Salil Gulati sent along the following:
TWO BIG BRAWLS ON UPCOMING EPISODE OF
“THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 5” ON THURSDAY, MAY 10
Joe Lauzon vs. Brian Geraghty and Corey Hill vs. Robert Emerson In Action Packed Episode
Gabe Ruediger’s dramatic failure to make weight and unceremonious removal from Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter has created a unique scenario where there will be there will be two fights on Thursday, May 10 at 10pm ET/PT. Team Penn’s Joe Lauzon squares off against Brian Geraghty from Jens Pulver’s squad. Lauzon’s last UFC fight, ironically, was a stunning victory over Pulver at UFC 63. Now, Lauzon looks to take out Pulver’s pupil, the tough-talking Geraghty. “Lauzon looks like a nerdy internet kid who will rip your freakin’ head off,” notes Dana White, UFC President.
In the other bout, Robert Emerson from Team Penn gets a shot at redemption when he fights the loquacious yet inexperienced Corey Hill from Team Pulver. Emerson lost earlier this season in a tough battle to Nate Diaz, but was brought back on the show to fight Hill when Ruediger was forced to leave the show in disgrace.
Fighter bios:
Joseph “J-Lau” Lauzon
Age: 22
MMA Record: 13 — 3
Hometown: East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Trains in: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
At 22 years old, Joe may be one of the youngest competitors on The Ultimate Fighter 5, but he boasts one of the more impressive resumes in the house given his defeat of Season 5 coach Jens Pulver at UFC 63 in 2006. This came only a few short months after Joe completed his degree in computer science at Wentworth College and took a job as a network administrator.
Nicknamed “J-Lau” by his friends at East Bridgewater High School, he has balanced his MMA training with academics since he took up jiu-jitsu as a sixteen year old — a mandate from his parents who ensured education was the first priority for him and his younger brother Dan. Fortunately, his job has given him a leave of absence to pursue his dream in Las Vegas. Despite his victory over Pulver, Joe insists he still has much to learn, both from the coaches and his housemates. While in the house, he will miss his family, TV shows like Heroes and The Shield, and the sounds of Outkast, Linkin Park, and Incubus on his iPod. Most of all, this self professed tech nerd will miss an internet connection.
Brian “Duke” Geraghty
Age: 26
MMA Record: 24-9-2
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Trains in: Kenosha, WI
Born and raised in Kenosha, this Wisconsinite can’t help but think of what his life would be like if he wasn’t a mixed martial artist — “probably eating cheese — not much else do in Kenosha.” Far removed from the Midwest, Geraghty will be pursuing the opportunity of a lifetime on The Ultimate Fighter 5. Nicknamed “Duke” by his father at a young age, Brian took up MMA during high school after seeing one of his friends training at a freestyle gym. Brian’s curiosity led him to the mats, where he was determined to master the art of submissions.
While he swears he has not mastered anything yet and has much to learn, Duke lists submissions as one his strengths, particularly triangles and kimuras. He is hoping to sharpen his all around game while in Las Vegas, and is very excited to work with the coaches. Despite him being away for six weeks, Brian’s girlfriend is very supportive of his career. Aside from missing her, Brian is not looking forward to being away from the local Wisconsin music scene while on the show, or leaving behind his Reno 911! and Chappelle’s Show DVDs.
Robert “The O.C. Kid” Emerson
Age: 25
MMA Record: 8-6
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Trains in: Irvine, California — Team No Limits
This 25 year old from Southern California is anything but your typical surfer type. Enrolling in kyokushinkia karate at the age of ten, martial arts have been a part of Robert’s life for the better part of two decades. Robert added wrestling to his resum while attending Dana Hills High School in Orange County, from which he graduated in the year 2000 — the same year he started competing in mixed martial arts. Robert lists take-down defense and striking as his strengths, and is looking to hone his abilities while training with the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter 5.
Corey “The Real Deal” Hill
Age: 28
MMA Record: 0 — 0
Hometown: Brooksville, FL
Trains in: Colorado Springs, CO — Kongo Do Fight Team
Born in West Virginia, Corey’s family moved to Florida when he was a baby and spent his formative years living on a pig farm thirty miles north of Tampa Bay. Corey was a three sport athlete at Springstead High School, playing free safety and wide receiver for the football team, running the 800m and 1600m for the track team, and becoming a two-time state champion for the wrestling team. His success in wrestling landed him a scholarship to Colby Community College in Kansas, where he would meet his future wife. After Colby, Hill attended Upper Iowa University. He left twelve credits shy, but vows to finish to fulfill a promise he made to his mother and father — the two biggest role models in his life.
After leaving Upper Iowa, Hill took a job building homes before a friend convinced him to try mixed martial arts. Corey took to it immediately, and soon quit his job to begin training full time. Now residing in Colorado Springs with his wife and two young children, being away from them for six weeks will be extremely difficult, but being a good father and husband is his number one priority and will provide all the motivation he needs to become The Ultimate Fighter. Hill lists wrestling and striking as his strengths, and plans to use his height to his advantage inside the Octagon. He plans to focus on his jiu jitsu while training in Las Vegas.
DISCUSS THIS NEWS IN THE MMANEWS.COM FORUMS >>
