TUF 7 Blog

no sooner did I say nothing from CB, and poof, it showed up!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Team Rampage blog: C.B. Dollaway on episode No. 9 of "TUF7"

Welcome back MMAjunkie.com readers. This blog and the comments have been a great place to evolve as a person, and I appreciate all of the feedback (harsh and positive). All I can hope for is that you follow my progression and me when this season of "TUF" ends. I do not claim to be perfect, and at 24, I have a lot of life lessons ahead of me both inside and outside the octagon.

Things have already begun to change last week before my episode aired. A guy came up to me at a sandwich shop (I know, they are dangerous places and I should stay away from them) and asked to shake my hand. I had to look at my manager to make sure they weren't messing with me. A legit fan of the show recognized me -- and did not want to fight me. He came out that night and watched the fight with me at the Baer's Den. What is funny is I know how he feels. I still get that way when I meet fighters that I like and respect. While I admit it was weird at first, to have him thinking I was a potential somebody was surreal. I hope I can keep him and the rest of you entertained with my fighting style.

Since being home from the show, a lot of things have changed for the better. I got hooked up with a 2008 Nissan Titan Quad cab. My sponsor MTX Audio is going to pimp out the audio system. My old truck had no AC, so it was a great gift that LG Sports marketing had arranged for me. They got "The Champ" Jamie Varner a Nissan Pathfinder. I told our new teammate Matthew Riddle that if he gets his license that I would make him a great deal on my truck. (I imagine the hotter it gets, the better deal I will need to cut.) I need to get him studying for the exam.

Also, as you have seen, a lot of us on "TUF" have a lot of evolving to do in both cardio and technique. I recently was able to get a sponsorship from a company called Athletes Performance Inc. (API). They are basically a condition and rehab shop for all of the top-level athletes around the country. They also do personal training for top-level executives and are able to charge about $2,300 a week for such a service. They have been putting me through hell, and while I have always been a full-time fighter training two to three times a day for six days a week, they have already helped me improve my strength and explosiveness. This training has added another level to my game. As a professional fighter, you have to be evolving your game always.

This latest episode of "TUF" was interesting for me because in the Amir Sadollah vs. Matt Brown fight, I saw things that I did not see standing ringside.

With a toss of a coin, Forrest Griffin had sent Matt and Dante Rivera to train with our team. This was a good advantage for Dan Crammer and me because we were able to work closely with potential semifinalists. Matt was really tough with his standup, and I felt I was missing that being away from the AZCS training camp. I knew Dante had sick jiu-jitsu, and for sure, I could use the experience rolling with him. As we saw, if Forrest was President of the United States, he would make his decisions with a flip of a coin, and the world would likely be a better place for it. He and his quarter are magical!

Dante vs. Jesse Taylor went pretty much like I thought. Jesse won by takedowns and controlling Dante from the top. The fight was not that exciting to watch. That is what top-level grappling is: it is a game of tactical moves looking for the mental or technical break you need to win. The better grappler does not always win, and unless you know what you are watching, the elite guys are not that fun to watch for the average fan. That is what draws me to MMA: I can always punch or kick my opponent if he outsmarts me grappling. This fight was made interesting by Jesse holding and hitting Dante. I was surprised by the lack of movement and submissions from the bottom from Dante. Jesse is very strong, and his size and strength gave him the edge.

Back at the house, Jesse is an eating machine. We all know that supermodel that eats chocolate ice cream like it is vitamin C and gains no weight. Well, that is Jesse. He was partying with the guys that had already lost, he ate whatever he wanted when he wanted, and he was always pretty solid when he fought. I think he should participate in studies. If my trainer at API saw his food intake, he would freak out.

I think everyone in the house was looking forward to the Matt vs. Amir fight,and it did not disappoint. To me these were the two guys that have shown the most talent and heart so far, and I was sure this fight was going to stay standing the whole time.

In the first round, Matt got hit with a vicious knee to the body. When I saw the fight live, I did not see that happen. I actually had the fight even or maybe gave round one to Matt before seeing the footage tonight. After seeing the televised fight, I think Amir won the first round, and I think that knee to Matt's body might have been the turning point to give Amir the edge in that round. I think someone needs to check Amir's background because he may be the best 0-0 fighter I have ever seen. I had round one very close with Amir squeaking out a 10-9 win.

