Fight Night gets TUF
By Curtis Clontz on Jan 23, 2008
Tonight’s fight card should be named Fight Night 12, Quest of the Ultimate Fighter. This card shows that the reality television show is having a major impact on the UFC. Many fans have mixed feelings about the show. Some think the show will have a negative affect in the future, but I disagree. Looking at the number of fighters that have benefited from the show, such as Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, and almost half of the card for tonight’s event, shows proof that the show is helping the organization find talent.
Tonight’s fight card is full of former Ultimate Fighter participants. All of these fighters have high hopes of making it in the UFC, but there is one getting serious backing. Corey Hill is a fighter at 155. His trainer is one of the biggest names in MMA. Pat Miletich has been training fighters for years, and has coached many of the UFC greats including Matt Hughes and Jens Pulver. Miletich has nothing but great things to say about this future superstar. Hill is a physical specimen at 155. His 6 foot 4 inch frame will allow him to tower over most of his opponents. This also gives him a reach advantage that can catapult him to the top of the division, and of all of The Ultimate Fighter alumni fighting tonight, he has the most potential. Tonight Hill tries his luck in the Octagon against Joe Veres.
Another fighter on tonight’s card that shows true promise is Nate Diaz. His last name may sound familiar. His older brother is a professional MMA fighter that once fought in the UFC, and now fights for EliteXC. The two brothers are both known for having a great ground game. This strong ground game carried Nate to this point, and to a win in The Ultimate Fighter Finale crowning him The Ultimate Fighter. If Nate Diaz can put a standup game with his ground game he will be a tough opponent for most of the fighters in the division. Diaz will fight against Alvin Robinson.
After Hill, in my opinion the fighter with the most potential is Gray Maynard. This Extreme Couture trained athlete has a ton of talent, and showcases a game that could be hard to defend by weaker wrestlers. Randy has a knack with fighters, and Maynard’s skills are similar to a young Matt Hughes. He has good ground and pound, and has decent hands. If he continues to work with Couture he will go far. Tonight he will battle against Dennis Siver.
The Ultimate Fighter television show in my opinion is creating a buzz around the sport that is different then it has ever experienced. The weekly show gives fans of reality shows and MMA something to watch. It also gives a stage to showcase raw talent that could be the future of the sport. Imagine if Matt Hughes could have been a beneficiary of this show, and fans could have watched his amazing career from start to finish. The next Ultimate Fighter will have two fighters that are exciting and full of character. Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin will put on their coaching hats, and attempt to lead their teams to victory. They will have their hand in influencing the participant’s careers, and possibly a future champ! Tonight’s show will do one of two things for the former reality stars. It will either put a damper on their dreams, or help continue the run up the championship totem pole.
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There’s definitely some truth in this, but it’s also important to remember that this happens after every TUF finale, and this is simply a way of showcasing the skill of the lightweights from TUF 5.
The same was true at UFC – The Final Chapter (the closer of the Ortiz/Shamrock trilogy, if it can be called that) for the TUF 3 guys, who were more or less showcased in the main card.
It’s an interesting point, but you have to remember that the UFC spends alot time trying to sell the reality show fighters to the hardcore fanbase while still maintaining their image as big stars to the more casual fan, and that’s a hard thing to do.
The best way to do it is to have the ones they want to promote (or at least scout further) compete on free TV.
That keeps the hardcore fans from being pissed that their paying $40 to watch a fight between untested fighters and gives the casual fan, who might not want to pay for a pay-per-view, a chance to watch their favorite TV personalities go at it.
It’s a smart marketing ploy, and it’s a good thing to notice.
Generally, good write-up, though it might also be worthwhile to notice that Corey Hill was signed by the UFC without the two things that Dana White generally requires of anyone added to his roster:
A professional record (usually with at least a 66% winning percentage, though there are some exceptions to that rule)
An extraordinary background in another sport (we see this in the case of alot of the pre-Zuffa signings of guys like BJ Penn and Randy Couture, though Dana doesn’t really do this any more)
Good piece.