Source
r/MMA•
ErrantStranger

An idea on how to revitalize the Ultimate Fighter.

I have heard a lot of people mention the show needs a reboot, and it is stale at this point. It got me thinking and I think the UFC should scrap the reality tv formula they currently have and they should integrate a grand prix for entry into the UFC. I think they could do multiple grand prix a year for the multiple division. I think it would build a natural excitement that people would want to watch, and would not be overshadowed by douchery and fragile egos.

What say you r/mma?

Posted Sep 17, 2012, 9:08 PM UTC

3861
DamnSevern•

Pick 4-8 fighters in a weight class already attending 'notable' gyms.

Follow said fighters as they train for a few months leading up to a tourney they must all compete in for a UFC contract/title shot type deal.

The dumb house drama and team vs team shit is so played out. I genuinely think fans would be interested in watching a show seeking out the next Ultimate FIGHTER not the next controversial and/or inspirational Big Brother contestant who knows a little Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai.

47
TheMeatballOfficial Naysayer•

I totally agree. Back when TUF started, it was a legitimate tool for finding fighters.

These days, if a fighter is good enough, he is hired by the UFC and doesn't have to go through TUF to prove himself. That means the majority of guys on the show aren't good enough to otherwise make it into the UFC.

Get the real UFC prospects and integrate that process into a television show. This already happens, they would just need to film it and format it for television. Make an official "bracket" instead of random fights against low-tier UFC fighters.

11
NFAFitness•

Yeah, Dana has gonna as far as to say that getting on TUF is easier if you are an entertaining guy and an okay fighter than if you are a boring guy but a great fighter.

Like Jon Fitch, and Benson Henderson, both TUF rejects.

5
[deleted]•

Back when TUF started, it was a legitimate tool for finding fighters

It was never this, Spike always had final say on who got into the house. It's always been a character search and not a fighter search.

1
TheMeatballOfficial Naysayer•

Absolutely, I just meant that the state of MMA at the time meant that there were legitimate fighters with skills and lots of potential being introduced via that show.

These days, most of the guys are not UFC material.

3
[deleted]•

These days, most of the guys are not UFC material.

I dont even know how to respond to this statement.

-1
hunterbass•

Make it like the Documentary Fightville. Followed Dustin Porier(spelling) and another fighter coming up through the amateur ranks trying to make it to the UFC. It was fantastic, heart warming, heart breaking, and just all around fantastic doc. It was great seeing these up and comers try to figure out there way. There was a great scene in which they make Dustin spar the other guy in the doc because other guy hasn't been showing up to practice. Dustin and their coach Tim Credur(spelling) proceed to give him a beat down of epic proportions. It's brutal. You feel for this kid but understand why they did it. To make him better. You have to be there everyday if you want to make it to the UFC.

1
ErrantStrangerOP•

This is definitely a solid idea. At least someone who appears to be a rising contender. Some of these fools win percentage is near/below .500. Which is astonishing.

5
Brian175•

Yeah good call. I honestly like seeing some of the train up and their daily lives a bit. Showtime did a bit on Ronda Rousey following her around like they usually do boxers and it was legitimately interesting to watch. A straight up tournament would take that aspect away.

5
[deleted]•

It's unrealistic wishful thinking. The reason is because they already do the documentary style follow the guy around through training camps and even with established stars it doesn't get ratings. I don't claim to know what the answer is, but I do know that there are at least two different kind of fans - The ones that care about the sport and the ones that care about the drama. PPV buys show that while the ones that care about the sport are more consistent, the ones that care about the drama bring in more numbers. Neither is better, I just think the ones that care blindly about the sport are going to go crazy until they start to accept the ones that are interested in the drama.

4
BurtDickinson#StopHunt2014•

Really? I didn't know those shows rated poorly. I really love UFC primetime and I like Fight Factory a lot too even though it's probably the most boring gym that could have gotten a show like that. Maybe the shows are just marketed poorly. If HBO's 24/7 does well then UFC primetime should too and a TUF version would be really entertaining.

1
philodox•

I wish they did it in that boxing super six format (the show with Andre Ward and Karl Froch). Really good TV. Daily training routines and lifestyle shot in documentary format focusing on two guys with their fight at the end.

1
mitchardUnited States•

MMA fans would like to see this, but I still don't think thats who they are trying to appeal to with TUF. I think they are banking on the reality show aspect of the show bringing in new fans that are hooked on the douchery and fragile egos.

11
immaculate_deceptionCanada•

Absolutely. If you look at the preview at the end of the prelims, the main focus was the drama among the fighters and not the fighting and training.

