MMA-URLS

It's been said from the very start that the UFC's move to Fox would have an adjustment period where fans would have to look for their favorite shows, and the ratings might suffer a bit. That makes sense in some cases, but not in the case of TUF Live, where ratings have steadily gone down since the show began on FX back in early march. The debut episode drew 1.3 million viewers. Last Friday's eleventh episode drew just 821,000. That's the lowest number in the history of The Ultimate Fighter. The show featured two live fights and an added bonus where they announced who TUF coach Urijah Faber would be facing at UFC 148 after opposing coach Dominick Cruz had to bow out with an ACL tear. It turned out to be Renan Barao. Dana White has stated in the past that he's happy with the TUF Live ratings, but they plan to shake things up for the next season. That definitely seems like a good idea at this point.

Posted in: tuf, rating, debut episode, adjustment period, ufcs move

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

MMA Junkie reports that last Friday’s TUF Live on FX scored an all-time low of 821,000 viewer average.  Its the second time this season that the series has set its all-time ratings low. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers TUF Live Episode 4:  1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 5:  947,000 viewers TUF Live Episode 6:  1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 7:  1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 8: 929,000 viewers TUF Live Episode 9:  954,000 viewers TUF Live Episode 10: 948,000 viewers Payout Perspective: This is disappointing considering there were two fights on the card and we got to know the fighter that would replace Dominick Cruz.  We’ll see what the numbers are for the Countdown show which followed TUF Live.  If it did better, we might deduce that TUF Live just isn’t doing it for UFC fans this time around.

Posted in: tuf, episode, ufc fans, viewer, viewers tuf

Read the full article at MMA Payout

We're down to four! The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 15, episode 11, showcased the last two quarterfinal match ups, as well as the revealing of who will fill the shoes of injured TUF coach and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz in the UFC 148 co-main event versus Urijah Faber. The first quarterfinal bout saw Vinc Pichel of "Team Cruz" win a very close decision victory over "Team Faber's" Chris Saunders. The decision was somewhat controversial, as everyone in the building seemed to think a third, sudden-death round was coming, before UFC President Dana White entered the Octagon to make it know that the fight was done. In the last quarterfinal pairing, two members of "Team Faber" went to war, as Al Iaquinta was simply too much for Andy Ogle, en route to a first round KO victory that proved he is deserving of being "The California Kid's" first overall pick. After the jump, we'll take a look at the ramifications of this latest offering of TUF 15, as well as the post-episode 11 power rankings: The big news of the episode hinged on Urijah Faber's new opponent for UFC 148. It was announced by Dana White that Renan Barao will step in and fill the void and will take on Faber for the newly minted interim bantamweight title belt. As far as the rankings go, I don't want to toot my own horn, but "beep, beep." The rankings held up, and the bottom two fighters on the totem pole were eliminated. With that said, everything essentially stayed the same. The only change being that Saunders and Ogle have dropped off from the bottom. It will be interesting to see if that's a statement that can be made after next week. There is no great disparity in talent between any of the final four. If you think it sounds like I'm setting up an excuse, I can neither confirm nor deny that sentiment. At any rate, here are the TUF 15 power rankings as they currently stand: (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Michael Chiesa (1)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) James Vick (3)4) Vinc Pichel (4)Chris Saunders, Andy Ogle (RIP) The semifinal match ups were announced by Dana White. The pairings make for some intriguing stylistic bouts. They also allow for the possibility of our #1 and #2 ranked fighters to see each other in the final. Here are the fights that we can look forward to for next week: Michael Chiesa vs. James Vick Al Iaquinta vs. Vinc Pinchel It should end up being a dynamic night of MMA combat as the final four battle it out for the right to fight for the UFC six-figure contract. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" episode 11 right here.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, ranking, faber

