TUF 8 Lightweights 16 of 16 Updated with PICS and PREDICTIONS on Winners!!

[Richnuttz]

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 8 - LIGHT-WEIGHTS
TEAM NOGUEIRA: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Daniel Valverde.
TEAM MIR: Frank Mir. Robert Drysdale. Ken Hahn.
{probable appearances by Hendo, Lyoto and Spider}
SHOW BEGINS SEPTEMBER 17th on SPIKE

Left to Right: Dan Henderson, Vinicius Magalhaes, Efrain Escudero, (? behind Efrain), Shane Nelson, Eliot Marshall, Shane Primm, Ryan Bader, Tom Lawlor, Allen Browning, Krzysztof Soszynski

NOTE: “we got the next Anderson Silva.. I was going off when I saw this guy.. He's 24 and he's destroying people. It's sick how bad ass he is. I'm getting goose bumps talking to you about him.” – Dana White
Dana gave it away with the "He's 24"... it is 1 of 3 guys... Joe Duarte, but speculation is that he gets injured during the show... it could be Shane Nelson, come on - BJ Penn trains him... or it could be Phil Nover, who's undefeated at 5-0. we'll find out soon.

Are you curious who the show's camera man is? Everette Motta
http://profile.myspace.com/index LINK TO UFC TUF 8 CAMERA GUY

Lightweights on TUF 8 {Rumored Participants} (all confirmed)
Rankings of Opening Round Fighters:
1st Round
1. Efrain Escudero 10-0 Arizona
2. Shane Nelson 11-3 Hawaii
3. Phillipe Nover 5-0 New York
4. Allen Browning 2-0 Kentucky
5. Joe Duarte 3-0 California
6. George Roop 7-3 Arizona
7. John Polakowski 3-1 California
8. Charles Diaz 16-4 California
9. Wesley Murch 4-2 United Kingdom
10. Dave Kaplan 3-1 New Mexico
11. Roli Delgado 7-3 Arkansas
12. Jose Aguilar 17-3 New Mexico
13. Ido Pariente 13-4 Israel
14. Brian McLaughlin 5-0 Florida
15. Brandon Garner 4-1 North Carolina
16. Fernando Bernstein 2-0 California


**Side Note: Dale Hartt was pretty much the last guy to get cut from making the show.
MMA JUNKIE - Dale Hartt Story

2nd Round
Joe Duarte
Allen Browning
Efrain Escudero
Shane Nelson
George Roop
Dave Kaplan
Phillipe Nover
John Polakowski
*REPLACEMENTS Roli Delgado / Wesley Murch / Charles Diaz

3rd Round
Phil Nover
Allen Browning
Shane Nelson
Efrain Escudero

4th Round
Shane Nelson
Efrain Escudero

LW TUF 8 WINNER: Efrain Escudero

One @ a TIME.

EFRAIN ESCUDERO 10-0
5’10 TEMPE, AZ 22 YRS
Trains at Southwest Martial Arts under Drew Fickett.
World Record: 7 Submission MMA victories in 2007. Most of anyone.
Pima Community College Wrestler {alumni = Drew Fickett / Jamie Varner
2006-2007 Collegiate Wrestling 157lb All-American - 7th at the NJCAA National Tourney
5A Arizona State Wrestling Championship at 140lbs.
Efrain has a clothing company called INC fighting syndicate.
Efrain Escudero turned down a 155lb spot for Don Frye's Tucson Scorpions's of the IFL.
Currently tied for 8th place in Sherdog's rankings for best statistical record among active fighters, with 10 wins, 0 losses.
MySpace.com - EFRAIN---ESCUDERO LINK

Ryan Bader + Big Nog + Efrain {Team Nog}




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Efrain's Highlight Reel.
Check it out. About 3 Minutes in He Chokes a Guy Unconcious.
Then hops the fence mocking the choke.. then jumps down.
Puts his hands up to his head like on a pillow and falls over.
Bwahaha.. great sportsmanship!
MY PICK TO WIN!

[Richnuttz]

“Sugar” SHANE NELSON 11-3
5’9 HILO, HW 24 YRS
Current X-1 LW Champ
Started training in BJJ 5 years ago.
Trains in Hilo with BJ Penn, Joe Lauzon, and Tony DeSouza
MySpace.com - SUGAR SHANE LINK
Five Ounces of Pain | 5 Oz. Exclusive: Shane Nelson



With BJ freaking Penn

Sugar with Ken Pavia {left} and a pair of butt-cheeks {right}

<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/nelson.jpg>
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Post Fight Press Conference after Defending X-1 LW Belt.

...if you want to know about Sugar Shane Nelson...
you go to BJPenn.Com... lol.

