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 8^th 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 7^th season will begin April 2^nd 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.

Your arguments as to why Mixed Martial Arts are better than Boxing aren’t helping. In fairness to you, a Boxing fan’s slights against your sport don’t do them any favors either. I personally don’t get into NASCAR much, but mocking it to anyone that will listen won’t diminish the sports/brands accomplishments or popularity. More to the point, I’m not accomplishing anything by telling people my interest is better. It’s good that people like diverse entertainment forms. It gets dull focusing on one thing. Not to mention some people find inspiration, redemption, or happiness in things other than all our own collective narrow in scope interests. MMA and Boxing have little to do with one another, and both will exist on TV, the internet, and sports pages in some form for the duration of all our lives. The same goes for NASCAR too.

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I won’t say that I hate boxing, because that would be a lie. I grew up watching Bruce Lee (who I personally think of as the first mixed martial artist), but I was enamored with great professional boxers. Namely classic footage of Muhammad Ali and growing up during the rise and fall of “Iron” Mike Tyson.

I denote my birthday two ways; it’s the date Tupac was fatally shot after a Mike Tyson fight (1996, my sixth birthday) and it’s the date that “Gentleman” James Corbett was crowned the first heavyweight champion under the Marquee of Queensbury rules, winning a 21 round fight.

That said, it needs to be remembered that boxing is not fighting, and has not been for many, many years. There was a time when there were many boxers who were, in fact, fighters. My greatest memory of those is Mike Tyson, which isn’t to say that he was the greatest (I’ll still give Ali that title), but because he’s the one I watched live growing up, and who’s career I eventually watched fall apart.

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