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., May 11, 2012) with episode 11 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And this time they had one hell of a hook to get viewers to tune in. Indeed, with the series moving to a live format this season, that provided the promotion an opportunity for something unprecedented. When Dominick Cruz blew his knee out, it left a gaping hole in the UFC 148 fight card set for July 7, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was decided he would continue coaching throughout the remainder of the season but his previously scheduled opponent and rival coach, Urijah Faber, would need a new foe for the Independence Day weekend extravaganza. So the UFC used the situation to tease fans into watching last night's episode in wait for the big reveal of who Faber's opponent would be, though word had been circulating through mixed martial arts (MMA) circles throughout the past week. As it turned out, the rumors were true and Renan Barao revealed himself to be the lucky man to fill the void left by Cruz. He and Faber will battle for the interim bantamweight championship in less than two months. Yippie! As for the rest of episode 11, it was fairly uneventful, despite another show featuring two fights and very little fluff. In fact, we were treated to maybe 15 minutes worth of training montages and back story. By now, that's a welcome change. Unfortunately, last week's stellar episode cast a long shadow over this week's proceedings. Vinc Pichel and Chris Saunders engaged in a plodding two round affair that saw the former take his coach's advice to heart en route to grinding out a majority decision. Blah. The second bout saw a far more thrilling conclusion, as the cold and calculated Al Iaquinta blasted Andy Ogle into next week with one of the prettiest standing elbow strike knockouts in recent memory. It was somewhat bittersweet, considering Ogle was one of the few fighters in the TUF house who showed real emotion that allowed fans to feel somewhat invested in his progress. He overcame his demons to win his elimination fight but was felled here. At least he'll likely end up fighting on the Finale card. Speaking of which, we're down to the final four and the semifinals will play out next week in the form of Michael Chiesa vs. James Vick and Vinc Pichel vs. Al Iaquinta. The winners will meet on June 1 in Las Vegas for the coveted glass trophy and six-figure contract with the UFC. It's almost over, Maniacs. Hang in there. You know I am. For complete results and the running live blog of TUF 15, episode 11 click here.

Posted in: ufc, week, tuf, episode, faber

Read the full article at MMA Mania

TUF coach Urijah Faber will face Renan Barao for the interim UFC bantamweight crown. UFC President Dana White announced the decision on TUF: Live earlier tonight. While the UFC clearly wanted to go for a surprise by having multiple bantamweights tweet reminders to watch TUF tonight on FX, the surprise apparently did not work according to White. Faber had been set to fight fellow TUF coach Dominick Cruz in the rubber match of their rivalry until an injury forced Cruz to withdraw. UFC 148 is headlined by a UFC middleweight title rematch between rivals Chael Sonnen and champion Anderson Silva. Faber vs. Barao will be the co-headlining fight that evening. The card will take place July 7 in Las Vegas. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, bantamweight, tuf, faber, coheadlining fight

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Stateside mixed martial arts (MMA) fans can now join the party. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), the promotion's popular reality television show designed to produce new and up-and-coming stars from a pool of undiscovered talent, is currently wrapping up its "Brazil" season on Globo, featuring Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as head coaches. While TUF fans were able to catch a weekly live stream on UFC.tv, the series will now be shown in its entirety on FUEL TV beginning June 10, 2012 at 10 p.m. ET, with English subtitles. The delay in Brazil's broadcast debut was to avoid counter-programming TUF 15: "Live" which is currently airing every Friday night on the FX Channel. At the conclusion of the season, which premiered back on March 25, Silva and Belfort will face off for Brazilian bragging rights, as will the finalists in both the featherweight and middleweight divisions. Even though the UFC will tie a ribbon around the "Brazil" series before it concludes on FUEL TV, it should still provide its share of thrills. Who's tuning in?

Posted in: tuf, tv, brazil, fuel tv, fuel

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The next season of The Ultimate Fighter will feature the United Kingdom vs. Australia and it appears a pair of TUF alumni are being talked about as team-heads. The series is slated to start in the fall, and when it does Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos may very well be the coaches. The Telegraph was first to report Pearson-Sotiropoulos were being targeted to lead the squads. Pearson (13-5) is a former TUF champion, claiming the crown in Season 9. He was recently arrested for DUI in Las Vegas, but the UFC doesn’t appear to be punishing him for the offense. The Brit is currently set to face Cub Swanson at UFC on FX 4 in June. Sotiropoulos, who is Australian, was looking like a future title-contender but is now on a two-fight losing streak after defeats to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos. He is also former Ultimate Fighter, reaching the semifinals on Season 6, and has racked up wins inside the Octagon against Joe Stevenson, Kurt Pellegrino, and Joe Lauzon. TUF: Australia vs. UK is holding tryouts for fighters between 135-170 pounds. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fighter, pearson, tuf, sotiropoulo, june sotiropoulos

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Over the past few months UFC featherweight Ross Pearson has gotten a glimpse at what it takes to be a coach on the Ultimate Fighter as part of Dominick Cruz’s staff on the current season. He also knows what it’s like to be a contestant on the long-running reality series as a former competitor who won his respective go at a TUF title. Now it appears he’s in line to come full circle by serving as a team-head on the show’s upcoming run in Australia. According to a report from British publication The Telegraph, Pearson is being targeted for TUF: Australia vs. UK with fellow former TUFer George Sotiropoulos serving as the other squad’s leader. Auditions for fighters are currently ongoing with lighter weights being targeted for the season (135-170 pounds). It is unknown if the two will fight each other after the show as has been the case on past versions of TUF, though Sotiropoulos is currently a lightweight while Pearson – a former 155er – competes at featherweight. Pearson Arrested for DUI Sotiropoulos holds an overall record of 14-4 and was at one point on the cusp of title-contendership but has last his last two. He was last seen in July and hasn’t fought since for health-related reasons. However, the 34-year old is one of the few fighters on the UFC’s roster who hails from Australia and he certainly enters the cage with a wealth of knowledge. Comparably, Pearson is 13-5 but coming off a win over Junior Assuncao in late December. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, pearson, tuf, australia, sotiropoulo