[Richnuttz]

Phillippe "Filipino Assassin" Nover 5-0
BROOKLYN, NY 24 YRS
Trains with Team Insight & BJJ under Soca
Phil is also a Registered Nurse. Works in the ER.
"I listen to music all the time while training. That was one thing that was difficult on the show was no music!"
PHILLIPPE NOVER OFFICIAL WEBSITE
MySpace.com - Phillipe Nover LINK




<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/nover.jpg>

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Nover looks plain Nasty with the KOs.

[Richnuttz]

“Junie” ALLEN BROWNING 2-0
5’10 LEXINGTON, KY 23 YRS
Amateur Record is 16-1
Fought in AFL. On cover of Tapout Magazine.
Highschool Sports: Football. Wrestling. Track.
2005 Kentucky State 155lb MMA Championship - beat Steven Jefferson
155lb Champ - Southern Fight Network, Kentucky Fighting Challenge, Warrior Fighting Challenge.
Brother, Rob Browning, is AFL's Bantamweight Champ
Trains at Four Seasons Martial Arts in Lexington, KY
Works out with the UK boxing club
Tattoos worth commenting: Anarchy tattoo on foot and Grenade tattoo on hand.
MySpace.com - Junie Allen Browning LINK

"Junie" Allen "Pimp Cup" Browning





Junie is the fighter on top left side.
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Junie put this video montage together personally for youtube.
Song by boxing great Roy Jones Jr.

[Richnuttz]

JOE “The Hybrid” Duarte 3-0
5’9 SAN DIEGO, CA via GUAM 24 YRS
9-0 Pro Boxing Record
19-1 Muay Thai Record
Currently trains at The University of Jiu Jitsu. (w Charles Diaz & Diego Sanchez)
Walks around @ 185-190lbs
Started training in 1999 with Team Purebred
Spent 2 years in Iraq in the US Army. 1-41 INF
Nickname: "Hybrid" - Due to agressive, always moving forward fight style. like half animal.
"Life is just way to short to live it like the way I was. Thats why I got that Lord forgive me tattoo inside my left arm. So everytime I feel like quiting I look down at it and it reminds me of never giving up."
MySpace.com - Joe Duarte LINK
Joe "The Hybrid" Duarte OFFICIAL WEBSITE


Army vet @ 215lbs.. he cuts a lot of weight.




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Joe Duarte vs Ulfrano "Frano" Rodriguez {Duarte's last MMA fight}
Frano was 5-1 before this fight. Very talented wrestler, which Duarte choked out.
Frano won all 5 fights by dominate ground positon. Choke or Submission strikes.

[Richnuttz]

GEORGE ROOP 8-3
6'1 TUCSON, AZ 26 YRS
Trains at Striking Unlimited in Las Vegas
Former RITC Bantamweight Title Holder
No fancy nickname - Everyone calls him "Roop"
Formerly trained at The Ultima Martial Arts Center
MySpace.com - George Roop LINK



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Must See: Vs Balvado {great control and quick tapout}
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Highlight Video.
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Winning the RITC LW Championship Belt from Tito Jones.


John Polakowski 2-1
San Luis Obispo, CA 27 YRS
John originally trained with Maurice Smith in Seattle before going to The PIT.
Trains out of The PIT with Chuck Liddell, John Hackleman, Texiera, Lighty, Etc..
20+ pro and amateur kickboxing/muay thai fights before getting into mma.
Primarily a standup striker however he did wrestle in highschool.
A WEC fighter that hasn't fought professionally in almost 2 years.
**Why he's only fought one guy in his entire career: Olaf Alfonso.
First fight, John took it the day of due to injury to Olaf's original opponent. John lost via split decision due to an elbow to Olaf's spine. John was unaware of this rule. He arguably should have won. So that is his only loss. So fans wanted a rematch. Second Fight, Olaf injured himself at the end of the first round and couldn't continue. 3rd Fight, John easily won, taking his second victory.
"My first and foremost strength is my heart. I never, ever give up. It is very difficult to break me."
www.profile.myspace.com/ John Polakowski LINK


<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/polakowski.jpg>

[Richnuttz]

CHARLES "taylor" DIAZ 16-4
5'8 EL CAJON, CA 30 YRS
Trains with Midwest Elites / Team EFX
Charles Diaz aka Charles Taylor. same guy.
Sherdog has his record jacked up. Go to FCF to see full intact record.
Two-time California state champion in high school wrestling
Wrestled for the Oregon State Beavers
IFC Veteran
Usually fights at WW (has cut 28lbs for a fight in 2 days)
"DON'T LISTEN TO THAT DUDE {Joe Duarte}... HE'S GAY" - Charles Diaz
www.myspace.com - Charles Diaz LINK


<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/diaz.jpg>
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This fight was Diaz's last. Fought @ 165lbs.
Win by Referee stoppage. Great with control and elbow usage.
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Submitted by Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk
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Losing by Flying Armbar to Rumina Sato.