Round two begins, and it looks like Matt is not as comfortable as we have previously seen. I was surprised to see him resort to takedowns. He has great standup, and I thought he had the better chance standing on his feet than he did on the ground. Amir gets the submission to advance, and Forrest and his coin go 2-0.

In the closing of the show, they show Jeremy May and Jesse getting into it. I was upstairs and asleep when that went down, so I am looking forward to seeing what happened. As I heard it, Jeremy was running his mouth to Jesse. Supposedly he made a few derogatory/racist remarks about people close to Jesse, and he got his face kicked in again.

Also last week the ASU wrestling program was reinstated. I wanted to thank you guys for all the support and letters you wrote to ASU. This program has continually produced some of the top wrestlers in the country, and I am glad it will continue. Thanks again for your support.

For those of you that train and compete, I want to tell you about a product I am trying. Most of you know about staph infections and now MRSA is making its way into our wrestling rooms and gyms. When you cut weight, you drain your bodies electrolytes. This causes you to be susceptible to more diseases such as staph and MRSA.

Using IVs to re-hydrate only opens you up to more chances of getting a nasty infection. I have been using Enlyten Sport Strips to help rapidly rebuild my electrolytes and rehydrate. They are not a sponsor, so I tell you this based on experience, but these things seem to be working great. No needles -- and rapid results without having to ingest gallons of water to rehydrate. I suggest checking the product out at www.enlytenstrips.com. I think I will include some with the purchase of my old truck so the AC issue is not a major obstacle.

I want to thank you for joining me every week, and again, I do appreciate the feedback. For those of you that have left me messages on my website or myspace, I want to thank you. I am trying my best to respond and balance my training time. If you don't hear from me immediately, know that I appreciate your comments (good, bad or indifferent), and I will do my best to get back to each and every one of you as soon as possible. Here is a quote that I try to live by as much as possible.


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt</div>

 

So if this weeks episode came the annual trash the TUF house event. I was wondering, do producers tell them to trash the place or do the fighters get charged for that shit? there was a lot of destruction.

 

I think it's a mix of asking the camera guy "do we have to pay for damages?", having seen the previous seasons and drinking a lot and not caring either way.. especially that last part

did anyone else have a commercial interrup the first min + of the CB vs Cale fight? for some odd reason mine did. THey're just about to go and commercial, next thing you know there's less than 4 mins left and CB is pounding away on Cale.

I think that Dan guy with a little more seasoning could be a good addition to the UFC even after his loss.

what does everyone think about the semi-final match ups? I thought for sure they'd put the two wrestlers together. I think Amir is in trouble and so is Tim Creuder because no-neck cro-magnon man Jessie is a big 185 and will be hard to submit.

could be an all wreslter finals!

 

I was hoping for an Amir v. CB finals but I think Amir's met his match and will probably lose his fight againist CB. It'll probably end up being a Jesse v. CB finals. Also Dan is a fun to watch, guy just goes out there an slugs it out.

 

CB's TUF episode 10 Blog

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Team Rampage blog: C.B. Dollaway on episode No. 10 of "TUF7"
by C.B. Dollaway on Jun 05, 2008 at 8:25 pm ET
Welcome back to my blog for this season's 10th episode. This episode is filled with two fights and the destruction of the house. I want to share with you some of the timelines and help you understand why we would do something as crazy as destroying the house.

First, the events in this episode were shown out of sequence. We actually had the quarterfinals, went carting and then partied at the house. Matthew Riddle then broke eggs in Jeremy May's bed, and that is when all hell broke loose.

Let me back up a bit because Jeremy deserves all the focus on his douche-baggery that one pen can offer. He showed a total lack of respect to Matt Brown after what can only be called a great fight. Jeremy is not qualified to hold Amir Sadollah's or Matt's jockstrap -- let alone feel like he might have been able to compete at such a tempo.

Jeremy Jitsu, the art of being a stupid ass on a fulltime basis. If he was granted a rematch -- no wait, if he was granted 100 rematches with Matt Brown -- he would lose every time. In life and in the octagon, Jeremy May is The Ultimate Loser. He has the ability to unintentionally and intentionally say the wrong thing at the wrong times.

