The Ultimate Fighter: US vs. UK Week #12

Written by Mike Wilkerson   |   Friday, June 19 2009

James Wilks celebrates after his victory in Week 12 of 'The Ultimate Fighter: US vs. UK'. This season will pit fighters from the US against their counterparts from the United Kingdom and our Mike Wilkerson will be here bring you all the action. (Photo: Zuffa, LLC)

Viewing Date: 6-18-2009
Show Title: Ultimate Fighter United States V United Kingdom: Week 12
Network: SpikeHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson

Just when we thought it was time for The Ultimate Fighter Finale - suddenly there's one more week of fists-a-flyin' action, providing us all but ONE of the series of fighters that will compete in the "series finale" that airs this Saturday. Ahh, the always-welcome double-dose of Mixed Martial Arts action in the Wilkerson household. This episode delivers some outstanding fight action, undeniable heart, and some of the series most vital and heartfelt quotes. Read on as we review week 12 of season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter on SPIKE for The Savage Science!

As with many of my online reviews, I'll be reviewing this episode in a "stream of consciousness" format, giving you essentially what I'm thinking as the show airs. I encourage everyone to send feedback in regard to any of the points below and let's use this opportunity sounding-off point to tell us what YOU think about this year's Ultimate Fighter season.

-- Hanging out with the guys: Something that we've seen little of this year (which is a good thing) is the fighters just "living". In this episode, we see them collecting in the common areas and the patio to cook a feast of fighter proportions featuring ribs, steaks and more to help keep the hungry, blood-thirsty teams fed yet still "hungry" for victory.

-- An Appreciation of Dan Henderson: Before this series, I'd only known Dan "Hendo" Henderson by name and (smashed) face. "What else is there to know about him," you ask? There's something to be said for a leader thrust in to leading and actually providing knowledge, insight and the ability to - in his first days of being "the coach" to say "I don't know." There's something alluring about being in the environment of experts who understand that it's ok to admit that they don't know how to attack or address a problem, but even better when that person in charge then rallies the soldiers around them to find a combined success. Great stuff, Dan Henderson.

-- Being Ok with Being Damaged: Several of the fighters are talking about keys to how the fight in this episode is going to turn out and they start talking about a fighter's ability to "be OK with being damaged" and that something that I never really put thought to - but they're right. Being able to not only have the fortitude to make the choice to "get in the ring" but the ability to gauge how much punishment is "ok" and then step it up a notch above that is something that not all fighters much less people have. It's another nugget that I hope most of the people watching this episode take away with them and why I really do enjoy watching this show.

-- Demarques encouragement: Other than being an outstanding fighter, I knew that there was a reason that I liked Demarques. While he can have his "hot head" moments like the best of us, he also clearly has a wise soul in a young body. His encouragement here to a clearly emotional Frank Lester guiding him to "embrace the situation and not to fear it" is something I think everyone can take away from a new or important experience.

THE FIGHT BEGINS

== Frank Lester Vs James Wilks

This semi-final fight will be in the same format as previous seasons, with 3 5-minute rounds, and should it be tied at the end of those 2 rounds, there's a "sudden victory" round that will decide the match. The largest difference with this and following fights is that the winner of this bout goes to Vegas as one of the last remaining finalists for Winning "The Ultimate Fighter."

Round 1

The two fighters circle - none ready to take the first hit, neither ready to deliver the first hit until Wilks unleashes a lightning low kick.

Lester immediately begins loading up looping right hands and ends up taking two - square-in-the-mouth straight lefts from Wilks.

Another low inside kick scores for Wilks - that ends up hitting Lester in the fleshy parts pair below.  After quickly walking off the petite penis pounding, Lester readies and continues. Wilks is jabbing trying to move in, and seems to be ducking into overhand lefts from Wilks.  Wilks with two more solid punches and Lester lands a solid right low kick. A bit more of feeling-out occurs as they circle in the ring. Jabs from Lester are countered by Wilks and both are looking very cautious.  That straight left keeps landing for Wilks, three times straight and  a solid right cross, a low body punch hits for Wilks. Lester continues to circle opposite the power of Wilks power to the left. Wilks finally shoots in and comes up with nothing as they go to the clinch.

With Lester against the cage, neither is working. They trade places and punches and Lester lands a devastating left, then a right, both rocking Wilks momentarily. Wilks tries to shoot to get out of the line of fire and takes a KNEE and a solid left hook to the jaw and the birds start to fly into the Wilks roost. Lester lands three more wild punches as Wilks leans in to clinch again and Wilks is physically drained. as the 1-minute left mark arrives, Wilks tries to get the takedown and gets a knee for his trouble from Lester.

