana is visually frustrated and confused as to how it happened.
Round two and Thomas lands some good shots with Lytle attempting to answer back for each one. A highlight of this round was when Thomas attempted what looked like, and I am saying LOOKED like, a flying kneebar attempt? Lytle reverses it and gets in the guard again.
Shortly after, the fight is back on its feet and they are letting their hands go and throwing some nice kicks.
Thomas connected with some good shots in this round.
In round 3, They come out firing before Thomas gets the takedown. After a short time on the canvas they are stood up again and get into a clinching war. I could hear Joe Rogan looking over at his houseguest watching the show and identifying this as "dirty boxing". They strike back and forth and then it's back to the clinch again. Lytle gets the takedown and shortly after some weak ground and pound, they are stood back up yet again. Din Thomas gets a takedown with under 20 seconds left and tries to land some shots as Lytle rolls, putting Thomas in an ankle lock.
All 3 judges score the fight for the winner by unanimous decision, Chris Lytle.
Pretty solid episode and I expect the ratings to be up slightly after the Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock fight was so successful. Expect next week's ratings to be very good as Serra and Carter square off in their long awaited rematch. I cannot wait to see that, myself.
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