MMA / Editorial

'The Ultimate Fighter 16' Episode 6 Report Card

Ariel Shnerer / October 21, 2012 - 6:09pm

Team Nelson returns to the win column on Episode 6 of "The Ultimate Fighter" on FX, as Colton Smith earns a majority decision over Eddy Ellis.

Plus, a feud brews between Michael Hill and Matt Secor when Team Nelson turn into chickens after eating chicken.

Let's grade this week's show:

Roy Rips Herron-Webb

To kick off the episode, coach Roy Nelson is ragging on Nic Herron-Webb for his decision loss to Igor Araujo last week. Nelson was exceptionally critical, accusing the Alaskan of not learning from the mistakes of his teammates. Herron-Webb will need to make some adjustments, but Nelson didn't pick the best time to rip him a new one. His coaching has already come under scrutiny, but he's not much of a motivator either.

Grade: F

Lane, Smith Eat Team Carwin's Chicken

Unable to find something to eat, Team Nelson's Julian Lane and Colton Smith took it upon themselves to eat Team Carwin's marinated chicken. It's a man eat man world, especially inside "The Ultimate Fighter" house, so they can't really be blamed for that one.

Grade: B+

Team Nelson Silent While Hill Calls Out Secor

Under the assumption it was likely Michael Hill who ate the chicken when it wasn't, Matt Secor called him out on it. The Canadian immediately got defensive and threatened to beat Secor down. The altercation could have been averted if Lane and Smith admitted to their feast. Instead, they kept their mouths shut, a quality we've come to expect from their meal of choice.

Grade: D-

Carwin Selects Ellis vs. Colton

Come fight selection time, coach Carwin matched up 35-fight veteran Eddy Ellis against 4-fight vet Colton Smith. With such a notable experience gap, it wasn't a bad matchup in theory. It didn't pay off in the end, but the intentions were understandable.

Grade: B-

Carwin's Training Session

The first one to admit he's not a professional trainer, Carwin brought in UFC veteran Eliot Marshall and Grudge Training Center head coach Trevor Wittman to help formulate a game plan for Eddy Ellis. This training session re-emphasized Carwin's genuine commitment to helping his fighters succeed. The only thing holding it back from earning an even higher grade? A favorable outcome in the end.

Grade: A-

Nelson's Training Session

Colton Smith actually stood up for Nelson last week when everyone said he was in over his head as a trainer. With a fight looming this week, however, Smith was left confused and lacking confidence about the game plan laid out for him, which revolved around front kicks. Smith ended up taking the advice of Julian Lane, who came out on the losing end of a decision against Bristol Marunde two weeks ago. Lane advised him to focus on his specialty, but taking advice from a recent loser can't be the recipe for success. All in all, Team Nelson's training session was rocky as usual. On the other hand, Smith did come out on top, so it couldn't be all that bad.

Grade: C+

The Fight: Ellis vs. Smith

In a fairly competitive tilt, Ellis was the aggressor early, pushing forward and landing combinations, while securing key positions on the mat. Smith mounted a solid comeback in the second stanza, controlling Ellis on top and landing a steady stream of ground and pound. The fighters deserve credit for putting on a good show, but a third round could have been warranted.

Grade: A

The Referee

In a rare questionable call from one of the sport's most respected officials, Herb Dean stood up the fight with just a minute remaining. Smith was still administering strikes on top and Nelson also commented about the standup being premature. When you officiate so many fights a year, you're bound to have a bad night once in a while.

Grade: C-

The Judges

There's no doubt about Ellis deserving the nod in the first frame. But Smith prevailed by garnering a pair of 10-8 scores for his dominant second round, which ultimately earned him the majority decision. The criteria for determining a 10-8 round is still largely subjective, so the call was not far-fetched. Still, judges are continuing to dictate the outcome of key fights. With only two rounds in this amateur setting, the UFC should explore the possibility of adding a third round for future seasons. UFC president Dana White was once again critical of the scores, but Smith was fairly assertive in the second round, so we'll give the judges a passing grade this time around. Not by much, though.

Grade: D+