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fans wondering where lightweight standout and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season six veteran George Sotiropoulos would turn up next, may have finally found their answer. According to a report from The Telegraph, he's a frontrunner to coach the next season of the combat sports reality show opposite fellow TUF alum (and eventual champion) from season nine, Ross Pearson. TUF 16: "The Sm-Ashes," a "play on the 130 year-old cricket rivalry" between Australia (Sotiropoulos) and the United Kingdom (Pearson), have already announced tryout dates for next month in both countries for aspiring mixed martial arts (MMA) up-and-comers between 135-170 pounds. Sorry Tim, no heavyweights. Pearson (13-5), who was recently submitted by Johnny Law, is scheduled to fight Cub Swanson next at UFC on FX 4 at the Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sat., June 12, 2012. "Sots" (14-4), meanwhile, has been flying under the radar since back-to-back losses to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos. What's your take on this potential pairing? For more information on the next season of TUF click here.

Posted in: season, pearson, tuf, sotiropoulo, johnny law

Read the full article at MMA Mania

In what may have very well been the most exciting show of the season, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live," episode 10 brought major mixed martial arts (MMA) fireworks with the first two quarterfinal match ups between "Team Cruz" and "Team Faber." The episode also showed the footage of when it was announced to both teams (and Urijah Faber) for the first time that Dominick Cruz had injured his knee and would be withdrawing from his fight against Faber at UFC 148. It was a moment that was handled well, considering the animosity between the two. In the first quarterfinal bout, James Vick continued his quest to prove that he's no fluke by defeating the very tough Joe Proctor with a unanimous decision victory that showcased his toughness and determination, despite how "green" he still is as a fighter. The second contest will probably go down as the best and most exciting fight of the season (at least thus far) as Michael Chiesa was able to take number one overall pick Justin Lawrence into the deep water of the third round and pound him out, securing the technical knockout win and the right to move on to the next round. Let's take a look at what the TUF 15 power rankings look like after 10 action-packed episodes: Ok, so let's talk about the shake-up in the numbers caused by the results of the fights in episode 10. You've heard it said: "If you wanna be the man, you gotta beat the man." There's a lot of truth to that. It's why I decided to shoot Chiesa up to the top of the totem pole after his win over Lawrence. I'm sure I'll catch some flack for it. It's a little wild for a guy to shoot from fifth to first in one week. But I have two reasons to justify the decision. 1) After seeing this last fight, I think there's a good chance I undervalued Chiesa on the whole. It's entirely possible that he should have been higher than number five, this whole time. 2) He didn't just win a decision. There was no controversy. Chiesa took everything Lawrence had to give, gave it back to him (and then some), and then he finished him, just like he said he would. It's nice and clean and tidy, with a bow on top. He beat the guy who was supposed to be the best. That makes him the new best, no? Other than that, I think it all worked out as you would assume it would. Vick moved up a slot for his win and is now at number three. Everyone else (other than Iaquinta) moved up one by default. So, after 10 explosive episodes of TUF 15: "Live" on FX, here's the way the power rankings stack up: (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Michael Chiesa (5)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) James Vick (4)4) Vinc Pichel (6)5) Chris Saunders (7)6) Andy Ogle (8) Joe Proctor, Justin Lawrence (RIP) The next two quarterfinal match ups were announced by UFC President Dana White. Here's what we've got to look forward to in episode 11 next week: Vinc Pichel vs. Chris Saunders Al Iaquinta vs. Andy Ogle You won't wanna miss it, as the quarterfinal round comes to a close, and we get one step closer to crowning a champion and rightful heir to the UFC six-figure contract. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" episode 10 right here.

Posted in: tuf, episode, number, lawrence, chiesa

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The final 8 start off their tourney as we get closer to the end of the first live season for TUF.

Posted in: season, end, tuf, episode, quarterfinal

Read the full article at Low Kick

UFC president Dana White made an announcement Friday night during The Ultimate Fighter: Live, but it wasn’t quite the one everyone was hoping for. White announced that Urijah Faber’s new opponent for UFC 148 would be named next week on TUF: Live, leaving those to ponder another seven days who it might be. UFC bantamweight [...]