3
TheMeatballOfficial Naysayer•

Well training isn't exactly exciting. I don't want to watch 16 random guys doing conditioning work and drilling clinch techniques.

They can't show much of the fighting in previews because it gives away matchups and results.

3
ErrantStrangerOP•

I agree with that as well. It seems like people are finally tiring of that market. At least with flagships like Jersey Shore sinking and TUF numbers continuing to fall. Hopefully they will take it as a sign to drop the format.

1
TheDuckOnQuack•

Seeing as Jersey Shore only broke apart so each of the "stars" could have their own show, this doesn't seem likely. I'd love to see more of an emphasis on the sport rather than drama in future TUF seasons though.

3
neokeynesian•

Jersey SHore sinking? Pretty sure it was still the highest rated show in the male 18-34 demographic on the night that it airs. I'm no saying that's a good thing, but they aren't really in decline.

0
petrucci7469•

Unfortunately, this. As much as I would love to see OP's idea, it goes against the main reason TUF exist. It would only appeal to the dolts(myself included) who already drop $45 on the PPV's.

1
DeliciouslyUnaware•

Move it from Friday night to Wednesday night. Instantly more viewers from the target demographic.

I'm not staying in on a Friday night to watch 1-2 fights(nonames), when there's a full ppv or a fox card every other Saturday (big name fighters).

I'll commit one day of my weekend to watching fights, not two. I'd rather just record TUF and watch it saturday night before the full ppv card (and that way I can just skip to the fights)

10
jiveturkey1986•

I %100 agree. I never watch TUF on fridays, I'm not going to commit both my friday and saturday night to watching mma.

1
Laughin_Grass•

That's a shame considering there are some great mma events on Fridays on AXS (formerly HDNET).

1
YoungFlyMistaCanada•

This is the real answer. People talking about turning it into a tournament when it already is a tournament are way off.

1
thinksyourebullshit•

Do another TUF: The comback. Then do tournament style. Pre-select the fights and not have the round by round thing.

They are not going to get rid of the TUF house and I dont think there's another viable option; to house them or to film them.

Sex sells, if you dont have sex, violence works as well. They aren't going to stop putting in the booze and waiting for drama.

7
2WARMexico•

Remove the Reality TV show from it and stupid drama, make it like UFC primetime

6
TheMeatballOfficial Naysayer•

This is really the best bet IMO. Follow actual UFC prospects gearing UFC debuts. Set up tournaments in pools of 4 or 8 guys from the same weight class, do it with multiple classes, and make a card out of it.

1
hardMarbleCanada•

I like it, even go one further and have simultaneous GPs in different regions (North America, Asia, Europe, whatever) and a "world grand prix" champ every year.

3
KingEllis•

Show the athletes actually training. Not some herky-jerky series of 2 second clips. Actual training. Quit editing the thing like we all have attention deficit disorder.

Also, if I hear one more coach pretend to care as to who has control over the pick, I'll switch channels (until the 40 min mark when I know the fight starts).

And please, no more pranks. Relax the rules of the house: let them talk to their family, let them blow off steam in some way other than making the other house guests miserable.

3
wolflion•

its pretty elaborate to have live shows for guys who arent even on the payroll yet, wouldn't that be a lot of money and advertising space gone to waste? though it may not always be the best side we see, the reality of seeing the guys build towards their dreams in the house is what gives them their appeal once they are in the cage. do you ever wonder why people hate bisping? watch season three of TUF lol a tournament would be best in situations like when they opened up the new clean slate at one twenty five and let the guys go at it. its all too political now to get guys in there who have UFC wins under their belt to be slotted into a tournament, too much risk. it would have to be for like intermediate fighters, not quite TUF guys who may not make it, but like the lower class of a division to keep their name in the top five or ten could work. like a mini tourny of eight or four guys all coming off losses or who just switched weight classes could be sweet, let them fight for their spot as a main event against a top guy, how does that sound? this way they can commit to the whole tourny thing with ufc fighters with less loose ends, even embellishing the tourny aspect like giving its own show name and have gimmicky stuff like live draws like the japanese always do.

2
ErrantStrangerOP•

I think the reality aspect is killing their stars. On this new season, how many people were really likeable? The dude that smiled the whole time? It seems like the more I watch the Ultimate Fighter, the more it reinforces the stereotypes that a bunch of bullies, douches, and meatheads sign up for the show. Which is horrible to reinforce. The first seasons had fighters that broke that belief and really helped establish the complexity of someone competing in this sport. It just has devolved from all the seasons. I don't think a tournament would be any more than a season of the ultimate fighter. That could Bellator it as well and have it weekly over the course of a month. If they are looking for multiple shows to fullfill advertisement obligations , and it removes the stuff that has become redundant, and tiring. How many times can we see some douche get drunk and tear up a house like a prepubescent child?

