The Ultimate Fighter: Season 6, Episode 2
By Matt Serra
UFC welterweight champion
Joe was saying how he felt he let me down, and, truthfully, I don’t mind that he lost. My problem is the way in which he lost. If you leave it all out on the mat and come up short, you tip your hat to your opponent and have nothing to be ashamed of. Joe didn’t do that, and I have seen him do the same thing in grappling tournaments – he just doesn’t deal with adversity well, and quits on himself. I was disappointed in that, but I’m not the one that has to live with that.
I came clean to the guys at practice about how I thought Joe found his way out of the fight, mainly because I did not want them to think they had to break an arm or go limp to satisfy my expectations as a coach. I wanted them to know that there’s a difference between getting caught and finding a way out of a fight, and as long as they didn’t do the latter, I was happy with their efforts.
When Joe skipped that first practice after his fight, I had this odd premonition that he might be contemplating leaving the show, but I thought he’d think it over and come to his senses. Nonetheless, I wanted him to know that I wanted him around to help train the guys, so I told him that. Truthfully, I really can’t relate to his situation at all. I went through it on Season 4, and it was one of the best things to ever happen in my career. I’m not just saying that because of my success there, being in that house is a unique opportunity to devote six weeks to becoming a better fighter, free from distractions. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I hope Joe doesn’t decide to waste it.
Picking the fight, this is the one I would have chosen if I would have been able to select the first matchup. I don’t know what video Marc Fiore (who my team dubbed “Dr. Evil”) was watching when he said he’s seen tape of Matt Arroyo where he came away thinking he was a standup fighter with no standup game, but, the way I saw it, their styles clashed, and I thought Matt’s ground game would win out against Dorian’s Muay Thai.
I was pretty shocked at Matt Hughes working Bible study into his workout plan. I didn’t think it was very respectful to people of other faiths, it almost seemed like he was forcing people to accept Christian values. I’ve got no problem with Christianity, I’m a Catholic myself, but I think, in a room full of adults, it’s ballsy to think that someone of another faith would want to read the Bible. As for calling himself the Queen and saying he would work in a nursing home…whatever floats your boat, but I really think he’s playing to the cameras. .
When I got called to leave practice the 2nd time in two days to deal with Joey, I was LIVID. We had just started sparring, and I’ve got to leave these guys who are killing themselves to improve as fighters to deal with Joey because he wants to make a phone call. It’s extremely selfish on his part to make me leave his teammates – there are seven other guys counting on me, and I shouldn’t have to bail on them to deal with an issue that should never have been an issue in the first place. The rules on living in the house were laid out in advance, ya know?
As for the fight itself, it went how I thought it was. After standing up for a bit, Matt Arroyo was able to get the fight on the ground, and from there the fight played to his strengths. After sinking the choke in, the teams were even at 1 win a piece. Hopefully Team Serra can open up its first lead of the season come next Wednesday night.
Talk to you guys then.
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Comments (32)
Matt-
I went on Matt's site and blasted him and Dana about the handing out the bible. What crap is that? Did they do that for higher ratings? I hope you get a chance to beat the snot out of Matt H! I think you ROCK!
Matt, you are doing a nice job as a coach. You really care about your team and you push them to be the best they can be. Team hughes and there bible study was awesome. I dont know how you can say matt was forcing anything on them. I am just counting down the days till hughes shuts you up and takes his belt back. Your a good coach, with a huge ego, and mouth
first off, i want to start by saying matt serra is a ****, he is always talking smack about matt hughes being a ****, but yet he is always talking smack about hughes, who hasnt said one negative thing towards serra (that i have seen). I dont think hughes was pushing his beliefs, the producers wont allow any other forms of reading materials for the fighters except the bible. So i give kudos to hughes for finding a loop hole. we are going to wish they were reading the bible in a few episodes when the house explodes in turmoil and destruction. I cant wait to see Dana get pissed off and lay down the law to these guys again.
Dear Matt
After seeing several of your fights and watching you on the previous show, I always thought you were a nice guy. But ever since the previews for TUF came out I've totally lost respect for you. I've never been a Hughes fan but the way you talk about him makes you look like you have no class and frankly makes you look like a huge ****. Please show some class. There are very few role models left in sports try to be one of them. It's not hard to say you have bad feeling for hughes and leave it at that. Train hard and practice those lucky punches.
Serra was one of my favorites from the TUF he won. Even pulled for him as the underdog in the GSP fight. But got to think that at some point in time he's going to look back on the current TUF footage, interviews & promos for his fight w/Hughes and feel like a real tool. I'm not talking about his ability, winning/losing, etc. Talking about his professionalism or apparent loss of it.
I understand that some fighters need to villify their oponents in order to psyche themselves up. Plus I'm sure the promoters love it. But MMA ain't the WWE where guys need to generate a big verbal rivalry. Serra's beginning to come across as bitter, paranoid and, basically, unlikable. Good luck in your fight, Matt but "lighten up, Francis".
I agree completely with what you said about Matt Hughes and the bible. You shouldn't force your religion upon others. It's just wrong.