Anyway, Dan Cramer and Tim Credeur fought right before me in the quarterfinals. I got to see the fight on TV as I was warming up for my fight. I was not the least bit surprised by Dan and his tenacious approach in this fight. He is a go-getter, and I expected him to come out firing. I was surprised he took Tim down without a lot of effort. Dan was doing a great job controlling the fight and imposing his will.

Tim is just a solid veteran and maybe had the best ground game in the house, so taking him down was also taking great risk. Tim's experience allowed him to pull out the victory. Dan was on his way to making 40-year-old women everywhere cry until Tim found his opening.

What you see post-fight is why Tim is one of my favorite guys on the show. He is all-class and one of the best guys you will ever meet.

As you saw leading into my fight with Cale Yarbrough, I wanted to fight him. I had no beef with any other fighter in the house. In fact, I was actually the last guy on our team defending Jeremy. I do not know why Cale picked me to come at, but he did -- and I wanted this fight in a big way.

I was not looking past Cale; he was here because he earned his way onto the show just like the rest of us. He was my equal, and truth be told, I was glad he gave me a little edge to get up for our fight. In the days leading up to the fight, he continued fueling my fire, and eventually, I fired back a few insults of my own.

Cale was close with Forrest Griffin. I assume he and Forrest discussed me – and that's probably why Forrest did not care for me and talked so badly about me during the episode. I am a fan of Forrest and won't be turning in my Forrest Griffin Fan Club membership anytime soon. I think we all make quick judgments about people, and I can't recall giving him anything but the respect he deserves as one of the best fighters in the world. I think that, over time, he will learn to know the real me.

In the fight game you have to have swagger; in a tournament you have to keep that swagger going to keep your head right. So, if I came off cocky or arrogant, it was more about me trying to get up and find ways to stay focused and hungry.

My fight with Cale went like I thought it should. My hands and kicks were a little better, and I felt good standing with him. When I went for the takedown, I felt him break a little. I knew that's not where he wanted the fight, and I went for the finish. My mistake in this fight was not finishing strong. When he turtled up, I stopped throwing power punches and was just peppering him with taps. If he was hurt, he could have recovered. Looking back I made a mistake not finishing him with power shoots. I felt he was ready, and lucky for me, he was and did not fight back, and I got the win.

Post-fight and for the rest of the show, Cale and I had no beef. We squashed it in the octagon, and from that point forward, we were friendly. Cale throws some hard punches, and I have respect for him as a fighter and as a person.

When we got back from the indoor cart races, we were pretty pumped up. That was a lot of fun, and any time you put world-class competitors together and there is a first-place anything, things tend to get crazy.

When we got home, everyone was partying and drinking. May decided that he had enough liquid courage to begin challenging Jesse Taylor. To me this shows the lack of character that makes up Jeremy May. He had no real beef with Jesse; he just wanted to see if he could induce him to punch or hit him so that Jesse would be kicked off the show. Jeremy's idea of getting under someone's skin was making remarks that were anti-Semitic in nature. Jesse showed a ton of restraint, especially considering he was not sober when this all went down.

After this fiasco was broken up, Jeremy went back to drinking and staying away from Jesse. At some point after that fight, Riddle decided they would break eggs all over Jeremy's bed.

Jeremy flipped out when he found out someone did this. I was upstairs sleeping when I heard Jeremy going off on everyone. Anyone that was sleeping was now awake (that is why you see some of us in our underwear). Jeremy is saying he is going to come to our houses and "shoot us," beat each and every one of our asses, and destroy all of our stuff. Most of us have no idea why he was flipping out, but we were all about ready to beat him down.

I have this basketball in my hands and I am thinking about kicking it into his face like I did with the volleyball. Instead, I decide I will just take my aggression out on the hoop and go in for the slam. Unfortunately this started the fracas. In what seemed like five -- maybe 10 – minutes, more than $40,000 in damage to the house was done. I think we all took our Jeremy frustrations out on house.

May thought someone had urinated on his bed, and Riddle and Luke Zachrich decided they would prove that theory to be incorrect. They took May's pillow and said if our pee matches the color then you have a right to be mad. Riddle and Luke then urinated on the pillow, and of course, the color of egg and urine are not the same.

This was a crazy night with all of us letting out a bundle of stress.

After all the threats and getting his pillow ruined, Jeremy was finally told by Riddle that he did it. May was like, "No big deal man; you just should have told me." All of the threats lead to a “no big deal.”