Posted in: ufc, week, opponent, tuf, urijah

Read the full article at MMA Convert

When Justin Lawrence walked on to the set of TUF Live, little was known about him. He was just 21 years old and had fought just three times professionally. Within weeks, though, he had made quite an impression on the mixed martial arts world.After knockout wins over WEC veteran James Krause and PRIDE vet Cristiano Marcello, Lawrence suddenly rocketed from unknown to favorite. To meet that fate, he'll have to go through the emotionally charged Michael Chiesa on Friday night in the quarterfinals of TUF Live.Chiesa's story has been a sad but inspirational one, as he lost his father just weeks ago, flying home for the funeral and returning to Las Vegas within 24 hours. He's fighting partly for the memory of his father and partly for his own dream. Even though the wound is still fairly fresh, Chiesa can already look back and gauge his resilience by his own actions and behavior in the midst of the crisis. About three weeks after learning his dad died, Chiesa fought and won."I've proven how tough of an individual I am just by staying here, but as far as my fights go, I wasn't happy with my win at all," he said during a recent conference call. "I only showed a fraction of my skills. I had a lot of things I had to overcome. Just to get in there and fight, there were a lot of things I had to mentally overcome. I think a lot of the guys here would understand that."Despite more time behind him, he's still considered the underdog this time around. That's fine with him, though opponent Lawrence says his own designation as tournament "favorite" means nothing."Honestly, I don't really even think about that," he said. "Once we get in that cage, we’re 0-0. We don't have records anymore. It's my skill-set vs. his skill set, and whoever can strategize and execute their game plan the best is going to win that victory. I don't really think about who is the underdog or who is the favorite, especially if I'm the favorite. Michael Chiesa is no joke, and he's going to be a top-level Michael Chiesa when he comes into that cage, so I've got to be ready and prepared and execute my game plan."Chiesa isn't shying away from the tags."I like the matchup," Chiesa said. "Justin's a very tough guy. I've got a lot of respect for him. He's done a lot of great things in his career. He's got a very bright future ahead of him. A lot of people outside the house have him favored as the No. 1 pick. That’s what I want, man. I came here to test myself against the best. There's no cupcakes here. Justin's definitely far from that. But I only showed a very small fraction of my skill set after I've overcame a lot of mental things. I look forward to getting out there and showing how good of a fighter I really am and putting on a good show for the fans."Many have been impressed with Lawrence's poise and maturity at such a young age. It's something that comes from a lifetime in the martial arts. He says he was "born and raised" in the gym, and in a way, it's all he knows, having trained twice a day for most of his young life.Lawrence is good enough that he's already spent considerable time training with Team Blackhouse, including longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Not surprisingly, an experience like that is certainly a confidence booster when you're going into a tense competition like TUF Live."The fight to get in the house, I remember in the locker room, I said, 'All these guys are tough, real good, but I guarantee you none of them stood toe-to-toe with Anderson Silva before,'" he said. "It helped me to get into the house. When we had the fight to get in, there were so many emotions flying around. It's one of most pressured fights I’ve ever been in because you've seen other fighters come back so happy with the win, the others come back crying because they end up losing. So it is a confidence booster, but you can't overlook anyone in MMA. Once you start doing that, the outcome is not going to be pretty, I promise you that."This season of TUF has been marked by the professionalism in the house. The hijinks have been kept to a minimum and most, if not all of the fighters have been very serious about progressing their careers. That's been a welcome development for the fighters in the house, but it also means the competition is about to be turned up a notch or two with every passing round."We kind of lucked out," Lawrence said. "We’ve got a great group of guys here that are all very determined and want one thing. The life that we want is out there, we’ve just got to go grab it now."

Posted in: tuf, lot, he, lawrence, chiesa

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The Ultimate Fighter is coming to Australia. UFC officials announced Thursday night that the rumored series The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK will go into production later this year. This marks the second international edition of TUF following this year's TUF: Brazil, which wraps up in June.TUF: Australia vs. UK will feature bantamweights and welterweights. Tryouts will be held June 12 in Sydney and June 15 in London. Australian fighters hoping to try out must register here, while English fighters must sign up here. The reality show will be filmed in Australia; however, the promotion did not announce whether it will air in North America. TUF: Brazil aired on TV in Brazil and on UFC.com for international viewers. This marks the second country vs. country matchup on TUF. TUF 9 featured US fighters vs. UK fighters with coaches Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping leading the way. The UFC will announce the coaches for this series at a later date. The tag line for TUF: Australia vs. UK is "The Smashes," which is a play on the 130-year old cricket rivalry between the two nations.

