The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck

The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck is the twelfth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.

The UFC and Spike TV held open tryouts on April 1, 2010, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The casting call went out for Lightweight and Light Heavyweight fighters. All fighters applying and trying out for the show needed to have at least three professional fights and be at least 21 years of age.^[2] Some of the fighters that showed up for the auditions included former TUF contestant Jason Guida and Pride veteran Charles Bennett.^[3]

It was confirmed at the UFC 113 Q&A that the winner of the Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley bout at UFC 113 would coach against Georges St-Pierre and also fight for the Welterweight Championship that St-Pierre currently holds.^[4] Koscheck eventually won the fight to coach opposite St-Pierre.

Originally this season was to have lightweights and light heavyweights, but it was confirmed that it will only have Lightweights.

Production began on June 7, 2010 and the season once again features 28 competitors, with the wildcard slot available, which debuted in the eleventh season.^[5]

Cast

Coaches

     Team GSP

• Georges St-Pierre
• Greg Jackson
• Phil Nurse^[6]
• Freddie Roach
• Firas Zahabi^[6]
• Howard Grant^[6]
• John Danaher^[6]
• Shawn Williams^[6]
• Jean-Charles Skarbowsky^[6]
• Kristof Midoux^[7]
• Cleopas Ncube^[8]

     Team Koscheck

• Josh Koscheck
• Jon Fitch
• Javier Mendez^[6]
• Bob Cook^[6]
• Dave Camarillo^[6]
• Teddy Lucio^[6]
• Daniel Cormier^[6]

Fighters

(In order in which they were picked)

• Team GSP

• Michael Johnson, Jonathan Brookins, Spencer Paige, Alex Caceres, Kyle Watson, Cody McKenzie, Dane Sayers

• Team Koscheck

• Marc Stevens, Sevak Magakian, Sako Chivitchian, Andy Main, Nam Phan, Aaron Wilkinson, Jeff Lentz

• Fighters eliminated before entry round

• JJ Ambrose, Paul Barrow, Jason Brenton, Mike Budnik, Joseph Duffy, Pablo Garza, Toby Grear, Daniel Head, Amir Khillah, Steve Magdaleno, TJ O'Brien, Michael Richman, Ariel Sexton, Ran Weathers

Episodes

Episode 1: Go For It

• Dana White welcomed 28 fighters to the UFC training facility and announced that like the eleventh season, only 14 would get to go to The Ultimate Fighter house. He also announced the return of the wildcard format.
• The 28 fighters then fought to determine who would 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.
• Marc Stevens defeated TJ O'Brien via KO (punches) at 0:13 of round 1.
• Spencer Paige defeated Steve Magdaleno via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Nam Phan defeated Mike Budnik via TKO (liver strike and punches) in round 1.
• Andy Main defeated Jason Brenton via submission (triangle choke/armbar) at 3:33 of round 1.
• Jonathan Brookins defeated Ran Weathers via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Sako Chivitchian defeated Toby Grear via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Jeff Lentz defeated Daniel Head via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:45 of round 2.
• Alex Caceres defeated Paul Barrow via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:55 of round 1.
• Michael Johnson defeated Pablo Garza via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Aaron Wilkinson defeated Mike Richman via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Kyle Watson defeated Joseph Duffy via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:33 of round 1.
• Sevak Magakian defeated JJ Ambrose via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20–18).
• Cody McKenzie defeated Amir Khillah via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 2:15 of round 1.
• Dane Sayers defeated Ariel Sexton via submission (standing rear naked choke) in round 2.

Episode 2: Well Played

• The fighters moved into the new house and immediately, Jeff Lentz' smoking and drinking came into focus, with some fighters questioning his cardio as a result.
• The coin toss was won by Josh Koscheck, who chose to pick the first fighter. Georges St-Pierre hatched a plan to manipulate Koscheck into picking Marc Stevens as the top overall pick, so that St-Pierre could make Michael Johnson his first pick. The plan seemingly worked as St-Pierre's wish came to fruition.
• St-Pierre picked Alex Caceres to face Jeff Lentz.
• Alex Caceres defeated Jeff Lentz via submission (triangle choke) at 2:27 of round 2.

