Whew, midterms are over, it’s almost time for Pride’s first USA show, and now we finally get to see a rematch of the infamous Matt Serra and Shonie Carter fight! With my brain completely dead from my last midterm, which I completed just hours ago, I was hoping that this episode wouldn’t require much thinking. Thankfully, my prayers were answered. Aside from this week’s fight, the only things happening on the show were humorous affairs concerning both of this week’s fight contestants, along with two of the show’s trainers.

First off, the feud between Jujitsu coach Marc Laimon and competitor Matt Serra reaches a boiling point. The episode opens by interviewing some guys about Marc Laimon’s lack of activity as a coach. Apparently he doesn’t really work with any of the guys, and just does silly things like refusing to hold pads for people. His defense is that if the guys want his help, they can come to him and ask. A coach doesn’t necessarily have to wait around for people to ask for help, especially in a training center like the one featured on the show. Obviously this kinda ticks off the guys on Team Mojo, and Matt Serra thankfully speaks his mind about it. He jokingly states that Marc works hard for his paycheck, which sparks Matt Hughes to get involved. Being that Matt Serra comes from a Gracie Jujitsu background, and Marc Laimon hates the Gracies, Hughes thinks a little grappling match between the two would be a great spectacle. Neither really wants to roll, but this ups the tension another notch. The blood really starts to boil when Matt overhears Hughes and Laimon talking about the (then) recent Royce Gracie fight. Serra doesn’t like that Laimon speaks so disrespectfully about fighters, especially since Laimon doesn’t fight at all. Laimon remarks that you can become an expert by studying and watching something, with Serra retorting “You’re like a swimming expert who’s never stepped into a pool.” Regardless of whose side you pick the guys on Team Mojo all respect that Matt openly voiced his opinion to Laimon, and Din Thomas in particular gives Serra mad love for his actions.

I hope y’all are having a fun trip back to middle school, cause it ain’t over yet. Next on the list is Jorge Rivera’s impression of Shonie Carter. Shonie decides to spray paint a room blue, which pushes Rivera over the edge. So Rivera dons a clown wig, a clown nose, a pair of clown shoes, as well as a red Speedo with some junk stuffed in there. I think it should be pretty obvious by now what Rivera is trying to say about Shonie, but in case you’ve been getting punched in the head too much like me, apparently Shonie is a clown. So “Phoney” Carter climbs in the ring with Mikey Burnette, and they replicate the first Serra-Carter showdown with striking Coach Mark Dellagrotte taking on Mike Goldberg’s roll. Hilarity ensues, and everyone is happy. Jorge remarks that the guys aren’t gonna let the cat out of the bag to Shonie, because he’d rather let Shonie see it when he’s at home with his boys. I think Jorge expects that immediately afterwards the Kool-Aide man will bust through Shonie’s wall and scream “Oh Yeeeeaaah! You got Clowned boyeeee!” before slowly creeping out like a rapist slinking away from a crime scene. Wow, I think between the constant training and my brain being drained from midterms that I’m gradually sinking into insanity. Ahem…moving along.

Before the fight, Shonie remarks that he’s gonna explode on Serra like a .457 magnum. Way to pull out an imaginary gun Shonie. Another war is about to begin, as its 10:30 and the fight is just starting. Round 1 begins and Matt Serra gets a single leg takedown. Matt shows his prowess on the ground by transitioning positions lightning quick until he’s on Shonie’s back, where he starts laying into Carter with punches. Shonie manages to work his trademark slipperiness and get back to the clinch standing. Matt keeps pressing the action, and looks very hungry to avenge his former loss. Serra lands a hard right leg kick that looks a little low, but Shonie doesn’t complain. Instead he puts Serra on his back with a HUGE Judo throw from the clinch, but they stand back up immediately. Shonie remarks after the fight that he knows the jujitsu game well enough to not want to be on the ground with Serra, even if he’s on top. Shonie swings wildly looking for a KO, but Serra once again gets a takedown to side control. Serra throws a nice shoulder shot to set up a pass to mount, and succeeds. It isn’t long before Serra gets Shonie’s back, but once again the slippery as an eel Carter throws a reverse elbow before spinning back into the clinch. With less than a minute left in the round, Shonie catches Serra with a spinning reverse elbow, rocking his shit back to the Stone Age. Serra pulls it together, but then eats a nice hook combination from Shonie before the bell.

Round 2 begins with the fighters circling each other, looking very tentative to close the distance. Serra finally makes the first move, bull rushing Shonie to the clinch. Serra gets a takedown, and from here the majority of the second round is spent with Serra on top, pounding away. At the end of the round, with the fighter back on the feet, Serra lands a jumping sideways teep (Thai front kick) to the body. Round 3 is spent mostly in the clinch, with both fighters breathing heavily and looking very fatigued. Serra screams a lot, usually right before he gets a takedown. It is very apparent that Matt wants to win this fight badly, and there is emotion in every move that he makes. The highlight of the round came as Shonie stood up with Matt hugging his back. Serra screamed loudly before hitting a nice belly to back suplex. No matter what the position, Serra had trouble finishing Carter. Shonie is one of the slipperiest fighters in the game, and no matter what always seems to be able to stand back up into the clinch. It is here that the tired fighters finished the fight, exchanging knees and chopping hooks until the bell.

When the decision rolls around, it’s really no surprise that Matt Serra is given the unanimous nod. Save for the last 45 seconds of round one, and couple nice throws here and there, Matt Serra pushed the pace and controlled the fight. It looked like Matt wanted this more than any other fight he’s had, and Shonie at times looked as though he was fighting not to lose as opposed to fighting to win. Regardless, both guys were class acts post-fight, and now the Welterweight Final has been set with Chris Lytle taking on Matt Serra. Altogether, the fight was a bit of a let down, as just about the entire season has been. Don’t get me wrong, it was a decent fight. Honestly though, it hardly lived up to the epic expectations placed upon it by Dana White’s hype. Hopefully the remaining two Middleweight semi-final matches prove to be a lot more exciting. We’ll see next week on….THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER!