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It’s time for the heavyweights to slap leather! I noted in my last review that the heavyweights this season seem to be more skilled than I expected, and this episode will confirm what I observed so briefly in the first two episodes. You can see my read my previous review to catch up on what has happened.

Like every reality TV series, the obligatory re-cap of the last episode started the show. The much talked-about Melvin shin-cap delivered to Josh Burkman seemed to have done more than previously reviewed. Josh Burkman had broken his left arm while partialy blocking the shin kick to the face. During the previews running all week, it was terribly obvious that Josh had to leave through injury to allow the the mentioned “new bloods” to step into the picture.

In reality, Josh did leave because of his broken arm. The adrenalin during the fight allowed a tough guy like him to continue but it’s the correct decision to have him leave the competition. I look forward to seeing Josh fight in the undercards for the show’s finale.

The comic relief portion of the show was provided by Rob MacDonald’s constant whining and complaining about his shoulder injury. As a Canadian myself, I would have gladly rooted for Rob, a Mississauga native, to win the competition. But Dana White is right, you don’t let others know you have an injury/weakness. This is especially true when you’re in a competition and you live with your opponents. It was funny to take in the various reactions by teammates and opponents alike whenever Rob chimed in about his pain.

Jason Von Flue was the new alternate showing up to replace Josh Burkman. He has the potential to be this season’s Chris Leben. He has a swagger about him, and isn’t afraid to talk it up with his childlish John Cena impressions. Jason was certainly in low regard with coach Matt Hughes. Matt put Jason through the conditioning circuits that the other fighters have done in the first episode. The lack of heart was apparent as Jason transforms from a guy flipping off the treadmill, to a drama queen who made sure everybody knows that he’s not in shape and is prone to quitting. I do not foresee much more TV time for skinny Jason, but I’m forced to wonder what they do with him at Chuck Lidell’s camp.

The series producers decided to draw more division between the two teams of Hughes and Franklin. Team Franklin was pegged as the Team Clean while Team Hughes were the lazy members of Team Dirty. Well, what’s the use of making teams if there were not competition; and what good is competition if there’s no differences to create a rivalry! I always watch such segments wondering whether there was any producer influence to spice things up. Whether this will continue in future episodes remains to be seen.

When the heavyweight competition came, I was again impressed by Randy Couture’s challenge. Having heavyweights do their best impersonations of water polo players, staying head-up in the water while collectively holding a giant flag up, was simply genius. Though Randy’s competitions are short in length, they really review the weaknesses in the fighters and what a masterful conditioning coach is the ageless wonder, the supernatural Randy Couture.

The choice to determine the fight was left to Team Hughes again as Rashard lost the challenge for Team Franklin. Rashard is easily the least conditioned of the heavyweights, but Team Hughes surprised me by pitting ‘injured’ Rob against another injured heavyweight Brad Imes. Rich Franklin thinks Rob is simply talking up his injury to create an illusion. Something different from last season was that the audience were able to get a glimpse of the personal coaching sessions between the coaches and the designated fighters.

If I were a betting man, I’d put money on Brad to win the fight, simply because of the incessant complains from Rob. Matt is visibly annoyed by Rob’s attitude and he is correct in enlightening us that Rob is a hurt fighter, rather than an injured fighter. I liked that analogy and there is a difference. It is true that Brad was the last heavyweight picked, and that Rob may be more skilled. But I was visioning a slobber-knocker of a fight and cowboy Brad was my man.

When the bell rang, Brad’s towering presence was not a factor since the fighters willing went to the ground quickly. Rob started with a couple of controlling positions on the top but did no work to score hits, go for submissions or improve his position. On his second run at Brad, Rob did not show much skill as he did nothing while struggling for a side mount. Brad was able to heist up and attempt his ground and pound. An opportunity came when Rob had Brad in a guillotine but could not hold on. Rob attributed this deficiency due to his shoulder injury. However, I don’t see any excuses possible when Brad very slowly positioned himself for a triangle choke. As the choke was slapped on, there were still ways to defend or relief the pressure since Rob was still on his feet. However, Rob sank backwards to his knees, essentially giving up and quickly tapping out.

Finally, the insight this episode provided me is about perspectives. Matt was visibly dissappointed and felt that Rob took the loss as a way out of his injury situation while Rob felt that he had accomplished something by fighting through his injury.

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