The Ultimate Fighter Season 11

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs Team Ortiz is the eleventh installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. The show began taping in early 2010and premiered on Spike on March 31, 2010.The live finale of the show is scheduled for June 19, 2010.

The UFC and Spike TV held open tryouts on October 26, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. The casting call went out for middleweight and light heavyweight fighters. Fighters wanting to try out for the show must have been at least 21 years old and have had a professional MMA record.300 fighters showed up to the tryouts including UFC veterans Jason Lambert,Nick Thompson and Logan Clark, International Fight League and EliteXC veteran Wayne Cole,as well as season 1 TUF competitor and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth.In addition to the open tryouts, the UFC also accepted applications available through its website until November 9, 2009.

During The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale, Dana White announced that the coaches would be Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. White also announced that the fighters for this season would compete in the middleweight weight class. The season will feature 28 fighters as opposed to the usual 16 or 32. The series boasts a new "wildcard" format in which the two coaches will pick two fighters who lost their preliminary bouts to face each other for the eighth spot in the quarter-finals.

Cast

 

 

Coaches

*In the final episode of the season, Tito Ortiz and his coaching staff are replaced by Rich Franklin and his team.

Fighters

(In order in which they were picked)

  • Team Liddell
  • Team Punishment
  • Fighters eliminated before entry round
  • Seth Baczynski, Brent Cooper, Jacen Flynn, Charley Lynch, Victor O'Donnell, Norman Paraisy, Costantinos Phillipou, Greg Rebello, Jordan Smith, Ben Stark, Lyle Steffens, Warren Thompson, Cleburn Walker, Woody Weatherby
  • Removed due to injury
  • Chris Camozzi – fractured jaw, asked to leave in Episode 3.