As for Joey, he proved to be a selfish person in that house this past episode. All he cared about was a phone call, rather than his team.
If he's that scared his girlfriend will cheat on him, then he shouldn't have married her to begin with. Don't you think?
If there's no trust in the relationship, don't get in the relationship to start with.
Great blog, Matt. I'll be rooting for your team on the show and I'll be cheering you on in December!
Matt Serra, you're the man for the job. You seem to be a great coach and an obvious inspiration to the guys that really wanted to be there. Good luck in the future.
I love the UFC and can't wait to make the trip to montreal to see it live. Matt hughes is a a^$^%*& and I hope you make him tap in 10 seconds!
Good luck with everything!
Wayne
Hi Matt!
Matt,
I agree with your opinion about how Hughes behaved as a coach on the previous season of TUF, especially the way he treated GSP. I've got all the love for you in the world, but I'm getting concerned that in calling Hughes out so harshly, you're starting to become all the things you rightfully dislike about him.
I'm not trying to diss you at all; just a little disappointed to see Hughes is rubbing off on you a little too much and I hope the original Matt Serra comes back.
On the other hand, maybe they encourage you guys to do all this to stir up controversy before a fight. Anyway, good luck against Hughes. I hope you beat him.
P.S., I could leave my normal job and go work in a nursing home tomorrow. That's how great a guy I am.
I think that last episode was great, and I really do agree with Matt Serra on Matt Hughes pushing the bible on hes fighters. Its just not right to do that because they feel obligated to do so. Anyway TEAM SERRA all the way . I had opportunity to train at hes school and was a great time with my friend Nabih. I train in nyc at renzo gracie academy and Its the best thing ive ever done.
Jiu Jitsu 4 Life - Steven Sidi
Renzo Gracie Blue Belt =)
Is Pride fighting ever coming back. i think the hardcore fans miss Pride. :-(
Joey is an immature kid, and apparently only a mediocre fighter. Matt Serra is no doubt a bit embarrassed that he awarded this kid a black belt and he was submitted by an ostensibly much less skilled grappler. Not a very good advertisement for the Serra Academy.
I honestly hope Joey leaves because I'm so sick of hearing about him missing his girl-after 2 ep's! If I were in NY, I'd take his girl and see how much he whines then. QUIT CRYIN' YOUR A FIGHTER!!!
Serra just tells it like it is. Crazy having to deal with Joey like that. Suck it up Joe!! Team Serra will prosper from the Chi Matty throws down.
Hi Serra, I don't think Hughes was pushing his religion, I think he was sharing what works for him. The guy were not forced in any way to read, but encouraged. If I am not mistaken the Catholic religion does not encourage reading your bible, so I can see why you think it was "ballsy." Also, I do share your frustration with Joey, to be honest with you I think he is taking advantage of your previous working relationship.
I think it's funny how Serra says he's a Catholic, yet implies that he wouldn't talk to others about it or try to get them to read the Bible. Maybe Hughes cares enough about his fighters that he doesn't want to see them spend eternity in hell. It makes sense IF you are a Christian to tell others about it...IF you care about them.
Joey is weak. Everybody has to loose once. Loosing will keep the hunger to stay focus on winning, and learn from making mistake. Joey is weak, weak, weak. He keeps saying 'licking his wound'. Until when??
I don't think Hughes was "forcing" Christianity on the fighters. There's a big difference between sharing and forcing your Faith upon others. I believe that if Serra didn't dislike Hughes so much, he would be able to see past his own bias and realize that Hughes was giving the fighters an opportunity to share his Faith. When your Faith is strong, you want to share it with others. He simply gave them an opportunity to read the Bible. They can either choose to read it or choose not to.
I don't think Hughes handing out Bibles was disrespectful or forcing Christianity on his team in any way. One fighter actually chose not to read the story. Matt had no problem with this and was actually very respectful to his decision. I am also Catholic but have never been offended when people of other religions have handed me their literature, which has actually happened to me many times. I believe their can be great lessons learned in all religions and stories. Whether you believe it as truth is up to you.
Matt Hughes compared himself to a character in the Bible..Yet he labels himself Humble? He is full of himself!! I hope Serra does humble him.
There's nothing wrong with somebody who is a devout Christian offering a Bible, and there's DEFINITELY nothing wrong with somebody trying to get others to walk the path of God. You claim you're a Christian yourself, so you should know that's what the Lord directed us to do. It never became confrontational, and for you react the way you did "I can't wait to fight that ****sucker" is an absolute disgrace so maybe you should pick up a Bible and go over it some more. By the way, I was hoping you'd beat Hughes, but after seeing that, I'm going to enjoy him grinding you out for five rounds with ease. Keep disgracing Italians bro.