The next day we had the semifinal picks, and our coach, Rampage Jackson, was MIA. We all went in and gave our thoughts on whom we wanted in the semifinals. I wanted Tim. I had not seen the Cramer fight, but I felt like I matched up best with Tim. He has a sick ground game, which would have forced me to stand and do what I could do to keep the fight standing. I also felt that Amir was one of the most dangerous guys there for a wrestler like me. He has some sick knees and a huge heart, and I wanted to avoid him if possible.

When the fight selections were made, it was obvious the semis were going to be the opposite of the quarterfinals. I got the guy I did not want, and so did Tim.

We are a lot closer to the finals, and the pressure to win and advance was mounting. The final four fighters are all very talented and bring a ton of skill and heart to the semifinals. And no matter who advances, the fans will win on June 21 because right now, the best four fighters are heading into the final stretch.</div>

 

CB's Tuf 11 Blog

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Welcome back to my blog for the latest episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 7.”

The show is winding down, and the best fighters are in the semifinals. I wanted to thank all of you for the time you have taken to read my blog. I try to bring a little behind-the-scenes stuff to you and share with you what it was like living a life on a reality show that is aired on national TV.

This episode started with the coaches’ challenge, which was a game of H.O.R.S.E. (UFC-style), and Rampage Jackson got smoked. That was not editing; he really sucked that bad at basketball.

Rampage is lucky he has a UFC contract and that making baskets and fighting do not have anything to do with one another. Forrest Griffin, on the other hand, was on the money. He made easy work of Rampage, and he has some serious basketball skills.

After the game we hung out in the suite and ate sushi, and the guys who were out of the tournament were drinking and enjoying themselves. Team Forrest loved the extra $2,000 they each just won due to their coach. Everyone was pretty excited, and these little breaks from the house really helped us all get our minds right.

Then inspired by Forrest "Chuck Taylor" Griffin, Dante Rivera challenged Dan Cramer to a game of hoops. Dante said he would spot Cramer five points and bet $100 (we are poor, so $100 to us was like $10,000 to Dana White) -- a bet that Cramer gladly accepted. Surprisingly Dante had some serious game and made a real run at Cramer, but the five points he spotted Cramer cost him the game and the $100. Still, Dante has some good skills on the court.

JT Money. That was Jesse Taylor's alternate personality. We all called him "Little John" (as in "Little John McCarthy"), but he was all about the JT Money. When they show Jesse getting his hair cut and ranting about JT Money, that perfectly captured life with Jesse. He was a constant source of entertainment for all of his housemates. His poetry will hopefully be on a bonus disc when the “TUF 7” DVD is released.

Jesse is a great wrestler and, as it was shown in his fight with Tim, he has some pretty effective ground and pound. I think Jesse is one of those anomalies in the sport. He can party like a rock star and still find a way to cut the weight and show up fight ready. For me I have to cut all that crazy stuff out of my life months before I fight. I don't know how he does it, but as you saw on this episode, he does -- and it does not affect him when he fights.

When he was in the hot tub all drunk, he asked for "one more drink." I figured I would add fuel to the fire, and I headed in and grabbed a bottle of gin and handed it to him. He didn’t look at it or anything; he just grabbed it and started chugging it. As the bottle emptied into his body, he got a strange look on his face and stopped drinking and said "YUCKIE" and then started throwing up in the hot tub. He then jumped into the ice-cold pool to rinse the puke off him. Yes, they had to drain the hot tub after this incident.

This party happened right after the quarterfinals, and almost everyone was ready to blow off steam. We all had a week until we had to fight again, so the party got pretty out of hand.

Tim Credeur and Dante Rivera seemed to take care of Jesse when he went on his journeys. They were always right there with him trying to get him to drink a little less and party a little less. They were his handlers. As you saw on the show, Tim is just one of those guys that seems to really care about everyone he comes into contact with. He and Jesse really formed a bond that will last beyond the show.

When Tim and Jesse were getting ready for their fight, they chose to train together. They felt that they had trained together this long and a few days apart wouldn't make that much of a difference. I was training for my fight with Amir Sadollah as it was the same day as Tim and Jesse's fight, and I was glad none of them came over to our side. If I advance, I am fighting one of them, and I wanted as much focused attention as I could get.

