Everyone has heard stories, both in business and individually, where a specific event changed one's life. GriffonRawl's team captain Jason 'Dynamite' Dent probably didn't realize he was about to have such a life changing adventure take place when he decided to journey to Chicago, Illinois in December of 2008. Already a two time UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) veteran, Jason decided to take the tough road as he made his effort to make the cast of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Season 9. Sure, he could have tried to call contacts inside the UFC organization to by-pass the qualifying portion of the casting and go straight to the interview portion, but that's not the path he chose.
On a cold December day, he made the trip to the McCormick Center in downtown Chicago, along with nearly 800 other fighters from around the country. This portion of the casting took about 16 hours to complete. First, participants were assigned numbers and when called upon were told to grapple with another participant, while UFC representatives tapped those who'd continue to the striking portion and eliminating others. Passing the grappling portion, Jason took to the striking round, where he once again was tapped and therefore was to continue to an interview session with producers. In the same day, Jason "passed" the grappling session, the striking session and had his interview, but that outcome would be determined at a later date. Exhausted and left wondering the outcome, Jason made the trek east along Interstate 90 back to Thompson, Ohio.
After a few weeks passed, Jason received a call and was told he'd be flown to UFC Headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, for medical checkups and a final interview with the head producer of TUF, along with his associate producers and UFC brass. Once again, the waiting game took center stage. Towards the end of December Jason did receive the call he was hoping for and was told he'd be on of eight American Lightweights selected for the show. But that didn't mean he was going to be a cast member. Of the eight American's selected, only four would represent the United States. There would be a random draw pitting Jason against an unnamed opponent and the winner of the fight earning a spot on TUF 9. We'll explain why TUF 9 was different than any other season in the past, but we'll get to that in just a bit.
Told by producers secrecy was paramount, Jason was unable to confirm he'd been selected. Those spending time at the gym and with Jason were somewhat able to put the pieces together. While telling everyone he might have a fight booked, it was obvious his workouts were more intense than normal. In hindsight it should have been clear by the way he was dieting, working on cardiovascular training, and all aspects of mixed martial arts fighting that he definetly had something booked and something big!
Season 9 of TUF had a different flare than past seasons. This time it was country versus country as it was The United States vs. The United Kingdom. In the past, Jason would've been selected as one of 16 lightweights to potentially earn one of the eight spots in the house, but this time he was one of eight...obvioulsy teh other eight were fighters from The UK, making his selection all the more impressive. Once fighters earned their way into the house there would be four Americans and four British fighters in the lightweight (155lbs) and welterweight (170lbs) divisions, totaling 16 men.
If Jason thought the selection process took odd turns, he was about to have even more curveballs thrown his way, through the fault of no one. Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he saw a familiar picture next to his. It was apparent his opponent would be a man he previously defeated at NAAFS Fight Nite in the Flats I, Josh Souder. For some reason, Josh could not make the trip so Jason sweated out the remaining few pounds to reach 155lbs as he prepared to face John Shackelford. Final medicals were done and doctors didn't clear John to fight, so would Jason get a free pass into the house? The next curve in the road was a sharp one. The UFC flew out a last minute replacement and when Rob Browning walked through the door at the UFC training facility, electricity was in the air. Brother of season 8 bad boy Junie Browning, Rob had a reputation that obvioulsy followed him to Las Vegas, and he wouldn't disappoint as we'll find out shortly. To give him time to get acclimated to Las Vegas the Dent vs. Browning fight would happen in three days time, with both Dent and Browning moving into the UFC fighter house. One of their stays would be short lived.
As the show aired on Spike TV across America, Team GriffonRawl's members, family and friends would gather each week at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mentor to watch. Each outing drew nearly 150-175 people. Rob took this opportunity to showcase his evil side. That first night he got incredibly drunk, urinated in the shower and alienated himself from both the British and American fighters alike. While Rob played basketball by himself, the other 16 fighters hammered out ground rules for the house and everyone was saying Jason would take care of their problem and eliminate Rob. Having to cut weight two times in a week, having the pressure of the entire house counting on him, allowing the British fighters to essentially scout him, all while trying to earn his spot in the house, Jason admitted he was extremely nervous for the elimination fight.
