March 23, 2012 – The third episode of The Ultimate Fighter® Live reality show is tonight and it should be a good one with Team Cruz’s #1 pick Justin Lawrence (3-0) meeting Team Faber’s Cristiano Marcello (13-3) in the LIVE lightweight bout that will headline this week’s episode. This is a pretty big fight and one the show’s fans can characterize as a battle of the old guard versus the new to decide who gets to move on as the likely favorite headed into the rest of the season.
Veteran fans of the sport may remember Cristiano Marcello as the longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach of the famed Chute Boxe Academy – once the home for many stars including guys like Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Travelling with the team to fights all over the world, Marcello once found himself in the middle of some trouble backstage at Pride Shockwave 2005 in Japan when he was caught in a backstage altercation with Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett. It was then when he choked Bennett out with a triangle choke while wearing jeans, boots, and all. He continues to be known for that almost a full seven years later.
As for Justin Lawrence, well his time in the sport is much more limited – if not for lack of skill then definitely for lack of longevity thus far. A member of the Black House team that also included Lytoto Machida and Anderson Silva, Justin burst into the TUF house with a devastating knockout of WEC vet James Krause in the season premiere episode. While he remains the youngest member of this season’s cast, Justin’s prodigious striking abilities coupled with his wrestling and natural ability have his as 2-1 favorite heading into tonight’s episode according to the betting sheets.
“I’m definitely training hard for my upcoming fight again Marcello,” Justin was quoted as saying earlier this week. “It’s exciting, nerve-racking. He’s a very good grappler so I really want to try and stay on my feet and make him feel uncomfortable as much as possible. I don’t want this to turn this into a Jiu Jitsu match ‘cause I know that’s his strength. Dom’s crew (Team Cruz) has been doing a phenomenal job in training and preparing me and I’m pumped. I just have to fight my fight.”
“Being chosen first, in a way, kind of made me feel confident but then again, I kind of felt a target being placed on my back. It’s definitely more pressure. A lot of people expect a lot more from me now. All I can do is go in there and fight. I’ve been fighting since I was six-years-old.”
Make sure to tune in tonight for what should be a very exciting bout that could produce the favorite headed into the rest of the season. The show kicks off at 9PM Texas time on FX.