Both fighters are very tired looking here as the round has 20 seconds left, and both get on the jab wagon. Lester misses a GIANT left hand as the horn sounds!

Round 2

As they square up, Lester takes aim and WHOOPS - provides a solid flat kick to Wilks BALLS - straight up the flattest kick I've seen to someone's peas - ever.

As Wilks balls descend from his own throat, they (the fighters) come back to the center of the ring and slap gloves. Lester looks to be the fresher of the two as they start to toss punches - jabs, and looping left hooks are the trades de jour as a high kick almost snaps out Lester's left eye! Wow. Lester leans in to jab and eats more of the same kind of punch that broke out his teeth three weeks ago. Two straight rights by Lester are answered with a solid front kick by Wilks who then greets Franks face with his left fist - powerfully.

Wilks starts to smell blood as his corner eggs him on to test Lester's mettle. A front kick scores again to Lester's midsection!  Lester continues to eat teeth-breaking leather from the left jab of Wilks. A series of 3 straight left hands open up Lester's nose and it's as if the fleshy tomato-paste faucet has been engaged. Wilks pokes in the left hand to get Lester off his game and then quickly reasserts it to encourage more blood flow. Lester then lets loose a wild left hand that connects!   Wilks SHOOTS and isn't able to score a takedown but provides Lester with a knee sandwich that probably tastes a LOT like blood.  With 2:20 left, the clinch on the cage and dirty boxing ensues.

They break and re-engage in the middle of the ring. Both are trading straight left hands and an occasional kick. A right high kick puts a doorstop into Lester's advance and suddenly three neck-snapping hands are following the kick to Lester's head. Lester instinctively grabs the left leg of Wilks but ends up eating three knees in quick succession and his arms are starting to buckle. As the round ends, Wilks scores a solid left and right.

Round 3

As round 3 starts, Lester clearly is in need of a winning round if not a knockout. Wilks senses Lester's desperation and engages with kicks and left hands as he's done for the last round and a half. Two CRUSHING right hands and a knee land for Wilks and Lester wraps up Wilks, desperately trying to summon energy to continue. Two solid hands land for Wilks and another two knees, hit in quick succession.  There, in a very strange looking mass on the cage wall, is the last visage of Frank Lester who clinches for a moment, but three quick knees end Lester's run on this season's Ultimate Fighter.

Winner by Technical Knockout (TKO) Due to Strikes - James Wilks.

--The Savage Science Review Moral: We're going to leech a couple of final traits of my reviews and combine them for this week's Savage Science Review Moral - specifically US Coach Dan Henderson's quote, "Too many wars in a short period of time." He's referring to Frank Lester's taking center ring three times in three weeks which - truly is a marvel, especially considering that he not only had 4 teeth broken out in his first bout, but that he won the second completely-unanticipated fight and weathered this third fight to the end of a very rough 3rd round. We'd like to take a moment to give more of the same Kudos UFC President Dana White gave to Frank Lester confirming that he really is a tough fighter, with a future in the UFC with true heart. What this shows you is that everyone - even without being punched in the head knocking out four teeth - can overcome limits previously established.

Quote of the Episode: "Lets get this bastard back for knocking out your f*****n' teeth." Coach Dan Henderson provides sufficient reason for fighter Frank Lester to want to get back in the ring and mix it up this episode. For those that don't remember or missed it, in their first fight, the UK's James Wilks provided Frank Lester with a grin that was 4 teeth light that were actually embedded into his mouthpiece.

Overall Show Rating: This was an energy-charged episode that provided everyone watching with some great sportsmanship, anticipation and finally, a reality crushing finale that leads us into another great and final regular season finale on Saturday of this week. You get the flavor of fighting, the power of valid coaching, and an introspection of personal goals and success that make it another great episode this season. You're also get a resounding yet beautifully understated Dan Henderson telling what he truly thinks of UK Coach Michael Bisping and a portion of his battle plan when they meet on July 11th which just made me grin ear to ear. We give this episode 8 of 10 Savage Skullies that provides us another in a linkage of solid, entertaining, vibrant views inside of the realm of The Ultimate Fighter.

I'm still wondering what YOU thought of this and previous episodes and hope that you'll take just a moment to fill out the comment section below to tell us what YOU think, or send me your details to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Join us on Saturday night for live play by play coverage of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Finale!  The action gets underway at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific!!

The Ultimate Fighter Finale LIVE play by play coverage @ The Savage Science

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