Posted in: fighter, vs, tuf, uk, australia

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

First stop: Brazil. Next stop: Australia. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced the second international edition of its The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) mixed martial arts (MMA) reality television franchise this evening, setting its sights "Down Under." Unlike its expansion into Brazil earlier this year, however, the Australia version will also feature a United Kingdom flavor. In fact, the series has been dubbed "The Smashes," which is a "play on the 130 year-old cricket rivalry" between the two countries. Marshall Zelaznik, UFC's Managing Director of International Development, had this to say about the latest international foray in a recent press release: "Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC's OctagonTM. The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn't had the chance to show the world what he can do -- The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We're going to discover the UFC's future stars, you can bet on it." Live tryouts for TUF: "The Smashes" are scheduled for June 12, 2012, in Sydney, Australia, and June 15, 2012, in London, England. MMA hopefuls who weigh from 135 pounds to 170 pounds (61 kg to 77 kg), are between 21 and 35 years of age and have had at least three verified professional fights (having won two), are encouraged to audition for the show. For more information Australian prospects should visit au.ufc.com/TUFForm (Aus), while those who hail from the U.K. should hit up uk.ufc.com/TUFForm for registration forms, rules and qualification criteria. TUF: "The Smashes" coaches are unknown at this time; however, the list of possible candidates isn't very long.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, australia, smashe, candidates isnt

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by TurdJangler [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: tuf, turdjangler, shit, min

Read the full article at Reddit

The UFC on Thursday announced its second edition of TUF international. The Smashes will feature fighters from Australia against fighters from the U.K. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: tuf, australia, bull, australia vs, uk retweet

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Watch as contestants on the current season of "The Ultimate Fighter LIVE" get a unique opportunity to grill past TUF fighters about their time in the

Posted in: fighter, season, tuf, tuf fighters, grill

Read the full article at Low Kick

Watch as contestants on the current season of "The Ultimate Fighter LIVE" get a unique opportunity to grill past TUF fighters about their time in the house.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, tuf fighters, video ‘, grill

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

In case you were abducted by aliens or drank too much last weekend and don't remember what happened on Monday, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz blew out his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), forcing him to withdraw from his upcoming UFC 148 title defense against arch nemesis and opposing Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" coach Urijah Faber. "The California Kid" is currently expecting a late replacement and will fight for the newly-created Interim title. So how does that affect the coaching dynamic on the FX channel's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality show? As my colleague Kevin Haggerty touched on late last night, the show must go on, and Cruz will remain in charge of his team until the upcoming live finale on June 1, 2012. UFC President Dana White explains why: "Cruz will stay on. Cruz has done a phenomenal job coaching his team. The thing had a chance to become even the other night, if Rio would have won, but Ogle beat him. It's still neck-and-neck, so, yes, he will stay a coach." Hear more from the promotion's head honcho as he breaks down the change in plans for UFC 148 and beyond, after the jump. For more on "The Dominator's" knee injury click here and here. For more on the current season of TUF 15 click here.

Posted in: ufc, coach, tuf, cruz, arch nemesis

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Out of fifteen versions of the Ultimate Fighter only a few truly stand out. One of those is unquestionably TUF 4: The Comeback where a group of UFC veterans were given a second shot at redemption inside the Octagon with each divisional winner earning a title-shot in the process. The season re-introduced the public to fighters like Chris Lytle, Jorge Rivera, Patrick Cote, and Matt Serra (who ultimately went on to defeat Georges St-Pierre to become champion in the opportunity he’d earned on TUF). With ratings dipping down with the reality show’s transition to Fridays on FX it seems the UFC is weighing the possibility of doing another “comeback” season in hopes of sparking some more interest by using established athletes. People keep asking me about the comeback. It was a great season, and the craziest part of that whole season is Matt Serra wins it and actually wins the title; it was crazy. The answer is yeah, we’re looking to do a lot of different stuff now with (TUF 15) and that would be a fun one,” said UFC President Dana White in an interview with Fuel TV after this past weekend’s UFC on FOX 3 event. Currently Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz are coaching against each other on TUF 15. The show’s finale is scheduled for June 1 with the next season likely planned for a September start-date. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, season, tuf, ufc veterans, matt serra

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: shogun, tuf, mattyblayze, coaching, coaching tuf

