The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes

The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes
Genre	Reality, Sports
Created by	Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White
Starring	Dana White, Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos
Country of origin	Australia
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Release
Original network	FX Australia ESPN UK
Original release	September 19, 2012
Chronology
Preceded by	The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson
Followed by	The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen

The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes is the second international installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. This season marked the second time the show was filmed, in its entirety, outside of Las Vegas, Nevada and consisted of 13 episodes with a live finale in Australia.^[1] The season tournament finale, along with the coaches fight, took place on 14 December 2012 at UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson.^[2]

The series was officially announced by the UFC in May 2012.^[3] The name The Smashes is a play on the 130 year-old cricket rivalry between England and Australia called "The Ashes."^[1] The UFC held open tryouts during June 2012. The casting call was for Lightweight and Welterweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights.^[4]

On 12 July 2012, Dana White announced that the coaches for the season would be Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos to represent the UK and Australia respectively.^[5]

Cast

Coaches

Team Australia[1] George Sotiropoulos, Head Coach Nick Kara Charles Blanchard Leonard Gabriel Jr. Nathan Coy

Team UK[1] Ross Pearson, Head Coach Dean Amasinger Jimmy Harbison Jason Soares Erin Beach

Fighters

Team Australia

• Welterweights
  • Benny Alloway, Xavier Lucas, Manny Rodriguez (replaced by James Vainikolo due to injury) and Robert Whittaker.
• Lightweights
  • Grant Blackler, Patrick Iodice, Richie Vaculik and Ben Wall.

Team UK

• Welterweights
  • Luke Newman, Bola Omoyele, Valentino Petrescu and Brad Scott.
• Lightweights
  • Colin Fletcher, Norman Parke, Michael Pastou (replaced by Brendan Loughnane due to injury) and Mike Wilkinson.

Episodes

Episode 1: National Pride

• All 16 fighters moved into the house, based in Australia and were introduced to Dana White and their respective coaches.
• Team Australia won the coin toss, meaning they got to pick the first fight; however, Team UK gained the right to state which weightclass would compete.
• Team UK's Michael Pastou sustained a bicep injury in sparring and was later told that the injury would most likely need surgery
• Benny Alloway defeated Valentino Petrescu via TKO (punches) at 0:42 of round 2.

Episode 2: Freak or Unique

• The fighters got a surprise visit from UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos.
• Team UK's Michael Pastou was forced out of the competition due to his bicep injury, and was replaced by Brendan Loughnane.
• During training Team UK's Colin Fletcher decided to climb the scaffolding and put a fake moustache and eyepatch on George Sotiropoulos poster.
• With Team Australia in control, George puts Ben Wall against Colin Fletcher.
• Colin Fletcher defeated Ben Wall via unanimous decision.

Episode 3: Wasabi

• Team Australia retaliate to Team UK by cutting out the head of the Ross Pearson poster and sticking it on the body of Arianny Celeste.
• Ross Pearson took Team UK outside to train to get in touch with nature in the rain.
• Colin Fletcher and Ben Wall are persuaded to snort lines of Wasabi and Peri Peri Sauce.
• With Team UK in control, Pearson puts Luke Newman against Robert Whittaker.
• Robert Whittaker defeated Luke Newman via KO at 0:19 of round 1.

Episode 4: Pick Me!

• Team Australia tackle the outdoors by undertaking a long jog on the beach and doing some uphill sprints.
• Team Australia are fed up with Team UK's lack of cleanliness.
• With Team Australia in control, George puts Richie Vaculik against Norman Parke.
• Colin Fletcher does naked laps around the tennis court.
• The pranks get out of hand when Team Australia effortlessly put training mats against Team UK's changing room door. Team UK respond by tying a bucket full of coffee, water and honey to the door knob so that it is poured on to an unsuspecting victim. Team Australia get back at them by pouring a bucket of smelly water onto Team UK's couches.
• Norman Parke defeats Richie Vaculik by unanimous decision.

Episode 5: Fight for Your Family

• Colin Fletcher defaces a poster of George Sotiropoulos in the house.
• Team Australia are not impressed with the house antics from Team UK which include food fights and more naked runs.
• With Team UK in control, Pearson puts Bola Omoyele against Manny Rodriguez.
• Luke Newman has thoughts of leaving the show and returning home as he can't train with his current medical suspension. With his friend Bola Omoyele due to fight next, he needs convincing from his teammates and coaches before finally deciding to stay on and support his team.
• Manny Rodriguez defeats Bola Omoyele via north-south choke at 4:07 of round 1.

