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Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:28 pm EST

'The Ultimate Fighter's' Schoonover headed back to the Army

By Maggie Hendricks

Darrill Schoonover, a member of Team Rashad on this season of "The Ultimate Fighter," has been ordered back to active military duty. He will fight on the December 5 TUF finale, and then head back to the Army.

He mentions in a radio interview that his orders say he will be a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, which means he is likely headed to Afghanistan. He also says he will use his 400-day deployment to try to lose weight and improve on his conditioning. 

"At first I was kind of pissed," he said. "I've already served my country for four years and been out for almost two years. I'm getting my fighting started and getting the ball rolling on that. I was kind of mad, but the very next day, I just accepted it."

Before he joined the cast of TUF, he put together a 10-0 record, and served in the Army for four years. Schoonover said he was concerned about being recalled when he first heard that 40,000 troops were going to be sent to Afghanistan. 

Schoonover has become the subject of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's teasing this season, giving Schoonover the nickname "Titties." Schoonover got his revenge when he choked out Rampage's fighter, Zak Jensen.

It looks like Schoonover is showing up Rampage all over again. Jackson bowed out of a fight with Rashad Evans to film a movie, despite the fact that the fight was part of Jackson's agreement to coach on "The Ultimate Fighter." Schoonover is living up to his responsibility, serving his country despite the fact that he will have to step away from his MMA career at a time when it is ready to take off. Who is the real man now, Rampage? 

Thanks to MMA Fanhouse

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45 Comments

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  1. Snappa
    1. Posted by Snappa Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:34 pm EST

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    ...um while I agree ...kinda... the extra commentary seems...i dunno...forced.
    Anyways...
    Much respect to Schoonover. I hope he comes back safe and he has my thanks for the service he is doing for all of us.
    I can only guess this means he lost to Marcus Jones in his next fight. We'll see.
  2. F.U.B.A.R.
    2. Posted by F.U.B.A.R. Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:35 pm EST

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    ummm what the phuuck! thanks for letting us all know marcus now wins the ultimate fighter and will be on the finale, you guys suck!
  3. F.U.B.A.R.
    3. Posted by F.U.B.A.R. Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:37 pm EST

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    man i thought you werent supposed to let stuff like this out, I thought that he might pull an upset
  4. tdube09
    4. Posted by tdube09 Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:37 pm EST

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    he's still fighting on dec 5th guys, which means he could be in the final or another fight on the finale card. you know dent, lester, and cameron dollar, fought on the tuf 9 finale even though they didnt win
  5. VladBoss
    5. Posted by VladBoss Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:38 pm EST

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    God Bless Mr. Schoonover and may he come home safe and sound. If you don't support the troops in the front lines fighting for our freedom... You can stand infront of them...
    I hope he gets to fight and beat Rampage when he gets back...
  6. kenf
    6. Posted by kenf Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:38 pm EST

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    I definitely respect what Schoonover is doing for our country,,,,,but lets be honest there is no MMA career taking off for him, or any of these guys on this years show, the talent is not that great, it is easily the weakest show so far.......
  7. tdube09
    7. Posted by tdube09 Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:39 pm EST

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    he still might beat Marcus, he could win the final, and then get back to Afghanistan after. best of luck titties come back @ 205 and beat rampage down HA-HA
  8. ZULUZEROSIX
    8. Posted by ZULUZEROSIX Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:52 pm EST

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    Good Luck and God speed, Soldier.
  9. JJ
    9. Posted by JJ Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:54 pm EST

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    Whoa Maggie...pretty tough talk sitting behind the computer. Cofield's let up on his Rampage bashing so I guess it's your turn. How long ago has it been since Rampage pulled out of his December 12 fight with Rashad? That's pretty old news. You're beating a dead horse, Maggie.
    I say good luck to Schoonover. Unlike all the people that talk tough behind a computer, Schoonover is actually doing something. But I don't understand how Schoonover is "showing up" Rampage by going to Afghanistan...doesn't make much sense. Rampage chose to not fight so he could make a movie and probably make more money than a fight. Yes it was dumb for him to pull out of a fight that he agreed to but I don't think it makes him any less of a man....maybe a troubled man...but not any less of a man.
    Cagewriter and their personal vendettas....com'on.
  10. Robert C
    10. Posted by Robert C Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:55 pm EST

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    I know for a fact, that he will not have to try and lose weight over there...it will happen all by itself.
    Serve proud Darrill and come home safe.
  11. tdube09
    11. Posted by tdube09 Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:16 pm EST

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    what happened to the zak jensen blogs? he stop writing them after he lost?
  12. Jason B
    12. Posted by Jason B Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:39 pm EST

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    Good luck kid, and God Bless... We all hope you return home safe. America is proud to have people like you.
  13. csmillar
    13. Posted by csmillar Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:48 pm EST

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    I love the smell of sanctimonious bloggers in the morning
  14. Cormac
    14. Posted by Cormac Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:55 pm EST

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    Well said JJ couldn't agree more. Ms. Hendricks seems to being going out of her way to have a pop at Rampage. "Who is the real man now, Rampage?".... Not very professional in my opinion! While I agree he is a brave man for serving his country, I completely disagree that he is leaving at a time when his MMA career "is ready to take off". Are you kidding??!!
  15. Steven W
    15. Posted by Steven W Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:13 pm EST

