For Tim Credeur it’s all about perseverance and the undying loyalty of his wife and coach. He talks about almost retiring 6-months earlier, about how this is his last chance. In one of the few real, sincere, compassionate moments of TUF, Credeur cries when talking about how his wife has always stayed in his corner, and no matter how difficult it became for him to support his family, she supported his dream. He chokes on his tears when he recites the best advice his wife has given him,

“Good things happen to good people.”

As nice a moment as this is, Spike knows it’s demographic isn’t the Oprah Winfrey crowd, and they better get back to building the fight to come.

JT issues his final salvo when giving his reason why he’ll win the fight,

“I impose my will. I don’t care what he does…. I’m stronger then him, more explosive… I’m going to come out throwing punches and elbows… I’m not letting Tim take money out of my kid’s pocket.”

Credeur is more philosophical,

“My coach, Rodrigo (Medeiros) always says, ‘Only the strong survive’. That saying has led my life… I’m wily, I’m dangerous, I can do a lot of things from a lot of positions.”

SEMI-FINAL 1

Tim Credeur (12-2) vs Jesse Taylor (8-2)

*Records include each fighter’s two victories on the TUF 7 show.

Dana White shows the heightened stakes of this fight when he adds to his normal plug for Burger King while announcing the beginning of this fight,

“The winner of this fight will fight at the Las Vegas Palms Hotel on June 21st in The Ultimate Fighter Finale”.

Round 1

JT comes out looking to put Credeur on his back. And that’s exactly what happens. After JT takes Credeur down, the rest of the round becomes ground warfare, Jiu-Jitsu vs Ground and Pound!

JT gains control pretty quickly with heavy, short bursts of right hands and forearms. Cameron Diffley, Credeur’s coach, loudly tells Credeur to keep his head to the left of JT, in order to avoid JT from landing his right hand.

Cameron relentlessly shouts instructions to Credeur, “Butterfly Guard, get in your Butterfly Guard”. Every now and then Credeur is able to do this, but not before eating quite a few right hands, forearms and elbows from JT.

Towards the end of the round, a very game Credeur finally gets a good hold of JT’s left arm… Cameron shouts, “Arm Bar Tim, roll, roll!”… JT bulls his way out, they scramble, JT gets back on top and unleashes some more furious Ground and Pound…