Official TUF 10 Heavyweight Announcement
By Josh Stein on Jul 10, 2009
Well, with the official roster released, we get yet another look at how frighteningly on point The Sun can be.
Here’s the list (there are a few names that have changed since; notably Jim York, who does not appear on the official roster released by Spike TV). I’ve listed what official MMA records I could find, and the asterisks next to the name indicate that the fighter is a true heavyweight (something that I’m going to write more about as the season draws closer). Names and notes below the fold.
Zak Jensen (7-3 MMA)
Marcus Jones (4-1 MMA)*
Scott Junk (6-2-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)*
James McSweeney (3-4 MMA)
John Madsen (1-0 MMA)
Matt Mitrione (0-0 MMA)*
Roy Nelson (13-4 MMA)*
Demico Rogers (1-0 MMA)
Brendan Shaub (4-0 MMA)
Darrill Schoonover (10-0 MMA)
Wes Shivers (0-0 MMA)*
Wes Sims (22-12-1-2 MMA, 0-3 UFC)*
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (3-1 MMA)
Abe Wagner (6-2 MMA)
Mike Wessel (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)*
Justin Wren (6-1 MMA)*
NOTES:
- James McSweeney is a British muay thai and kickboxing fighter and a Cage Rage veteran. While his record may look unimpressive, he has a great number of kickboxing fights as well as experience in the top tier of British heavyweight MMA.
- Matt Mitrione is a former NFL defensive lineman most noted for his time spent with the New York Giants (he also did a stint with the Minnesota Vikings). On the scouting reports, he is listed at 295 pounds, though a good deal of the fat NFL lineman put on from doing less than adequate cardio (which you don’t need during short periods of anaerobic play, but do need for MMA) will probably have dropped off.
- Demico Rogers is a well respected high school athlete with one MMA fight. Whether that fight is as a professional or amateur, I’m not sure, but it was listed by LockFlow as a 27 second armbar finish. Size listings have also not been located for Rogers.
- Brendan Shaub’s 4-0 record consists of four consecutive TKOs, all under the two minute mark.
- Darrill Schoonover may very well be the dark horse in the competition. His 10-0 record consists of 5 TKOs and 5 submissions. However, Schoonover is only around 220 lbs, and can certainly make the drop to lightheavyweight a la Rashad Evans.
- Wes Shivers is a former tackle for the Tennessee Titans and is listed in scouting reports at just under 300 pounds. Like Mitrione, he will have lost much of that weight, but will undoubtedly still cut to 265.
- For other notes on the listed fighters, see the scouting report prepared with the original, rumored cast.
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Comments (14)
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Hey Josh, TUF 10 Heavyweights By The Numbers.
The average weight for the competitors – 257lbs.
The median weight is 264lbs.
The heaviest fighter is 285*.
The smallest guys weight 235**.
Number of fighters without professional experience: 4
Number of fighters with 10 or more professional fights: 4
Number of fighter with 20 or more professional fights:
Wes Sims, 6-foot-10 Record: 22-12-1, 2 NC Age: 29
Number of fighters over 30 and over: 7
Oldest fighters age: 35 Marcus Jones and Kimbo Slice
Youngest fighters: 22 – Justin Wren, record 6-1
Number of fighters STOPPING Roy Nelson: ZERO
——————–
*Wes Shivers (285) has no fighting experience.
**Demico Rogers age 27 has no experience, the other guy is Kimbo Slice.
I’m not sure how ‘on point’ we can call The Sun when they dismiss Nelson as ‘best known for being knocked out by Arlovski’ Nelsons’s IFL title and submission grappling win over Jeff Monson stick with me better. And calling Schoonover a early favorite to win the whole thing is just astonishing.
Bob, there’s no doubt the Sun is full of incompetent writers (of course, no more so than the guys FOX Sports has covering the sport), but the fact that their rumored information was (with a few exceptions) god.