Serra; If I was on your team I would be a little up-set with your lack of being the man of your word. You tell the team how your going to KICK Joey off the show. You leave the GYM all puff-up Big-man.Then you get to the house and your all Hay, Joey did you say this about the phone use.Hay, do you take Joey's word over Danna Whites. If Joey hadn't done what they said he did,You would not have gotten the phone call. If I were Danna White I would call both of you out on how you talk behind each others back. Calling Danna White a lier. Hughs said it right small-man with a dirty mouth.Oh, when did Danna give you the power to firer people. Only Danna has that power. Real big-man!!!I call people who say one thing and then they do another two-faced.I'd rather back a bible pusher who does what he says he going to do and does it.Than a little man who tells his team one thing and then stops short of his word. Thats not good for the team.
As an athiest I am always shocked how easily people justify their own religions followers.
Matt Hughes defanity forced his religion on people. He has his prayer circle, something only people of his same faith can properly join, he passed out bibles, something only christians want to read.
A real coach wouldnt worry so much about thier spiritual path and worry more about not letting his best stand up guy get submitted in the first round by "A stand up fighter".
How bout the christians not respond with their BS about how Hughes was in the right, your on a biased plane.
And for the fools who dont know, catholics are christians, they just arnt prodestant...and they are encouraged to read the bible.
BTW Serra, smack the hell outa hughes.
First of all "David the Atheist" its Protestant, not "prodestant" and for the record, I agree with most posters here, I loved Serra on TUF4 and rooted for him all the way and loved his victory over GSP. Now, he's being suck a D*CK to Hughes (a fighter I don't really care or root for) that I'm starting to freakin hate Serra. That sucks, I thought he was a cool guy. Now I'm thinking he's a Dorkwad.
P.S. I love how an atheist blasts Christianity and then warns Christians not to post in favor of Hughes' actions because of their "bias" isn't "bias" the whole reason why the "eyes shut, ears closed" atheist posted in the first place? YEEEESSSSSS...it is. Now go back to sleep David. Reality is too much for you.
Honestly, before I didn't really like Matt Serra that much, and was a Hughes fan. Upon watching TUF this season so far, Serra's won me over. I like how he deals with his guys. That bible crap Hughes pulled with his guys was the stupidest thing I've seen on the show since Rich Franklin told Serra to get down on one knee and punch someone. Matt S.- I hope you strangle the crap out of Hughes when you fight. Congratulations on your success.
Personally, I do not think it was Matt Hughes intentions to "force" the Bible and Christianity upon the fighters. I think he was trying to keep them mentally focused on training and keeping the team together. Keep in mind the fighters cannot bring in cell phones and stuff like that to keep them occupied. For all you athesists out there, the Bible is just another book, like the Art of War... there are some good stories in there, so I wouldn't look at it as some spiritually/ highy religious book that only Christians can read.
I used to like Hughes until I saw him on the Season 4 with the situation with GSP. At that time I started to like Serra as well. Now that I am seeing a different light from Serra, you are making me second doubt myself.
Stay concentrated on the fighters and your own fight... Please dont try to hype something up, becuase in the long run all you will be is hype, and not the truth.
Mr. Serra,
For all those that think Serra is a lucky puncher, i say bullsh*t! Fighting is fighting. A part of the sport is capitalizing on an opponents weakness or moment of weakness. I am an amateur fighter, i have the deepest respect for those who compete. For those of you who watch them fight, and are self proclaimed experts, i assure you that the worst fighter in the UFC could beat you senseless.
Show some respect for those who risk their lives for you enjoyment.
Mr. Serra good luck in December. Win or lose, recover quickly, and keep takin care of the guys you train.
All the respect in the world,
- Derek
Matt Hughes: I think the Bibles were a good idea, but could have been presented better.
I applaud your strategic thinking and competence. I hope you actually care about people. Your arrogance makes the "caring saint" image difficult to believe.
Matt Serra: You seem like a great guy. You may want to leave the "Hughes bashing" behind and talk to your fighters like they are intelligent men.
Both: Good luck in the show and in your fight. Enjoy it, because GSP is waiting!
James
Matt, your competitive coach was using the Bible in an illustration to show what he was willing to do for his team. If you recall, he gave everyone the option to read it. They were not forced to do so.
Ballsy is right. Very few people are unashamed to call themselves Christians. It was rude of you to disrepect him, despite your ill-feelings toward him, but your dislike for him and even his faith, is a blessing to him and others (Matt 5:10-12).
Second, your boy Joey should go home. He can't hack it in the ring and he certainly can't hack it being away from home. He'd never survive Marine Corps recruit training either. I'm sure Dana can find another replacement, someone who WANTS to be there.
All the best to you this season.
God bless you dude.
looks good
Hi Matt,
I think you're doing a great job with the guys and I'm totally hoping your side will win. As for Joe, I think it's a damn shame that the dude kinda let you and himself down but that's something he'll have to deal with - either way...with the amount of people out there struggling for a shot, it must be as equally frustrating for them as it is for you that after his loss (everyone has to lose sometime) he's constantly harping on about wanting to go home, make a phone call etc as oppose to being supportive to the remainder of his team mates. I think he should make a decision either way as oppose to spreading his negative energy throughout the remainder of the team.
Oh - living in the UK we're only on episode 2 here - so I'm unsure as to the progression on this (I'd rather see it than read it)...but best of luck to you hombre...I have every faith that both you and the remainder of your team will rise to the occasion.