Episode 3: Unleash Hell

• Alex Caceres celebrated his victory by getting drunk, but his attitude when drunk was mocked.
• Olympic silver medalist wrestler Gia Sissaouri trained with Team GSP.
• St-Pierre picked Michael Johnson to face Aaron Wilkinson.
• Mike Tyson visited The Ultimate Fighter gym, to see Team GSP.
• Michael Johnson defeated Aaron Wilkinson via submission (rear naked choke) at 0:37 of round 3.
• Tyson later claimed that Johnson's speed won the fight, as Wilkinson was the better boxer. Coach Koscheck also claimed that the fight should not have gone to third round, as he believed that Wilkinson had done enough to win the first two.

Episode 4: Love to Hate

• Mike Tyson talked with Team GSP about his attitude toward fighting and how to win.
• Sevak Magakian and Alex Caceres got into a heated argument and nearly fought at the fighter house. However, they were separated by their fellow fighters before any punches were thrown.
• St-Pierre announced the next fight: Kyle Watson vs. Andy Main
• Kyle Watson defeated Andy Main in the second round by submission with a rear-naked choke.

Episode 5: Disrespectful

• Jon Fitch arrived at the training center to train with Team Koscheck. Jean-Charles Skarbowsky also arrived, intoxicated and following a 14 hour flight from Paris, to train Muay Thai with Team GSP.
• Chuck Liddell also arrived and shared some words of wisdom with Team Koscheck
• Alex Caceres annoyed teammate Michael Johnson by putting bleach into Nam Phan's fabric conditioner - the very same used by Johnson.
• St-Pierre announced the next fight: Spencer Paige vs. Nam Phan
• Nam Phan defeated Spencer Paige via decision. Paige suffered a broken hand in the fight.

Episode 6: Win or Die

• Koscheck annoyed Michael Johnson by calling him out-of-shape and interrupting him during stretches. Team Koscheck further compounded frustration after celebrating loudly.
• Cody McKenzie continued to joke around with Koscheck, which annoyed him.
• Koscheck announced the next fight: Marc Stevens vs. Cody McKenzie
• Cody McKenzie defeated Marc Stevens via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 0:17 of round 1.
• St-Pierre announced the next fight: Jonathan Brookins vs. Sevak Magakian
• Jonathan Brookins defeated Sevak Magakian via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:04 of round 1.

Episode 7: Second Chance

• Koscheck defeated St-Pierre in a baseball home run derby to win the Coaches' Challenge.
• Sako Chivitchian defeated Dane Sayers via unanimous decision (20–18, 20–18, 20-18) after two rounds, despite two blatant rule violations (grabbing the fence).
• The wildcards were announced as Aaron Wilkinson and Marc Stevens.

Episode 8: Kos in a Commotion

• Cleopas Ncube is introduced by St Pierre.
• Koscheck got into a physical confrontation with Team GSP paramedic Brad Tate.
• Aaron Wilkinson received a phone call from his mother, who informed him his grandmother had passed away.
• Aaron Wilkinson defeated Marc Stevens via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:47 of round 2.
• Dana and the coaches called in each fighter to ask which opponent they preferred to face. Every fighter stated their interest in facing Alex Caceres.
• The Quarterfinal fights were announced:

• Nam Phan vs. Cody McKenzie
• Sako Chivitchian vs. Jonathan Brookins
• Kyle Watson vs. Aaron Wilkinson
• Michael Johnson vs. Alex Caceres

Episode 9: Personal

• Jonathan Brookins defeated Sako Chivitchian via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:05 of round 1.
• Nam Phan defeated Cody McKenzie via TKO (punches) at 2:54 of round 2.
• After Nam Phan's win, Koscheck stormed the Octagon screaming and yelling to celebrate the win. St-Pierre notes that Koscheck is blantantly and obnoxiously celebrating to get under his skin. He admits Koscheck got under his skin and says it will motivate him that much more as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Koscheck.

Episode 10: Spinning Tornado

• Kyle Watson defeated Aaron Wilkinson via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:59 in round 1.
• Michael Johnson defeated Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two rounds.
• Dana and the coaches unanimously agreed on the matchups for the semifinals:

• Jonathan Brookins vs. Kyle Watson
• Michael Johnson vs Nam Phan

Episode 11: Victory's All That Matters

• Jonathan Brookins defeated Kyle Watson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds.
• Michael Johnson defeated Nam Phan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after three rounds.
• Jonathan Brookins and Michael Johnson are announced as the season's finalists.

Finale

The finale was held on December 4, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[9]

• Lightweight bout: Jonathan Brookins vs. Michael Johnson

Brookins defeating Johnson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) to become the Season 12 Lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

Tournament bracket

Coaches Fight

UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2 was held on December 11, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

• Welterweight Championship bout: Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Josh Koscheck

St-Pierre defeated Koscheck via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship.

References