Episode 6: True Warrior

• Team Australia's Manny Rodriguez was forced out of the competition after suffering a fractured leg in his previous bout, and was replaced by James Vainikolo.
• With Team Australia in control, George puts Patrick Iodice against Brendan Loughnane.
• Colin Fletcher dresses as the new replacement for Team Australia.
• Brendan Loughnane defeats Patrick Iodice by unanimous decision.

Episode 7: Unwise Words

• Ben Wall joins Team UK in a food fight.
• Pearson announces the last welterweight quarter final fight; Brad Scott vs. Xavier Lucas
• The UFC has decided to have James Vainikolo fight his way into the semi finals. Team Australia chooses which UK fighter will fight him.
• Team UK reads through Brad Scott's personal diary leaving many teammates upset.
• UFC Light Heavyweight, James Te Huna, visits Team Australia before their fight.
• Brad Scott defeats Xavier Lucas by unanimous decision.

Episode 8: Phone Home

• The final lightweight quarter-final is announced, Grant Blackler vs. Mike Wilkinson.
• Dean Amasinger (a UK assistant coach) walked in on an Australian training session to find a book with valuable info on all members of Team UK. Sotiropoulos begins ordering Amasinger to leave, Pearson then walks in to defend Amasinger.
• The book is then revealed as stolen by members of Team Australian and is given back to the Team UK coaches.
• It is announced that James Vainikolo will not fight a member of Team UK, but instead, would fight Xavier Lucas, which angers UK welterweight Valentino Petrescu.
• Dana White scolds Team UK for using a cell phone to call home, and send text messages of fight results.
• Vainikolo could not make weight and the fight was called off, causing Xavier Lucas to move into the semifinals.
• Mike Wilkinson defeats Grant Blackler via Submission of round 1.

Episode 9: Easy Route

Episode 10: Smash it UP

Episode 11: Friendly Fire

Episode 12: Little and Large

Welterweight Bracket

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Finale
	Robert Whittaker	KO
	Luke Newman	1
					Robert Whittaker	TKO
					Xavier Lucas**	1
	Manny Rodriguez*	SUB
	Bola Omoyele	1
									Robert Whittaker	UD
									Brad Scott	3
	Xavier Lucas	UD
	Brad Scott	2
					Brad Scott	SD
					Benny Alloway	3
	Benny Alloway	TKO
	Valentino Petrescu	2

*Manny Rodriguez was replaced by James Vainikolo due to injury.

**James Vainikolo was due to fight Xavier Lucas for a spot in the next round. Vainikolo did not make weight therefore Lucas advanced to the semi finals.

Lightweight Bracket

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Finale
	Richie Vaculik	UD
	Norman Parke	2
					Norman Parke	UD
					Brendan Loughnane	3
	Patrick Iodice	UD
	Brendan Loughnane	2
									Norman Parke	UD
									Colin Fletcher	3
	Ben Wall	UD
	Colin Fletcher	2
					Colin Fletcher	SUB
					Richie Vaculik	2
	Grant Blackler	SUB
	Mike Wilkinson*	1

*Mike Wilkinson was injured in training and was replaced by Australian Richie Vaculik.

Legend

		Team Australia
		Team UK
UD		Unanimous Decision
MD		Majority Decision
SD		Split Decision
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical)KO

Bonus awards

The following $25,000 bonus were awarded to fights that took place during the TUF Smashes season:^[6]

• Fight of the Season: Ben Alloway vs. Brad Scott
• Knockout of the Season: Robert Whittaker
• Submission of the Season: Colin Fletcher

The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Finale

UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson
Information
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	December 15, 2012
Venue	Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
City	Queensland, Australia
Attendance	5,133[7]
Total gate	$900,000[7]
Event chronology
UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale

UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson (also known as UFC on FX 6) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 15, 2012 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland, Australia.^[8][9] Due to the time zone difference it aired live on December 14, 2012 in North America.^[10]

Background

The event featured the final bouts of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes.^[11][12] This was the first UFC event held in Queensland, and the first event in Australia to be held outside of New South Wales.^[13]

Bruce Buffer was not the ring announcer due to scheduling conflict with The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale.^[12] Instead, Joe Martinez took the role.^[14]

Australia's George Sotiropoulos and Britain's Ross Pearson headlined the card in a five-round main event. The pair had been coaching opposite one another on the hit reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes.^[9][15]

Kyle Noke was expected to face Seth Baczynski at the event. However, Noke was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Mike Pierce.^[16]

Anthony Perosh was expected to face Joey Beltran at the event. However, Perosh was forced from the bout with a toe injury and replaced by Igor Pokrajac.^[17]

A bout between Ednaldo Oliveira and Krzysztof Soszynski was originally scheduled for this event.^[18] However, Oliveira was forced out of the bout with an injury and Sosynski was pulled from the event as well.^[19]