Read the full article at Reddit

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) kept the good times rolling, as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 episode nine took place last night (May 4, 2012). In the episode, the preliminary match up round concluded with a bout between "Team Cruz's" Mike Rio and "Team Faber's" Andy Ogle. The match up pitted two of the lesser known fighters on the show, as well as the two gentlemen who have toiled at or near the bottom of our power rankings all season long. Based on the rankings and some of the behavior we've witnessed from both fighters this season, the viewers may have been justified in assuming that this fight would leave something to be desired as far as fireworks. That prediction would be incorrect, however, as Ogle proved that he's more than just the cast member most likely to be mistaken for a hobbit or a melancholy leprechaun. He's got some real power in his hands, and now Rio can testify to that first hand. After the jump, we'll talk more about episode nine, as well as the up-to-date TUF 15 power rankings: In this week's episode, fans got to witness the seasonal "Coaches Challenge," as coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber went toe-to-toe in an obstacle course that included some fitness challenges, as well as the firing of explosive weapons. After getting out to an early lead, Cruz got hung up on the grenade launcher leg of the race, when he had quite a bit of trouble hitting his second target. The slip up was all Faber needed to take the lead and never look back. The victory gave Faber and his team the opportunity to not just enjoy a few extra bucks, but also to rub it in and celebrate as ungraciously as possible. Par for the course, really. After nine wild episodes of TUF 15, we're finally down to the final eight. Here's how I have the fighters currently ranked: (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence (1)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) Joe Proctor (3)4) James Vick (4)5) Michael Chiesa (5)6) Vinc Pichel (6)7) Chris Saunders (7)8) Andy Ogle (9) Mike Rio (RIP) The first two quarterfinal match ups were announced, as UFC President Dana White that the following bouts would be taking place next week in episode 10: Joe Proctor vs. James Vick Justin Lawrence vs. Michael Chiesa It should make for a very interesting night of fights as the competition continues to build to a crescendo of violence. Make sure to tune in next week and catch MMAmania.com's LIVE coverage of TUF 15 episode 10. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" Episode 9 right here.

Posted in: fighter, week, tuf, episode, ranking

Read the full article at MMA Mania

I can't believe we've come so far. Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is deep into season 15 with eight episodes in the books and and the elimination fights inside the house almost completely done with. In fact, just one more remains. Last week's broadcast showcased a hell of a scrap pitting Team Dominick Cruz's Sam Sicilia taking on Team Urijah Faber's Chris Saunders, who was a heavy underdog coming into the bout. No matter, though, he gutted his way to a gritty victory and knocked out one of the early favorites to win the entire competition. Tonight's show will feature the final quarterfinal match-up between Andy Ogle, who still can't seem to get comfortable in his new digs at the TUF house and Mike Rio, who we know next to nothing about. We'll learn all about both tonight. Before one of them gets sent packing from the competition. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 10 p.m. ET, after the jump. ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15 EPISODE EIGHT RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG: Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, fighter tuf, blog geno

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 Champion Joe Stevenson takes on former TUF 15 contestant Dakota Cochrane at Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) 3: "Stevenson vs. Cochrane" from the Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska on June 30, 2012. Props: RFA Fighting

Posted in: tuf, stevenson, contestant, dakota, kearney nebraska

Read the full article at MMA Mania

This weekend, TUF 14 finalist Dennis Bermudez will return to action, facing Pablo Garza at UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Bermudez will look to bounce back from defeat to Diego Brandao at TUF 14 Finale, with sights on proving he's a force to be reckoned with in the UFC Featherweight division. Known for his excellent TUF 14 performances against Stephen Bass (TKO) and Akira Corassani (Submission), Dennis Bermudez is fighting out of Lindenhurst, New York, and represents Long

Posted in: tuf, bermudez, denni, pablo garza, jersey bermudez

Read the full article at Low Kick

submitted by letskillsometime [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: tuf, brazil, product, placement, letskillsometime

Read the full article at Reddit

MMA Junkie reports that the eighth episode of TUF Live averaged 929,000 viewers.  Its the lowest ratings ever for the TUF series. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers TUF Live Episode 4:  1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 5:  947,000 viewers TUF Live Episode 6:  1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 7:  1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 8: 929,000 viewers Payout Perspective: Did Zuffa execs think that the TUF franchise would fall this far in the ratings when moving it to FX and on Fridays? TUF Live went unopposed (no Bellator) last week and fell to the lowest point in the franchise. Its a sign that viewers are not really interested in this season.

Posted in: tuf, episode, viewer, viewers tuf, zuffa execs

Read the full article at MMA Payout

This is partially a warning to anyone who plans on watching Episode 6 of TUF Brazil, and also a rant to vent my frustration on the UFC website's latest screw up. First a warning. If you are planing on watching the episode, DO NOT go to the usual place on the UFC or TUF websites unless you want the episode to be spoiled. And if you don't mind spoilers, you still shouldn't bother because the video is unwatchable. When you click the web page to watch the episode, the still image that is on the page before you click play is a screenshot of Mario Yamasaki lifting the winner of the fight's hand. There is only 5 ****ing seconds of the whole episode that if made a screenshot would ruin the outcome, and they choose this one as the video's still photo. If that isn't bad enough, today they decided to put up a new style video player for episode 6 and it is the epitome of awful. Unanimously on any forum or MMA discussion I visit the comments say the player doesn't work for anyone, so it is not a matter of internet connection. It lags so bad you would have to wait a couple hours just to get the whole video to load, and even then, while playing it, it looks more like a slide show with series of still pictures. And god forbid during this terrible video you miss 5 seconds of subtitles and try to rewind, because in doing so it will start the video completely over and you cannot rewind or fast forward to your previous spot. Now, occasionally they put the episode up on the TUF site with another pretty crappy web player (but not as bad as the new one). Fortunately though, there is a different location under the "media" tab where you can watch the TUF Brazil episodes using a player similar to the one they use for live streams like prelims and weigh-ins. However, in today's perfect storm of shitty website design, the page with the more functional player is down for no reason. Anyway, I will post a link to a video that actually works and without the dumbass spoiler screenshot as soon one is available. So just a heads up for anyone who has been following the show. submitted by jmose86 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: video, tuf, episode, player, slide show