Episodes

Episode 1: Smashed Up
  • Dana White welcomed 28 fighters to the "new and improved" UFC training facility and announces that only 14 will get to go to The Ultimate Fighter house. He also announces a format change for the season: following the first round, White and the coaches will pick two fighters who were eliminated in the first round will be picked as wild cards. These two wild card fighters will fight for another chance to go to the second round.
  • The 28 fighters then fight to determine who will go to The Ultimate Fighter house. Elimination round matches were for two rounds. If there was a draw after two rounds, a third round would be fought.
  • Jamie Yager defeated Ben Stark by knockout (head kick) at 0:26 of round 1
  • Brad Tavares defeated Jordan Smith by knockout (strikes) at 0:37 of round 1
  • Kris McCray defeated Cleburn Walker by TKO (shoulder injury) at 0:15 of round 1
  • James Hammortree defeated Norman Paraisy by TKO (could not answer bell) at the end of round 1
  • Nick Ring defeated Woody Wetherby by TKO (punches) at 2:42 of round 1
  • Kyle Noke defeated Warren Thompson by unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18)
  • Court McGee defeated Seth Baczynski by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
  • Chris Camozzi defeated Victor O'Donnell by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
  • Kyacey Uscola defeated Brent Cooper by knockout (punches) at 0:25 of round 1
  • Joseph Henle defeated Constantinos Philippou by submission (armbar) at 2:17 of round 2
  • Rich Attonito defeated Lyle Steffens by unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18)
  • Josh Bryant defeated Greg Rebello by majority decision (20–18, 19–19, 20–18)
  • Charles Blanchard defeated Jacen Flynn by TKO (referee stoppage) at the end of round 1
  • Clayton McKinney defeated Charley Lynch by TKO (punches) at 4:07 of round 1
Episode 2: Suck it Up
  • Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz pick teams. Dana flips a coin to decide who gets the first pick. Tito gets to pick the first fighter, while Chuck gets to pick the first fight.
  • Dana confronts Chuck about his team, thinking that Liddell's picks are much weaker than Tito's due to a size and height difference between the two teams. He reveals that he and Chuck often have different assessments about fighters.
  • Team Liddell chooses Kyle Noke to fight Clayton McKinney.
  • Tension heats up between Jamie Yager and Clayton McKinney as Yager, Tavares and McCray use blowhorns at 3:00 a.m. and wake the other fighters.
  • Clayton McKinney thinks his shoulder injury is a torn rotator cuff leading Tito to believe Clayton is mentally weak and makes a point of pushing him harder. After an MRI, the doctor wrongly diagnoses the injury as just a bone contusion, therefore painful, but not serious.
  • Kyle Noke defeated Clayton McKinney by submission (triangle choke) at 2:44 of round 1.
  • A visibly frustrated McKinney walks away in disappointment, but is called back by Ortiz, to immediately practice triangle submission escapes. Attempting to boost the morale of McKinney and his team-mates, Ortiz reminds McKinney that he could still win a wildcard slot.
Episode 3: A Lotta Heart
  • Dana White called out Chris Camozzi telling him that what he thought was just a minor tooth ache, was actually a broken jaw. Because of this injury, Camozzi was sent home. Seth Baczynski replaces him.
  • Tensions boiled between Jamie Yager and Nick Ring during the training session with Yager claiming that Ring was coming on strong with kicks. Yager then called him a "bitch" angering Ring.
  • Team Liddell chooses Brad Tavares to fight James Hammortree.
  • Brad Tavares defeated James Hammortree by unanimous decision after 3 rounds.
Episode 4: Clown Box
  • Nick Ring confronts Jamie Yager for cheering for Brad Tavares during his fight with James Hammortree, despite Tavares being a member of the opposing team.
  • Team Liddell chooses Rich Attonito to fight Kyacey Uscola.
  • Tensions rise between Jamie Yager and Kyacey Uscola when Kyacey accuses Jamie of stealing his clothes.
  • Rich Attonito defeated Kyacey Uscola by disqualification (Illegal Knee) at 3:36 of round 1. After a dominating first few minutes by Attonito, Uscola began to come back, but then appeared to land an illegal knee to the head of a grounded Attonito. A flattened out Attonito appeared to be unable to continue and was ruled the winner by disqualification. Immediately following the match debate ensued regarding the illegal knee, as post-fight replays and the interpretations of witnessing fighters and trainers resulted in the creation of a controversial decision. Dana White admitted that there was controversy surrounding the decision, but stated that he felt the referee had made the correct decision. After the fight, a frustrated Tito Ortiz punched a door off of its hinges on his way out of the gym.
  • Rich returns to the house and breaks the news that his hand is injured and may be broken
  • Team Liddell chooses Charles Blanchard to fight Jamie Yager.
  • Jamie Yager defeated Charles Blanchard by TKO (strikes) at 1:09 of round 1. Team Ortiz gains control of the matchups.
Episode 5: If It Breathes, It Bleeds
  • Wildcard predictions begin by the fighters and James Hammortree states his case, because of his "controversial" decision loss to Brad Tavares.
  • It was revealed that the "bruised bone" Clayton McKinney was diagnosed with was actually a ripped off labrum ligament. While describing the surgery to his housemates, McKinney tells them that the doctor had to scrape the humeral bone, put screws in it, shave the ligament and then anchor the labrum to the humeral by using the screws. Since this type of injury takes 3-6 months to heal completely, it eliminated McKinney from the wildcard race, along with Charles Blanchard who claims that he is in no condition to beat anybody right now.
  • Tito Ortiz makes an apology to Clayton McKinney for making remarks about Clayton not giving 100% during the earlier team training. Clayton accepts Ortiz's apology but as Ortiz walks away, Clayton gives him the middle finger.
  • Team Ortiz chooses Kris McCray to fight Josh Bryant.
  • Josh Bryant defeated Kris McCray by unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Team Liddell regains control of the matchups.
Episode 6: Did Your Dizzle
  • Uscola expresses concern that Ortiz's training methods are "too rough," believing they caused McCray's loss. His teammates, including McCray, however, think otherwise.
  • James Hammortree is sent to the hospital after being thrown by McCray and later reveals it may be a slipped disk.
  • Team Liddell sweeps Team Ortiz in dodgeball to win this year's Coach Challenge.
  • Team Liddell chooses Court McGee to fight Nick Ring.
  • Nick Ring defeated Court McGee by majority decision after 2 rounds. Team Ortiz regains control of the matchups.
  • Liddell didn't agree with the decision and showed anger and disdain towards Dana White and other people in attendance.
Episode 7: Coming for Blood
  • Nick Ring expresses concern about a possible re-occurrence of a three year old knee injury.
  • Seth Baczynski defeated Joseph Henle via unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • The wildcards are announced as Kyacey Uscola and Kris McCray.
  • As Rich Attonito has to withdraw from the competition, his spot is open. Dana White gives the slot to Court McGee, without having to fight for it, which upsets Henle and Hammortee who both believe they did enough in their fights to earn either a wildcard slot or Attonito's slot.
Episode 8: Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed
  • Kris McCray defeated Kyacey Uscola via submission (keylock) at 0:59 of round 2.
  • The quarter final matchups are announced as:
  • Nick Ring vs. Court McGee
  • Kyle Noke vs. Kris McCray
  • Brad Tavares vs. Seth Baczynski
  • Jamie Yager vs. Josh Bryant
  • Nick Ring discovers that he requires his third ACL reconstruction surgery and faces the choice between fighting on and risking tearing his meniscus, or withdrawing from the competition. Ring withdraws and is replaced by James Hammortree.
  • Court McGee defeated James Hammortree via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:28 of round 2.
Episode 9: Civilized Sport
  • Tito Ortiz reveals that his doctors want him to have neck surgery immediately, as Ortiz is now regularly experiencing numbness in his limbs.
  • Kris McCray defeats Kyle Noke via unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • Brad Tavares defeats Seth Baczynski via disqualification (illegal soccer kick) at the end of round 1. Seth Baczynski soccer kicked Tavares in the head as the buzzer went signalling the end of the first round. Tavares then faceplanted, leading Baczynski to apologise immediately. Tavares then asked "for what?" clearly not knowing what had just happened. After consulting with the doctors, Herb Dean ended the fight, declaring Tavares the winner via disqualification, which marked the second time this season that such an event occurred. The decision sparks a near-riot after Saul Soliz and Tito Ortiz claim that the soccer kick caught Tavares in the armpit. After arguing with Joseph Henle about it, Tito Ortiz proceeded to march towards him, leading Chuck Liddell to be stand up for his fighter. Liddell is then restrained by teammates.
  • Liddell is pulled aside by Dana White who informs him that Ortiz has pulled out of their intended fight at UFC 115. The episode ends with Liddell walking out of the room saying "I'm going to punch him"
Episode 10: Shocked and Awed
  • Josh Bryant defeated Jamie Yager via TKO (failure to answer bell) at the end of round 2. After two rounds, the judges declared the fight a draw and the fight was to go to a third round. Yager complained about not being able to see and left the octagon in an ambulance with his neck stabilized as a precaution. No substantive injuries were found in the hospital examination, however, and he was discharged in a few hours.
  • Tito Ortiz is informed that he is being replaced as a coach. Ortiz at first leaves without explaining to his team, leading Dana White to have to inform them of Ortiz' withdrawal. Ortiz then explains to his team a couple of hours later at the house.
  • The semi-final matchups are announced as:
  • Brad Tavares vs. Court McGee
  • Kris McCray vs. Josh Bryant
Episode 11: A Will to Win