We all four weighed in on the same day. I know I am seen in my underwear a lot; I want to assure you I am not trying to get an Under Armour underwear contract or anything like that. I am sure my fellow cast mates will tell you I was not walking around fulltime in my skivvies. I never -- and I mean NEVER -- sparred or play-fought anyone in my underwear.

When they showed Jesse and Tim checking their weight they were about 10 pounds over. Most of us were walking around at 195, and when we would finish practice. I would be about 190. I do not think anyone really had any troubles making weight.

A lot of people ask me if Jesse was like that or whether he was the product of outrageous editing. Jesse was what we saw. Initially I thought it was an act and he was BSing us all. Over time it was apparent that that was and is Jesse Taylor. I think everyone really enjoyed Jesse and his antics.

The fight was pretty lopsided between Tim and Jesse. Jesse was too strong for Tim, and Tim waited too long to figure out his butterfly guard was effective against Jesse. When Tim had Jesse in his guard, he was eating punches the whole time. Tim had some great submission attempts, but overall, he was just overpowered and took too long to impose his game plan on Jesse.

I am heading into a battle with Amir. Just in the few clips they showed at the end of the episode, I saw things I did not recall in the fight. Our bout is an all-out war, and it is a fight you do not want to miss.</div>
I cannot WAIT to see this fight. I've become a fan of CB's through his blog and I've found Amir to be a funny guy and a solid fighter. Not sure who to root for but I'm fairly certain both will wind up in the UFC.

 

I don't think they are encouraging the fighters to act like that, I think the fighters act how they want to in the hosue. The big difference is, that they are going to put behaviour like that on the TV, so guys act like that to be put on TV. They aren't told to act like that, but they know what that behaviour gets them as far as in house exposure. Regardless, these guys know they can't be going out into public and acting like that. Kicking out Limo windows, harrassing the women in the club, and then using the fact that they are in the UFC to hide behind why they are doing it, is not going to fly. The UFC has a hard enough time trying to prove they aren't barbarians without that happening. I think they did the absolute right thing in sendng him away, and proving they don't except behaviour like that.

Plus Amir/CB part two should be pretty entertaining, I'm cheering for Amir, but don't mind either that wins.

 

Even if theyre encouraging that sort of behaviour on the show I think you should know as a human being that when youre out in public you dont kick out the windows of your limo or harrass random strangers. That being said, I feel bad for JT, that guy has a son and this was just big shot and he blew it. I think he'll get a second chance though, hes a tough fighter that just made a really bad decision and needs to learn from it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chocolove @ Jun 5 2008, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I was hoping for an Amir v. CB finals but I think Amir's met his match and will probably lose his fight againist CB. It'll probably end up being a Jesse v. CB finals. Also Dan is a fun to watch, guy just goes out there an slugs it out.</div>

looks like you're getting your wish Chocolove

 

JT's thoughts, response to the situation

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Jesse Taylor: "I just spiraled out of control"
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 19, 2008 at 12:01 pm ET
Jesse Taylor, "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest" finalist who was kicked out of the competition due to a drunken, post-show Las Vegas rampage, says he has since cut alcohol out of his life.

Taylor discussed the situation in a video interview for SpikeTV.com, and in it, he says that when the show's producers flew him back to Las Vegas, he was told it was for a follow-up interview.

Instead, UFC president Dana White broke the news that Taylor had been kicked out of the UFC and that he would be replaced in a June 21 finale fight with Amir Sadollah.

"After I was called into Vegas to talk with Dana -- first off, when I flew in there, I had no idea," Taylor said. "They told me it was just a follow-up interview. So I showed up there, and it was quite a big shock -- probably one of the most devastating things to happen to me."

After the show had concluded taping, Taylor and a few of his castmates stuck around Las Vegas for an extra night on the town. However, White later received a surveillance video of Taylor kicking out a window of a limousine and, as he said, "terrorizing female guests" at Palace Station Casino, which is operated by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta.

Just prior to the incident, Taylor had earned a ticket to the finale by defeating Nick Rossborough, Mike Dolce, Dante Rivera and Tim Credeur in a six-week span.

"The impression I think that a lot of people might think is that I was so excited that I went crazy," Taylor said. "That's not the case. Most of it just has to do with I just -- when I start drinking sometimes -- I drink a little too much. That's been a downfall for me before."