Read the full article at Reddit

Another summary of the first live season in TUF history.

Posted in: season, technique, tuf, episode, power

Read the full article at Low Kick

It's getting down to the nitty gritty for Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) reality series, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15. After last night's episode there's only one more fight until we've whittled it down to the final eight competitors. This week's episode saw coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber continue their juvenile bickering, but in episode eight, there was a girl involved, thus upping the ante. Everyone's favorite armbar queen, Ronda Rousey, appeared as a special guest coach for "Team Cruz." Her presence seemed to fuel the collective testosterone of both coaches, yet, disappointingly, the fellas in the TUF house had no idea what to do with the opportunity when "Rowdy" visited to watch UFC 145 with them in their den. In the LIVE fight, Sam Sicilia and Chris Saunders put on one of the better fights in recent TUF history, but Saunders was able to do enough in the judges' eyes to secure a decision victory after two gutsy rounds. After the jump, we'll take a look at the TUF 15 episode 8 post-fight power rankings: There were a couple slight changes in the rankings this week. In addition to Sicilia being knocked out of the competition and, consequently, out of the rankings, Saunders catapulted over Mike Rio with his episode eight win. It was a combination of Saunders' impressive win and how irritating Rio and his recurring knee problems are. Andy Ogle and Rio will battle it out next week, which is a good news-bad news scenario: The good news -- One of the two most annoying cast members will lose. The bad news -- One of the two most annoying cast members will win. I'll tell you what's not annoying, and that's the power rankings for TUF 15 after eight complete episodes: (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence (1)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) Joe Proctor (4)4) James Vick (5)5) Michael Chiesa (6)6) Vinc Pichel (7)7) Chris Saunders (9)8) Mike Rio (8)9) Andy Ogle (10) Sam Sicilia (RIP) After next week, the pairings for the quarterfinals of TUF 15 will be set. It's been an action-packed season with one of the most talented collections of fighters we've seen in the history of the show. What this season has lacked in pranks and fecal matter, it's certainly made up for with head-jarring striking and wars inside the Octagon. Make sure you tune in next week to see which fighter will advance and who will be eliminated. One thing is for sure, with Rio and Ogle involved, tears will be shed. You can take that to the bank. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" Episode 8 right here.

Posted in: week, rio, tuf, episode, saunder

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., April 27, 2012) with episode eight of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And if you bothered to tune in (no one would blame you if you didn't) then you saw the fight of the season. That's because Sam Sicilia, an early favorite thanks to his deadly combination of speed and power, and Chris Saunders, an unheralded but dangerous foe, went toe-to-toe for two rounds that had UFC President Dana White downright gleeful by the time the 10 minutes were up. In the end, the judges awarded Saunders the split decision victory, a huge upset considering the odds heading into the bout. Both men gassed, so a third round would have likely put a damper on the proceedings, but they had already put together a veritable TUF classic. It wasn't UFC pay-per-view main card level, necessarily, but I would feel comfortable saying it wasn't any worse than anything you might see on a Bellator telecast. And that ain't not bad, folks. Especially considering the 45 minutes you have to sit through to get to the live fight. This week's episode was highly uneventful. The first half of the show was centered mostly on the fact that Ronda Rousey was brought in by Dominick Cruz to train with the boys and show them a few tricks of the trade. All went well, too, until she got all gussied up and came to the house to watch UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" with the rest of the house. It was quite the sight to behold, some 20 guys acting like they'd never been around a female before. Rousey sat on the couch and while she looked like a million bucks, she must have smelled the complete opposite because no one would come within five feet of her. Her discomfort at the situation was palpable. You dudes are locked up in a house with no contact to the outside world and this beautiful woman comes strolling through and not one of you even has the balls to cozy up next to her? Fail. Even Urijah Faber called everyone out for freezing in the face of the "Rowdy" one. Outside of that, we got another lame prank from Team Faber, which consisted of "The California Kid" and his buddies stripping down to their skivvies and working out in Team Cruz's room. They sprayed water all over each other and screamed and acted like fools. Surely FX was pleased by the compelling television TUF was delivering on this fine Friday night. They'll be back to do it again next week, too. This time Andy Ogle -- who still isn't comfortable in front of the cameras -- will take on Mike Rio in the final elimination bout. Fun fun. For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode eight click here.