I think of Schoonover is a dark horse, and someone the UFC will definitely be picking up (though probably as a lightheavyweight). The guy’s a phenomenal fighter, but I’m with you on that. Anyone who doesn’t think Nelson is a big favorite this season is tripping on something.
Vee, the weight I found for Wes Shivers back when he was playing with the Titans was 298lbs. Obviously, he’s going to be lower than that now, but the dude is going to be huge. Also, Schoonover is the smallest fighter on the show, as far as I know, at 220ish pounds.
Oh, and Wes Sims is, I think, is one of the three tallest fighters to step in the Octagon, beaten out only by Semmy Schilt (between 7′ and 6′ll) and Gan McGee (6’10). Though Sims may actually be taller than McGee. Basically, the dude’s a f*cking giant.
Last report is that Schoonover is at 250 now. I don’t know if thats true, but I DID see a video where he was announced as 240. The guy definitely ain’t 220 anymore.
I bet they keep at least half these guys around in the UFC longer than just the UFC Fight Night Finale.
Also count me in as predicting we will be seeing Roy Nelson climbing to the top of the cage and doing that totally awesome belly rub at the end of this season.
Matt, that’s a good call. They need heavyweight prospects, and there are a lot of big guys with phenomenal athletic backgrounds and MMA experience in this season.
Michael, if Schoonover’s at 250, that guy’s going to be scary. He was a tough fight at 220, and a 250 pound, solid, fighter with that kind of versatility is going to give a tough fight to anybody.
They do need heavyweight prospects and so does everyone else. I don’t see the UFC wanting to lose out on any of the name value these guys will have after this season considering the ratings it might get. At least if everyone else is like me and is highly anticipating this upcoming season. Given the apparent potential talent from this group even this season’s losers could end up having a lot of name recognition value. So I see the UFC keeping at least half of these guys not only to bolster their heavyweight division but also to keep someone else from getting them right after the TUF finale.
Matt, I think you’re right. Everyone who wins their first round match, and even a few losers (if they’re competitive and impressive) could end up fighting in the UFC.
TUF always generates good name value, but I think you’re right that there’s high anticipation for this coming season, and that the anticipation and, hopefully, success will lead to a lot of good heavyweight prospects making the finale.
The last season didn’t even see that many fighters from the show in the finale (compared to other seasons), so hopefully they’ll fix that for season 10.
I would say all 16 could get a shot on the finale but that seems a bit of a stretch. I definitely think we could see at least 10 maybe even 12 of these guys fight on the Finale though.
There’s always a few disappointments, so I think that if the UFC really decides to pick it up and run with it we’re looking at 12 tops. Still, that’d be really cool.
I’d like to see an all heavyweight TUF finale. It doesn’t seem likely unless the UFC really chooses to pick up that ball and run with it, but I’d like to see that happen.
Maybe match up a few of the guys in the house with other guys in the division. Could put the loser of Barry vs. Hardonk in there against McSweeney, or matchups that might create similar interest (like having some of the football players go at it).
I could definitely get behind an all heavyweight TUF finale.
I like the idea of matching some of the guys in the house with guys already in the division. I also like the idea of matching up the ex-football players as a possibility.
There are a lot of guys in this house who are good enough to fight guys already in the division. No reason not to.
I definitely hope the UFC has the same ideas I do.
The real upswing for all of the HW fighters is losing is not really bad. For one, if they perform really well they can always be promoted use their TUF experience as a promotional tool and possibly make more money than they would if they entered the Octagon.
Whaddabout Ricco? Yeah fine he’s cool with Tito but . . . but what about Ricco in the HW division?
Rodriguez? Ricco’s sort of fallen apart. His submission game is still good, but he’s not athletic enough to compete with a lot of the wrestlers, and that’s a problem for him. Still, he might be a nice addition to the heavyweight division, and really test a lot of guy’s submission skills.
Maybe Ricco Rodriguez vs. Kimbo Slice in the TUF Finale?