A sense of celebration soon overcame him.

"I started drinking, started thinking about how good things are and just kept drinking and drinking," he said. "I just spiraled out of control."

Taylor, while admitting that he's since quit drinking, is still hopeful for a second chance in the UFC. During this past Wednesday's season-ending episode, White told Taylor to return home, clean up his life, and then to give him a call. Some viewers have interpreted the comments as White essentially offering Taylor a potential shot of fighting at a future UFC event.

"I was just pretty much out of control," Taylor said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. I just want another chance. We're all human. What I did was crazy and out of control, and the only excuse I have is that I made a horrible mistake. And honestly, drinking is cut out of my life due to this."

After defeating Credeur, C.B. Dollaway took over Taylor's spot in Saturday's finale. However, come Saturday, Taylor won't need any reminders that it could have been him fighting for the "TUF" championship and a lucrative UFC contract.

"I know what I did," Taylor said. "I know how bad I [expletive] up. It's a horrible feeling. I hope no one has to go through what I went through."</div>

I liked Jessie, even if he was a meathead at times. I'm glad he's giving up drinking, he was one of those guys who didn't know when to quit. After you've experimented with drinking for a couple of years, you learn what is a good level of being drunk but somewhat in control. Sure you have a few rough nights of over drinking but by the time you're 25, you gotta know when you're 'drunk enough'. Seems really immature to NOT know at that age IMO.
I've grown out of drinking and only have the occasional beer. I think my Bachelor night was the last time I was hammered and that was 4 years ago.
don't miss it one bit to be honest, I have too many other interests in life to waste my $$ still getting drunk.

here's his video interview Jessie's thoughts

I really hope this guy gets another shot.

 

not sure if we're getting a blog from CB this week so here's his interview with mma junkie

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ten TUF Questions: C.B. Dollaway on episode No. 12 of "TUF"
by Dann Stupp on Jun 19, 2008 at 6:07 pm ET
Each week we interview the latest cast member eliminated from "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampages vs. Team Forrest," but thanks to a bizarre episode of the reality series, this week we talked to an eliminated fighter -- who still managed to become a finalist.

On this past Wednesday's season-ending episode of "TUF," C.B. Dollaway suffered a tough-luck semifinal loss to Amir Sadollah -- only to get a second chance at the finals when Jesse Taylor's drunken rampage earned him his walking papers.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) caught up with Dollaway two days before his live-finale rematch with Sadollah.

The two middleweights meet in Saturday's nationally televised event for the "TUF" title, a lucrative UFC contract, and an assortment of prizes.

Dollaway explains why Sadollah is such a tough opponent, why he never thought Taylor would be kicked off the show, his fight with Tim Credeur that gave him a second life, and what he expects for this Saturday's live finale.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: To start with, how did you end up on the show? Were you recruited, or did you got through the normal application process?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: My management team was calling and asking for them to look at me. I had a phone call with the producers that went well, and I was asked to apply. I went to Vegas for the interview process and did my best to impress them one last time.

We made a funny video about me to stand out to the producers. You can see it on my website (www.cbdollaway.com). Here’s the thing: Trevor Lally forgot to turn the camera on for the paintball scene, so the first take was missed. They must have fired 200 paintballs at me to get that shot.

Anyway, [the producers] never really tell you that you made it. They just kind of get your information, and then you’re asked to report to Vegas.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: Heading into your fight with Amir Sadollah, were you comfortable with the match-up? You mentioned that he could be a bad opponent for you because of his style.

C.B. DOLLAWAY: Yeah, I had a lot of confidence going into this fight, but Amir showed a lot of heart and an iron will in every fight. He had beat guys that I considered to be tough to make it to the semifinals, so I had a ton of respect for him.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: What makes Amir, a guy with a 0-0 MMA record, so tough in a fight?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: It’s that durability and iron will.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: When you got home from the show, what were you feeling? Happy because you made it so far and would probably get to fight on the finale's undercard, or upset that you made it so close to the end?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: I discuss this in my blog (which runs tomorrow), so I won’t go too deep into it. I was just tired and worn out and took a much-needed break. What I missed most was my trainers, my training partners and my girlfriend, so I was just happy to see them.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: Were you one of the guys who was with Jesse Taylor during the night of his rampage? Were you concerned that he could be kicked off the show because of it?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: I was in the limo with him. You can see me in the lobby telling him to calm down and chill. He was loud, and everyone was looking at him, and I knew it was a matter of time before security was going to come.