WESLEY "The Immortal" MURCH 3-2
5'10 SOUTHWEST UNITED KINGDOM / BRISTOL, ENGLAND 25 YRS
Currently trains at The Lock-Up in Bristol.
Formerly trained at ATT with Thiago Alves and JZ.
Started in MMA thanks to James Thompson (was Debt Collector with James)
He is skilled in Falconry. Trains Eagles, Falcons, Peregrinee, Goshawks..
MySpace.Com - Wesley Murch LINK


<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/murch.jpg>
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See how/where this guy trains.

[Richnuttz]

DAVE KAPLAN
5’6 ALEXANDRIA, VA 28 YRS
WKA 175lb Champion & King of The Ring 165lb Champ
Lloyd Irvin's Martial Arts Academy
MySpace.com - www.myspace.com/58136329



<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/kaplan.jpg>
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Training students in the Art of Muay Thai.



ROLI "The Crazy Cuban" DELGADO 5-3
6'3 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK 26 YRS
Fights out of the We$t$ide Fight Team. (black belt bjj coach)
Goes by Roli but you can also find him listed as Rolando.
Likes to wear pink one pieces into the cage.
Has fought mostly at 145lbs
NAGA US Nationals Expert Champion
Lost to Jorge Masvidal back in 2003
MySpace.com - www.myspace.com/86815472


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Winning the NAGA US Nationals Expert Championship.
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Highlight Video!

[Richnuttz]

Jose "Chiva" Aguilar 17-3
Las Cruces, New Mexico 25 Yrs
Trains with Grappler's Edge.
3rd Place in a USA Grappling Tourney.
Neither Sherdog nor MMA.tv has him as existing.
Self proclaimed atheist. Pentagram tattoo on his left arm.
All Satan worshippers favorite to win the show.
"..the bible.. realy, read shit before you follow,do you even know how stupid you sound saying you admire the lord or that you want to meet god"
and
" the greatest trick the devil ever did was make every one believe that he didnt exist"
myspace.com - Jose Aguilar LINK
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/aguilar.jpg>




Ido "Hebrew Hammer" Pariente 13-4
Tel Aviv, Israel 30 Yrs
3rd Degree Black Belt.
Current Desert Combat LW Champion
Was in Israeli Army
2001 LW Champ for Victory Fighting Championship
2003 Pancration World Champion
2007 European BJJ Champion
Owns a training center in Israel. 100+ students. Teach 4x a week.
Only fight in US was against Jake Shields during FEG's "Dynamite USA!!" where he was submitted.
"I have fought from Brazil to Lithuania! That's quit a distance... But my dream is to fight in the UFC I would give up fighting everywhere if I had a chance to be a UFC fighter."
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/pariente.jpg>

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Takes a win in the Hero's organization.

Brian McLaughlin 5-0
Tampa, Florida 23 Yrs
Trains out of Rob Kahn's Gracie Tampa.
2005 Diamond State Games superfight champion
Sportfighting lightweight champion
(camp represented in 4 str8 TUFs: Alan Berube, Matt Arroyo, Brandon Sene)
On TUF8 with Gracie Tampa Teammate Shane Primm.
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/mclaughlin.jpg>
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See how the guy trains.

[Richnuttz]

Brandon Garner 4-1
Raleigh, North Carolina 26 Yrs
Trains with Team ROC in Fayetteville.
MMA.tv shows his record as 5-1 pro and 5-1 amateur.
Favorite training partners are Jason Palacios and Tim Kennedy.
Graduate of Appalachian State.
Beat notable Jason Dent (former UFC fighter)
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/garner.jpg>

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Triangle to armbar for the win.



Fernando Bernstein 2-0
San Clemente, California 25 Yrs
Trains with Progressive Martial Arts Academy.
Burger King tattoo on left arm and other tattoo reflects Native American heritage?
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/bernstein.jpg>
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OCsjxEdvXCw&color1=11645361&color2=13619 151&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OCsjxEdvXCw&color1=11645361&color2=13619 151&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Strong Muay-Thai for Fernando
Check the last 5 seconds. Hilarious. his opponents corner says, "you look like shit man."



SOME OF THE TUF 8ers:
<img src=http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/ultimate.fighter.8.cast/images/group.jpg>
All of Them.

Clockwise: Ken Hahn, Frank Mir, Ryan Bader, (old man ?), Shane Primm, Wesley Murch, Dan Henderson, Tom Lawlor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, John Polakowski, Phillippe Nover, (guy to the left of Nover ?), Efrain Escudero

Wesley Murch, Efrain Escudero, Shane Primm, John Polakowski, Ryan Bader, Tom Lawlor


Audition Tapes that Didn't Make TUF 8.

Manny Reyes Jr.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P40iIdbYPRg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P40iIdbYPRg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Mark Olsen
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