Is TUF the Answer?
By Curtis Clontz on Mar 21, 2008
The UFC is in dire need of a few top notch heavyweights to step up and make a run to the title and they are adding to their talent stockpile by using their famous reality show. The MMA reality show “The Ultimate Fighter” in its 8th season will look to be showcasing lightweights and heavyweights. Rumor has it that if you just happen to be a talented MMA fighter, and in the heart of Red Sox Nation the first week of April, you could run across a TUF tryout. UFC.com has an advertisement for the eighth installment of this show on their homepage. It provides a link to an application.It is no secret that the UFC has a current shortage of big guys. It was no more apparent when they recruited WWE star Brock Lesner and began advertising him more than they did Wanderlei Silva. The UFC hurt themselves when they couldn’t get past contractual issue and sign Fedor. Not only did it not put one of the top fighters in the cage, but also caused problems with their big champion. Most fans are beyond sick of hearing about this, and it also gives Dana haters more fuel to the fire.
The television show “The Ultimate Fighter” has done great things for the sport. Fighters such as Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, Joe Stevenson, Marcus Davis, and Rashad Evans came from just the first two seasons. There are more than 15 fighters on contract with the UFC that were a part of this series. This show is something that the other organizations want, but do not have.
Arguably the weakest division in the world’s strongest MMA organization may get a boost in talent from the show. If the show does indeed center on heavyweights, it could bring in a handful of fighters that would add depth to the depleted division. Constant exposure from the cameras will give the world enough time to fall in love or hate a fighter. This love hate relationship between the fans and fighters is one of the things that draw viewers. If you hate Matt Hughes you will purchase a PPV in hopes that he gets knocked out and if your favorite fighter is stepping into the cage, you will buy it to cheer him to victory.
This show has meant more to the UFC than ever imagined. The 7th season will begin April 2nd with a fight your way in mentality. 32 fighters will be cut in half, as they fight to earn their spot on the show. Every season their have been drama and special moments that made each season unique; Chris Leben spitting on another’s bed or the constant drama between coaches BJ Penn and Jens Pulver. I look for it to continue in April. This may be the most talented group of fighters on the show yet. It will showcase All-American wrestlers, Champion Jui-Jitsu practitioners, and fighters from the elite teams such as Team Quest. This was a brilliant idea and will continue to stock up the talent for the UFC leading up to the much needed TUF 8 season.
Filed Under: Opinion
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It seems strange to me that the UFC seeks to answer it’s heavyweight problems with a season of TUF, because the last time they ran a heavyweight division on TUF (UFC 2) most of the really top notch guys to come out of the season dropped down to 205, including Rashad Evans, who won the show.
I think, as a solution to the heavyweight struggles the division is going through, TUF may be an interesting answer and may bring in some interesting talent, but I’m not convinced it will answer the short term concerns. Then again, that depends on who they sign to compete on the show and it depends on who the coaches are (which could make the division much more interesting with the promise of a fun fight during the finale).
As far as the TUF lightweights go, I’m a little surprised that they want to couple the big men with the 155ers, but that’s only because the 155 pound division seems pretty strong to me, and has done pretty well as a result of the TUF 5 cast, which has added some nice prospects.
It is not the end all be all for the division, but it is a way for the UFC to recruit.
Hopefully the fighters they showcase on the show will be true big guys that won’t drop in weight.
Big guys are a dime a dozen. Big guys with talent are hard to find.
Every year there are All-American wrestlers, and Football players that train MMA and are serious athletes. These men could be a positive influence for this division. Since the UFC hasn’t been able to use that resource their best recruiting tool at the current time is the show.
It is also beneficial that they have not centered the show around big men since that season. Hopefully this means there will be a vast amount of talent to pick from.
While there are quite a few good heavyweights in the division, the number of potential fights is halved when it comes to matchmaking. Its a simple concept that eludes many MMA fans who may think that the UFC has enough heavyweight talent for years to come. Will TUF provide a solution? As Josh noted, the past says no, but they may recruit fighters who are deep into the HW division and unable to drop to LHW at 205.
I feel that the show can contribute to that weight class just like it has in all of the other ones.
I agree with you two in the fact that the show probably isn’t going to generate the next Fedor or Randy. At the same time, you never know who is waiting for that one chance!