2
wolflion•

those guys don't ever win though. on the surface it looks bad but if you pay attention to the show it is usually the queiter more mature and humble guys who do well. chiesa, sadollah, nelson, mcgee, dodson, joe daddy, it goes on and on. if you base it on what the promo of the show is, the one episode that has happened, where they highlight the inarguably entertaining idiots who will eventually lose the show, then yeah, it looks like a bunch of douches, but in the long haul the message is usually the guys with their heads on straight win. how does it hurt their stars? the guys who win and stick around are all more popular and have solid fan-bases, it is great for the fighters who use the opportunity well. and the star coaches who fight eachother in the end always makes for a better bout ala the best knockout in ufc history, bisping v hendo.

2
ErrantStrangerOP•

I think it hurts because they already have their market secure, so they are trying to pull in other viewer bases at this point. If that new group can't get pass the first episode, then it has already failed. I know they don't typically win, but it still hurts the sport by association alone. They bill it as 'these are the rising contenders, the future of mma' and even if the 1 out of the 16 that isn't a douche wins, they have associated the other 15 with that thesis and it is typically embedded in most viewers.

1
wolflion•

no they are trying to generate more notable names, they know most people watching are already mma fans. i don't think it hurt efrain escudero to argue with junie browning, it showed who has real character, especially when they eventually lose. i don't buy the whole tarnishing by association for all the talented proffesional athletes whom, if you watch the show at all, contrast heavily with the immature and drunk douches, who ususally only act up once a year. most episodes aren't about it and its overall a pretty shallow and inaccurate reading of TUF.

2
turkeypants•

Since they can't watch tv (or read books?) in the house, it would be nice if there were an ongoing activity they could participate in in the house so we don't have to watch them just go stir crazy masturbate into each other's food and get drunk and bow up and flip out like usual. It would be fun if there were some kind of ongoing nonviolent game and a running point total for the whole show and the winner got some prize good enough to motivate them to want to do well and win it. No idea what it would be, but it would be fun. There could be special challenges and stuff like on Survivor or the cooking tournament shows. Immunity and bonuses and all that. Just something to let them have fun and have a sub plot to the show that wasn't meathead douchebaggery and penis measuring. They've got the house, the yard, the pool, the street they live on. Light/easy physical stuff, games, puzzles, individual stuff, team stuff. It could be fun.

2
slackX•

Make another heavyweight TUF . The season with rampage vs rashad was the best in my honest opinion.

2
TheMeatballOfficial Naysayer•

It was a decent season, but the fights were mostly terrible.

2
Dreadnaught_IPA•

I agree. Those fights were good for about the first half of the first round, then all the fighters would get gassed. Most out-of-shape group of fighters the UFC has ever branded.

1
Blakestra•

They are currently casting for middles and light heavies.

1
Burkett•

Kimbo was the reason that season was so successful for ratings.

1
WookieesGoneWildUnited States•

How bout show it any other fucking night than Friday. Who the fuck thought that would be a good idea?

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2
[deleted]•

Make a female version of the show. "The ultimate fighterette"

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
ElanthiusUnited Kingdom•

They definitely need a commentator for the fights. A crowd might be expensive and difficult to put together but how hard would it be to have someone talking while the fight is happening?

2
BeenALurkerTooLong•

Dana once that the tuf guys don't deserve a commentator yet. I think its stupid as it is a show for casual fans who might have no idea what the are looking at.

1
[deleted]•

more alcohol

1
vikhound•

I think the Bellator format could work quite well for the UFC.

I do think that the TUF drama is a selling point for a number of casual fans though.

1
NFAFitness•

I'm okay with the current formula, just not the day it airs.

If it aired on Weds, like it did since forever ago. I would still watch it.

Apparently FX has a different opinion though.

I feel like the UFC is spreading itself too thin.

1
JackkHammerr•

I think it would be kinda cool if they went back to what they did with the 1st season a little bit and did random challenges again. Something just to mix up the same old routine they do every episode.

1
ololcopter•

Whatever you do, guys, DON'T let Bellator know about this.

1
[deleted]•

The ultimate fighter is pretty much a tournament already but it's goes on team aspect big time.

I would like to see maybe 1/2 the amount of fighters and have them be followed by cameras seeing them train in big name gyms to fight in a all out tournment to see who wins. Problem with that is i can't see how they would stretch it to how many episodes they need.

1