Eddie Mendez was expected to make his promotional debut at the event against Nick Penner. However, Mendez pulled out of the bout citing a shoulder injury and was replaced by fellow newcomer Cody Donovan.^[20]

Hacran Dias was expected to face Chad Mendes at the event. However just days before the event, Dias pulled out of the bout citing a shoulder injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Yaotzin Meza.^[21]

Results

Main Card (FX)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	Ross Pearson	def.	George Sotiropoulos	TKO (punches)	3	0:41
Welterweight	Robert Whittaker	def.	Brad Scott	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00	[lower-alpha 1]
Lightweight	Norman Parke	def.	Colin Fletcher	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)	3	5:00	[lower-alpha 2]
Middleweight	Hector Lombard	def.	Rousimar Palhares	KO (punches)	1	3:38
Preliminary Card (Fuel TV)
Featherweight	Chad Mendes	def.	Yaotzin Meza	KO (punches)	1	1:55
Light Heavyweight	Joey Beltran	vs.	Igor Pokrajac	No Contest	3	5:00	[lower-alpha 3]
Welterweight	Mike Pierce	def.	Seth Baczynski	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Welterweight	Ben Alloway	def.	Manuel Rodriguez	KO (front kick and punches)	1	4:57
Lightweight	Mike Wilkinson	def.	Brendan Loughnane	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Light Heavyweight	Cody Donovan	def.	Nick Penner	TKO (punches)	1	4:35

1. The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Welterweight Finals.
2. The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Lightweight Finals.
3. Originally ruled a unanimous decision victory for Beltran, the result was changed to "No Contest" after Beltran tested positive for a banned substance during a post fight screening.^[22]

Bonus awards

Fighters were awarded $40,000 bonuses.^[23]

• Fight of the Night: Nick Penner vs. Cody Donovan
• Knockout of the Night: Ben Alloway
• Submission of the Night: Not awarded as no bouts ended by submission

See also

• List of UFC events
• 2012 in UFC

References

1. "Cast Announced for TUF Smashes". UFC.com. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
2. "TUF Smashes finals, Pearson vs. Sotiropoulos targeted for UFC on FX 6 on Dec. 14 in Australia". MMAmania.com. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
3. "UFC Officially Announces 'The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK', Tryout to be held in June". sherdog.com. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
4. "With tryouts under way, UFC says 'TUF: Australia vs. U.K.' to air on FX". MMAjunkie.com. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
5. "Dana White Reveals TUF: The Smashes Coaches". MMAweekly.com. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
6. Staff (2012-12-15). "Whittaker, Fletcher, Scott and Alloway each score $25K 'TUF' season bonuses". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
7. Staff (2012-12-15). "UFC on FX 6 draws announced sell-out crowd of 5,133 for venue record $900K gate". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
8. "UFC going to the Gold Coast for TUF Smashes Finale". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
9. Nancarrow, Dan (2012-11-09). "Aussie unfazed by Smashes banter Save". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
10. Staff (2012-09-09). "Ross Pearson vs. George Sotiropoulos slated for UFC on FX 6 in Australia". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
11. Mrosko, Geno (2012-09-07). "TUF Smashes finals, Pearson vs. Sotiropoulos targeted for UFC on FX 6 on Dec. 14 in Australia". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
12. Alexander, Mookie (2012-10-29). "UFC on FX 6: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson fight card". Retrieved 2012-11-06.
13. Elder, Jessica (2012-12-15). "UFC to beam Coast to the world". Gold Coast. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
14. "UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson — Main Card Results & Commentary". Cage Potato. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
15. Harvy, Ben (2012-10-10). "UFC Gold Coast show set for December 15". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
16. Staff (2012-10-31). "Mike Pierce replaces Kyle Noke, meets Seth Baczynski at UFC on FX 6". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
17. Staff (2012-11-13). "Igor Pokrajac replaces injured Anthony Perosh, meets Joey Beltran at UFC on FX 6". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
18. Halvatzis Jr., George (2012-09-15). "Krzysztof Soszynski returns at UFC on FX 6, fights Ednaldo Oliveira on Dec. 14". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
19. Staff (2012-11-16). "Eddie Mendez vs. Nick Penner slated for UFC on FX 6 in Australia". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
20. Staff (2012-12-05). "Eddie Mendez out of UFC on FX 6 with injury, Cody Donovan steps in". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
21. Staff (2012-12-10). "Yaotzin Meza replaces Hacran Dias, meets Chad Mendes at Friday's UFC on FX 6". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
22. "Joey Beltran fails UFC on FX 6 drug test". mmamania.com. January 13, 2012.
23. Staff (2012-12-14). "UFC on FX 6 bonuses: Alloway, Donovan, Penner earn $40K awards". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.