To me this incident happened after the show was wrapped. I thought that if he got arrested, it would not be good for him, but in no way did I think he would get kicked off the show.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: Now that you've had time to reflect on it, what did you think of Quinton Jackson as a coach? How much did he help you during your time on the show?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: Rampage is the worst basketball player on earth, but he is also one of the funniest and most endearing individuals you will ever meet.

However, as far as me judging him as a coach, can the best fighter at 205 (pounds) teach you things? Yes, inside and outside the ring. His experience and [assistant coach Juanito Ibarra’s] experience and knowledge were priceless gifts that all eight of us got to share.

It’s incredibly difficult to prepare eight guys for a fight that may or may not happen with opponents being one of eight other guys. I think he did the best he could with what he had to work with. My advice for future coaches is to ditch the strategy and borrow Forrest Griffin’s magical coin.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: When you were called back to Las Vegas, what were all the scenarios that went through your head? Were there any thoughts at all that you might be fighting?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: I thought we were going to a meeting to discuss the finals or talk about information control and how bad we would be punished if we leaked information. Never in a million years did I expect to hear that JT was out of the finals.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: You and Tim both seemed to a gas a bit by the second round. Was the fight just that tough, or was part of it the surprise of having to fight right away?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: We had about two weeks to get ready. I think we just both were throwing everything we had at each other. We wanted that second chance, and that took a lot out of us.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: What your thoughts on the fight with Tim? Did you expect it to go that way?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: Tim surprised me with his standup. He is a warrior, and I didn’t expect to walk through him, especially with a second chance at redemption on the line.

MMAJUNKIE.COM: What are your predictions for the finale? What have you been working on to prepare for Amir?

C.B. DOLLAWAY: I want to finish him quickly. That’s my plan. But I’ve just completed the toughest training camp of my life, so I’m ready for a three-round war.</div>

 

Here's C.B.'s post TUF final thoughts

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If you have ever experienced shock, you likely understand how I was feeling post fight and continue to feel.

While I know I lost and have come to grips with how I lost, I am still struggling with my post-fight reaction. I have watched great fighters like Phil Baroni punch the referee for a bad stoppage, and I sat on my couch and asked myself what was he thinking. I now understand exactly what he was thinking -- or should I say, not thinking. I can also now understand my teammate Gerald Harris's (now at Arizona Combat Sports) post-fight meltdown.

You are immediately faced with all the people that supported you and your fans, and in your heart, you know you just let them all down. The crowd has gone blurry, and you can't remember the sequence of events that just transpired, but you can clearly see all the sacrifices you made and how they were all for nothing.

The hard work, time away from family and friends, and the six-figure contract are all gone. Dana White, the second chance, my trainers, teammates all either let down or squandered. All of these thoughts from the second Herb Dean stepped in until probably when Herb raised Amir's hand.

I would be lying if I said it had totally sunk in yet. I lost twice to the same guy, the same way. I guess it is pretty clear I need to work on some things. Amir won that fight fair and square. Once again he survived and took damage while looking for his opportunity to win. He found it earlier this time. My coaches and trainers worked on the defense for that move ever since we found out we were fighting Amir again. The defense is not to slam him and sink the arm bar in deeper; it is to stack him and pound him -- make him pay the price if he wants to hold onto my arm. As I went to tap (I was feeling the pain), I actually felt like I was able to get out and tried to pull the tap. I had already made the motion, and the fight was over before I knew what happened. I was and am in total shock.

I take nothing away from Amir and his team. They did everything they needed to do to beat me that night. He will do well in the UFC and makes for a great Ultimate Fighter. Knowing your faults and improving on them is all you can really do in life. You can't take the embarrassing or hard moments back. You can learn and grow from them and hope they do not continue to follow you for your career. I have heard that I am "overrated" or "overhyped," and all I can say is I am honored anyone would rate or hype me. I am just a guy that is pursuing his dreams. I am not the greatest fighter in the world and was not even the best fighter on "TUF 7."