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    tdube...i didn't notice that the zak jensen blogs were MIA, but one thing i vaguely remember is an article about him (i think it was him) being charged for either murder or manslaughter over a confrontation that occurred in mexico....or something like that. i believe he was hired as a bodyguard for a female friend and got involved in a scuffle...well the guy ended up dead if i'm not mistaken. basically it sounded like said guy wanted to assault or rape the woman jensen was guarding, and he did his job....maybe a little too well. anyway, look it up as i can't access any other mma sites at work.
  16. Steven W
    16. Posted by Steven W Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:15 pm EST

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    ahhh, here it is. i could still pull it up on google.
    http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/tuf-10s-zak-jensen-facing-wrongful-death-lawsuit/
  17. Steven W
    17. Posted by Steven W Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:18 pm EST

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    and maybe the "ready to take off" comment is relative people......if you were a young fighter and fought yourself to a 10-0 record, then appeared on TUF and made it this far, wouldn't you say that now more than ever his career was in a position to potentially take off? anyhow, it's not too far fetched to make a statement like that. one or two fights in the ufc could easily be considered "taking off."
  18. Rob R
    18. Posted by Rob R Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:57 pm EST

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    Steven W...That's the first I heard about Jensen...and it's messed up.
    I'm also going to agree on the status of Darrill's career.
    - He's only 24
    - He's 10-0 with 5 subs and 5 KOs (which shows a versatile game)
    - He beat Rex Richards who, to that point, had been pretty hyped though mostly because he's a football player
    - He didn't look bad at all against Jensen...We'll see how he does with Marcus.
    - Exposure-wise, he's been getting a TON of attention on TUF...Maybe not for all the right reasons, but you have to admire him for standing up to Rampage the way he has and listening to his coaches when they told him to cut back on the drinking
    And now it's reported that he'll be on the TUF Finale card, which is nice...especially if he's in the finals. Even if he's on the undercard, people will be there to see him fight, and he might sneak onto the televised portion if there's time.
    Good news is that he's young and he's only gone for 400 days. If he uses his time wisely, he'll be able to hit the ground running when he returns - maybe in better shape - and with the added marketability factor of being a veteran.
  19. The Unsilent Majority
    19. Posted by The Unsilent Majority Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:39 pm EST

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    Well put, Maggie.
  20. BNG
    20. Posted by BNG Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:46 pm EST

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    Go Schoonover. Here's to you coming back, safe and sound at 205 where you belong. Schoon should start a blog over there to let us all know the GOOD we are doing in Afghanistan instead of all the negativity we see on the news. We never here about the schools, roads and med clinics we build. We never hear about our Soldiers running drug interdiction. We never hear about the bonds we build with the local population. It all happens every day over there, but all we get on the news is the body count. Sorry, I got off topic. Go Schoonover.
  21. chad a
    21. Posted by chad a Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:00 pm EST

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    I can respect his honor!
  22. Barry McCociner
    22. Posted by Barry McCociner Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:19 am EST

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    Nice shot at rampage, but it doesnt quite fit. I would hope that no one thinks rampage is less of a man because he got tired of abusing his body and agreed to spend time on a movie set with hot chicks and big paychecks rather than spend his days in a sweaty gym. If titties went back to active duty voluntarily ala pat tillman that would be something. I am pretty sure if CNN called and wanted maggie to be a on-screen reporter and tripled her salary she would go. Come to think of it, last I checked they allow chicks in the military, so why dont you and steve go fight for our country? I dont think anyone is stopping either of you from going over to afghanistan and protecting our freedoms.
  23. tdube09
    23. Posted by tdube09 Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:31 am EST

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    wow thanks stevenw i had no idea that had happened. article seems kinda weird though the kid actually died by choking on his own vomit. oh well i kinda liked reading his blogs. better than reading joe's roid rants in the other blogs.
  24. Joe
    24. Posted by Joe Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:06 am EST

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    But mags. can you blame rampage for wanting to make a sweet payday?? cofield is saying the last ufc ppv did 500k in sales, and yet ortiz only got 250k.. that is highway robbery. the pacman/cotto fight did just over a million and each fighter pocketed in the multiple millions (pacman in the teens of millions). you do the math. i dont hate on rampage for taking care of his wallet. obviously the ufc isnt.
    tdube09.. this is for you dingaling.
    one of the lesser known but most life threatening gastrointestinal side effects of steroids is the perforation of the colonic diverticula
    -new zealand medical journal...
    not to mention roid use masks the ailment, so it becomes much more serious and damaging to your health. that is my 'roid rage' for the day genius.
  25. tdube09
    25. Posted by tdube09 Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:55 am EST

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    @Joe
    i just said it was better, not that you didn't know what you were talking about. I, like i would assume most of you follow other sports and I'm saying is I'm sick and tired of hearing ped talk whether it be in baseball, football, mma, or any other sport. people we should all know by now that people will do anything to gain a competitive advantage and it has been going on as long as there has been sport.
    yes we can all tell that brock was on steroids, anyone who has ever seen photos of him before/during college knows this. i think you mentioned Lyle Alzado in one of your other blog comments and this is from the SI article he did before he died which sums up everything you need to know about steroids.
    "I started taking anabolic steroids in 1969 and never stopped. It was addicting, mentally addicting. Now I'm sick, and I'm scared. Ninety percent of the athletes I know are on the stuff. We're not born to be 300 lbs or jump 30 ft. But all the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. I became very violent on the field and off it. I did things only crazy people do. Once a guy sideswiped my car and I beat the hell out of him. Now look at me. My hair's gone, I wobble when I walk and have to hold on to someone for support, and I have trouble remembering things. My last wish? That no one else ever dies this way."

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