For this episode, the starting credits changed to reflect Ortiz' departure and Franklin's entrance. The season was renamed "Team Liddell vs. Team Franklin." This was also a two-hour episode.

  • Forrest Griffin, Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard also come in as the assistant coaches.
  • A number of fighters within the house decided to play a prank on Brad Tavares, Jamie Yager, Kris McCray and Kyle Noke in order to get revenge on a previous incident in which Tavares, Yager and McCray set off air horns in the middle of the night. This prank follows a similar structure to the original, in that it involves air horns during the early hours of the morning. This angers Tavares, who vows to get revenge.
  • Court McGee defeated Brad Tavares via technical submission (rear naked choke) at 4:45 of round 3.
  • Dana called the fighters to the gym where he introduces them to several members of the US Marines. The fighters spent the day training with the Marines before going back to the house and having a barbecue.
  • Tavares and Yager made up a concoction of flour and beans which they began to throw out of their window at some of their housemates who were sunbathing. This eventually caused a heated confrontation between Yager and James Hammortree, followed by another confrontation between Yager and Kyacey Uscola. Yager insulted Uscola's fighting credentials and Uscola offered to fight him outside, to which Yager agreed. However, as Uscola stands outside waiting for Yager and calling him out through his window, Yager simply shuts his window and remains in his room.
  • Kris McCray defeated Josh Bryant via unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • After the fight, Rich Franklin jokes that he's the only undefeated coach in the history of The Ultimate Fighter.
  • Court McGee and Kris McCray are announced as the season's finalists. Special mention was made of Kris McCray setting the new record for fights per season, having fought five times ("literally every Tuesday" according to Dana White).

 

Finale

The finale was held on June 19, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

McGee defeated McCray via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:41 of round 2 to become the Season 11 Middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

 

Tournament bracket

  Eliminations First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
 Brad Tavares    
 Jordan Smith    
        Brad Tavares    
        James Hammortree    
 James Hammortree  
 Norman Paraisy    
        Brad Tavares    
        Seth Baczynski    
 Joseph Henle    
 Constantinos Philippou    
        Joseph Henle  
        Seth Baczynski1[›]    
 Chris Camozzi  
 Victor O'Donnell    
        Brad Tavares    
        Court McGee    
 Rich Attonito    
 Lyle Steffens    
        Rich Attonito  
        Kyacey Uscola    
 Kyacey Uscola  
 Brent Cooper    
        Court McGee3[›]  
        James Hammortree4[›]    
 Court McGee    
 Seth Baczynski    
        Court McGee  
        Nick Ring    
 Nick Ring  
 Woody Wetherby    
      Court McGee  
      Kris McCray  
 Josh Bryant    
 Greg Rebello    
        Josh Bryant    
        Kris McCray    
 Kris McCray  
 Cleburn Walker    
        Josh Bryant    
        Jamie Yager    
 Charles Blanchard    
 Jacen Flynn    
        Charles Blanchard  
        Jamie Yager    
 Jamie Yager  
 Ben Stark    
        Josh Bryant  
        Kris McCray    
 Kyle Noke    
 Warren Thompson    
        Kyle Noke  
        Clayton McKinney    
 Clayton McKinney  
 Charley Lynch    
        Kyle Noke  
        Kris McCray    
     
     
        Kris McCray2[›]  
        Kyacey Uscola2[›]    
   
     

^ 1: Seth Baczynski returned, to replace an injured Chris Camozzi.
^ 2: Kyacey Uscola and Kris McCray were announced as this season's wildcards, allowing them to return despite earlier defeat in the first round.
^ 3: Court McGee replaced an injured Rich Attonito who withdrew with a hand injury
^ 4: James Hammortree replaced Nick Ring who withdrew with a knee injury