I want to be and I am going to work hard to become one of the greatest fighters in the world. That doesn't have to happen at 24 years of age, and losing the show only means I will have to fight the best and beat the best to build a name for myself. Winning the show gets you a short cut to the "big show" and provides a whole new level of opportunities for the fighter that wins it. All of the rest of us will have to work and win our way to fame and fortune. For me I am used to working hard to get where I wanted to go. I had to go to junior college to get a scholarship to a Division I university. Hard work is what got me on "TUF," and I look forward to doing whatever it takes to get back the fans I lost and to my goal of being one of the best fighters in the UFC.

I wanted to thank Dana and the UFC for allowing me to be a part of the show. They treated us great and gave us an opportunity of a lifetime, and for that, I will forever be grateful. They asked us to come and perform at our best and gave us the tools we needed to become the next Ultimate Fighter. You really can't ask for anything more then that.

I am in a sport where losing is a part of it. My managers always say that no one will be undefeated and that it's what you do when you lose and how you bounce back that will define your legacy. I appreciate those of you that are supporting me, and I understand those of you that were turned off by my brief display of emotion. I ask that you judge me over time and judge me by all of my action on and off TV. I am human, and I will stumble on this path to greatness. Do not let 20 seconds of TV define who you think I am as a person and as a fighter. For those of you doubting or thinking I got screwed, don't. Let's get behind Amir. He beat the so-called "favorite" two times and he deserves all the credit and respect in the world. He fought tough fighters on his road to the finals, and every fight was a war that ended with Amir's hand raised. It doesn't have to be by brutal force to be a victory, and I take my hat off to Amir and his coaches.

My road to the finals was a unique road. I was offered a second opportunity at a semifinal round, and after winning it, I was back in. When I came back from the first time (after my loss in the semis), my team and coaches rallied behind me. I was tired from all of the fights and pressure of the show and immediately went into a mode of getting fat and lazy. When Dana called and the drama with Jesse Taylor unfolded, I had to get back into fight shape. After going into the war with Tim Credeur, I immediately began to prepare for a war with Amir. During the training camp, I was training 8-10 hours a day with a ton of emphasis on improving my cardio, explosiveness and power.

It was weird not being able to tell people what happened or what I was doing. My fellow students were great as I am sure they knew things were up with Spike TV filming in the gym and things like that. The show wrapped when I was in Las Vegas getting all of my pre-fight stuff taken care of. Along with my coaches, I had Jay Glazer and Jason Genet as my support group. They were all great and willing to help me with anything I needed. We had a lot of interviews and press conferences to do that week -- along with cutting 14 pounds of weight. For the first time, I was getting mobbed with autograph requests, and for the first time, I had an appreciation for what it is like to be a celebrity (in my case, a pseudo celebrity). We were all staying at The Palms Las Vegas, red corner in one tower and blue corners in the opposite tower.

We went to Cobra Kai to train and cut weight, and they were very accommodating to my coaches and me. When I had down time I found some peace in playing craps. It was a real fun way to keep my mind off the fight.

After weigh-ins, my management team took my family and me out to an amazing dinner (nicest dinner I have ever been to), and there at the restaurant amongst my friends and family, it began to sink in. In less then 24 hours, I would be fighting for redemption. I would be fighting to erase my only loss and fighting for one of the biggest prizes in all of MMA. I quickly lost my appetite and retreated to my room. I needed silence and some alone time. I needed to get ready for the biggest test of my young career.

On fight day I woke up late and had a nice breakfast and continued to get ready for this milestone fight. I got to the arena around 3:45 p.m. and was sharing a dressing room with Matthew Riddle. While in the dressing rooms, we had TVs so we could watch the action and gauge how close our fight was. My corner guys for the fight were jiu-jitsu phenom Jacob McClintock and Todd and Trevor Lally. To say we were ready was an understatement. I made the most of this second chance, and I wanted to come away with the victory.

As I walked out to the cage, I could hear my friends and family cheering for me, and that was an amazing feeling. As the cage door closed and the fight began, I felt like it was my fight to lose. I got overconfident and made the same mistake as before, and it cost me the ultimate prize.

I am preparing for my next fight already. I was back in the gym Wednesday working on becoming the best fighter I can become. I have already signed on for my next fight and I look forward to announcing my opponent soon.</div>

 

I wonder if CBs next fight will be at the free spike tv show next month.

 

rumor is he'll be fighting Jessie Taylor on July 19...