Those nerves didn't appear in the octagon as Jason took control of the fight early and often, eventaully dispatcihng of the younger Browning by TKO in the very first round and earning his spot of The Ultimate Fighter. MMA power website http://www.sherdog.com/ immediately listed "best of the best lightweights" as American Jason Dent and The UK's Ross Pearson. Now the "fun" part of the journey officially began. A trying time to be sequestered away from family and friends, with no media sources allowed, no cell phone, not even a book was allowed in the house, Dana White's comment at the beginning of the show would come true as he stated, "This will be the best and worst experience of your lives."
As will happen when you put 16 people, let alone fighters, under one roof, tensions flared early and often, the most notable being the butting of heads between Jason and fellow American lightweight, Cameron Dollar. The British team as a whole appeared to be a tight-knit unit, while the Americans were having trouble coming together as a team.
As the show continued, fans kept waiting for Jason to be picked for quarterfinal action in the lightweight tournament. Eventually after weeks of waiting, Jason was selected to take on the UK's Jeff Lawson. Known for his submissions, round one began and Jason took time to feel out Lawson, and not get caught in a bad spot as they traded combinations. Lawson scored a takedown, but found himself inside the guard of Jason. Jason attempted an arm lock that failed and spent the remainder of the round switching between covering from Lawson's ground and pound, and unloading elbow strikes of his own. Saying he could hear Lawson losing steam quickly, Jason rode out the round. Clearly fatigued in round two, Lawson shot in for a takedown but was stuffed. Jason quickly applied the anaconda choke, rolled over and sunk inthe submission causing Lawson to tap out early in round two. UFC President Dana White took time following the contest to jab at Dent, saying the fight was totally unimpressive. Boy, would that tune change and soon.
As the four remaining lightweights awaited the matchmaking, each fighter was brought before Dana White, USA coach Dan Henderson, and UK coach Michael Bisping and asked their opinions. Everyone except Cameron Dollar said they didn't care who the match-up was against. Cameron said he wanted to fight Jason, sparking a confused Bisping to ask, "You'd fight a teammate?" Cameron responded he and Jason had problems and that's the only guy he wanted to fight. Dana contemplated teh idea, guaranteeing a US vs. UK finale, but ultimately it would be the two men http://www.sherdog.com/ had as "best of the best." It would be Ross vs. Dent for the right to advance to the finals at The Palms Casino in June.
Ross and Jason wasted little time showing why there were considered the two best lightweights in the house. Ross came out the aggressor but each traded combinations and poundings against the cage wall in an action packed round one. With one minute remaining, Ross was again aggressive on the attack, though Dent survived and answered with punches in return. Coach Henderson was screaming for a takedown seconds remaining in the round, but Dent unloaded a final flurry of punches as time expired. Round two found Dent on the attack in the clinch, throwing good cominations and knees. Ross retaliated and again the round is back and forth. Round two ended with Ross riding in top position on the ground. At this point it's anyone's guess as to what the judge's scorecards read, but Ross may have the advantage. The final round began with another exchange of blows, when Ross landed a takedown. Dent worked his guard and Ross moved to a better position where Jason couldn't shake Ross' ground and pound. Ross was declared the winner by unanimous decision. Afterwards UFC President Dana White comments on Dent, "The kid that came in to fight Ross Pearson tonight, is not the kid that I've seen all season. He gained more respect in the loss than in his last two wins on The Ultimate Fighter."
The filming of the show ended, Jason returned home and comments days later at the GriffonRawl MMA Academy, "Wow! I feel like a stranger in my own gym. I'm just glad there were so many people who helped to make the academy run smooth while I was gone." Taking time to heal up and organize the business end of the academy, there would be little rest for the wicked as Jason, albeit not in the finals, would be on The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale card at the Palms in Las Vegas. Hmm, with Cameron Dollar also coming up short in the semi-finals, there left little doubt in fight fans minds whom his next match would be against.
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