Has TUF jumped the sharK?

[chico76]

I believe I said this before but I thought a team of USA prospects and and a team of of brazilian prospects with captians like Hendo and Silva before thier fight or something like put the show in Brazil.

[sandywh]

I'm all for the drama of things, but I'd like to see them showcase the gym work more. Season 3 & 5 showed quite a bit more gym work than this season. I know the house is where all the craziness happens, but I'd still like them to show these guys being pushed to their limits. Every season has its own little sub plot, and this season just seems to be a good guy / bad guy bit. Serra's guys try to be as immature as possible, while Hughes guys whine and bitch about it. Next season will likely be a bit different, but we'll see. I still enjoy the show. Its not about fights and fighting for me. Its a reality show and I watch it for the foolishness.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by da@LARGE

I also think they need to allow the audience to get to know the fighters better, besides just on the episodes they fight.

Show them training, have them talk about their careers, let the coaches talk about them more.

If the UFC is gonna continue to push TUF veterans more than other guys then I think they could do a better job building them up.

I think the show itself is godawful. I tivo them, so I try about every 3 weeks to actually watch an episode, but fast forward to the fights.

I find I don't want to know about the fighters as people, because I wouldn't like any of them. I'm sure it's editing*, but the more I know, the more I find nothing to admire about them as individuals beyond their relative skill in the cage.

That could potentially change, if the interview moments were more focused on their individual histories and their goals beyond "I wanna kick [fighter X]'s ass."

I think you'd get a more focused show with less bullshit drama if you gave the guys TV and video games but denied them alcohol.


My biggest issue is that Dana has said for 3 years running "the next season will blow you away" or some such shit. And the seasons have gotten successively suckier, in my opinion. So now, when he hypes a new season, I just assume less fights, more soap opera.

rh

*OK, editing and the fact that I'm an asshole. I'll give you that.

[da@LARGE]

Well, Dana's said that the reason the first TUF season led to the increased popularity of MMA is because it showed how much these guys go through to prepare for fights.

Why not stick with that formula? Instead he keeps trying to promote the show as a bunch of guys in a house acting nuts. I'm not just saying this as a hardcore fan, but I believe that the series is a tremendous tool for educating newer fans.

They could use it to teach submission holds, ground positions, fighter fitness, injuries, anxiety leading up to and during the fights. All the things that casual fans don't really understand.

They could make people truly appreciate the sport, but instead we get a half hour of some messed-up kid shitting in the wrong end of a toilet.

[DurtyCurty]

Originally Posted by chico76

I believe I said this before but I thought a team of USA prospects and and a team of of brazilian prospects with captians like Hendo and Silva before thier fight or something like put the show in Brazil.

And they can dip their hands in tar and rub them in broken glass and thumb tacks ala Rambo II. I think the show is only as good as the coaches. To start the coaches have to have that "so hot right now factor" going back to the first season with Chuck and Randy. Also I think they gave up on the mini-competition angles too soon and need to bring them back. Also no alcohol it is so lame to use this trick for cheap drama. I actually did not feel like I was watching The Real World when there was drama during the mini-comps, it was more entetaining for the guys to use their time this way.

[da@LARGE]

I agree that they need to step up the competitiveness between the fighters. Both the viewers and the fighters know that each guy's probably getting a shot in the UFC regardless of how he performs on the show.

My idea was to have each fighter who loses in the preliminary round then compete again for a spot on the finale. That would mean they'd have to keep training hard, and this might effect the overall tone of the show.

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by da@LARGE

I agree that they need to step up the competitiveness between the fighters. Both the viewers and the fighters know that each guy's probably getting a shot in the UFC regardless of how he performs on the show.

My idea was to have each fighter who loses in the preliminary round then compete again for a spot on the finale. That would mean they'd have to keep training hard, and this might effect the overall tone of the show.

No doubt, then they would stay focused and wouldn't be sitting around all day thinking bout there girlfriends, shoving shit through the walls, and taking shits in the tops of toilets. I definetly think its good though once they loose hae a loser bracket and a winner bracket, make the losers contract for a good some of money and they could al fight at the finals.

[mcdev88]

maybe they should take old fighters that have kind of lost their way and put them in the house and have them battle for a title shot. that would be dynomite!!!!

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by mcdev88

maybe they should take old fighters that have kind of lost their way and put them in the house and have them battle for a title shot. that would be dynomite!!!!

Wasn't that called The Ultimate Fighter 4. Good idea but they did that last season. Maybe they should take a group of people that have never had any kind of training but are willing to mix it up. Then we will really see some funny ass fights.

[mcdev88]

Originally Posted by damienmasters

Wasn't that called The Ultimate Fighter 4. Good idea but they did that last season. Maybe they should take a group of people that have never had any kind of training but are willing to mix it up. Then we will really see some funny ass fights.

o ya i was being sarcastic. it was by far my least favorite season.