Posted in: ufc, night, tuf, episode, sam sicilia

Read the full article at MMA Mania

MMA Junkie reports that episode 7 of TUF Live airing Friday night received an average of 1 million viewers.  The ratings did not receive any bump from the UFC 145 as viewership remained the same from last week. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers TUF Live Episode 4:  1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 5:  947,000 viewers TUF Live Episode 6:  1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 7:  1 million viewers Payout Perspective: While the ratings did not slide, it’s interesting that the third episode of UFC Primetime saw a 13% bump in ratings yet TUF Live ratings remained the same.  One would think that TUF Live would receive a bit of an increase as a lead-in to the show.  Also, on the heels of a big UFC weekend, one would think people would want to watch some MMA.

Posted in: tuf, episode, rating, viewer, viewers tuf

Read the full article at MMA Payout

In this week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15, Vinc Pichel of "Team Cruz" was able to win an impressive submission victory over "Team Faber's" John Cofer in the sudden victory round. Episode 7 saw some of the fighters start to buckle under the pressure of being locked away in a house together with a bunch of strange dudes and kept away from their friends and families. The mounting pressure led Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White make an appearance to give the fighters an inspirational speech about enduring to the end. It was no "Do you wanna be a [expletive] fighter" speech, but the guys seemed to appreciate the words. As the end draws near, not only are some of the fighters starting to crack, but the tension between coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber really seems to be an all-time high. There are "made for tv" beefs, then there is genuine bad blood. This is the latter of the two. Let's take a look at the TUF 15 episode seven post-fight power rankings: Andy Ogle was my bottom man on the totem pole last week. With Chris Tickle gone, Ogle is the new favorite to keep the basement occupied. This week, his oddness reached new heights, as we were treated to a clip of him shadowboxing in a field, while giving himself a whispered pep talk. Afterward, he joined a couple of the guys up on the patio to tell them about a nightmare he had about his girlfriend. It's cool. I had nightmare once that kept me up and ruined my entire next day. Then I turned five. Ogle is a crier. That's fine, I guess, but when you add it to the fact that he writes adorable poetry about fighting and that he absolutely kind of reminds me of a hobbit, I just have trouble seeing this guy being a professional fighter in the UFC. I was wrong once before though. So, after seven full episodes of TUF grandeur, here's what my power rankings look like: (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence (1)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) Sam Sicilia (3)4) Joe Proctor (4)5) James Vick (5)6) Michael Chiesa (6)7) Vinc Pichel (8)8) Mike Rio (7)9) Chris Saunders (10)10) Andy Ogle (11) John Cofer (RIP) The score is now even between "Team Cruz" and "Team Faber." In an effort to break the tie, Sam Sicilia will square off against Chris Saunders in a 3-vs-9 match up that has upset written all over it. As the competitors get closer to the finish line, expect the drama to continue to percolate to a steady and eventual boiling point. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" episode seven right here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, team cruz, ogle

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., April 20, 2012) with episode seven of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And show coaches Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz have had their first official argument ... if you can call it that. One of the few interesting aspects of these weekly episodes is delving deeper into the contrasting styles of the two coaches. "The California Kid" is just that, a laid back surfer type who believes in the power of positive energy. "The Dominator," meanwhile, subscribes to a far more aggressive line of thinking. He believes in strength achieved through force. This was on full display when Cruz was shown all but berating Chris Tickle for the manner in which he was defeated last week by Joe Proctor. Upon seeing/hearing this, Faber was quick to throw some praise Tickle's way, telling him he did a good job and to keep his head up. "You should be proud of yourself," he was told. This sent Cruz into a fit of anger, telling his arch rival that he's hardly qualified to coach his own fighters, let alone the opposite team, the one the UFC bantamweight champion is in charge of. It was the first bit of real fire we've seen from anyone at the TUF house. It was kind of nice, too. But it didn't last and before long it was back to the same old, same old. In fact, the producers and editors of the show are very clearly running out of ways to make it interesting. Last night's episode featured a fight pitting John Cofer vs. Vinc Pichel in what turned out to be a fairly even match-up that Pichel won via submission (arm triangle choke) in the sudden victory round after the two had went to a draw in the opening two frames. It wasn't exactly an overly exciting affair but it was made worse by the fact that we were hardly given any background on the participants. Pichel is a striker, Cofer a wrestler. They want to win the competition and get their contract with the UFC. That's it. The entire episode showcased the underlying issue with attempting to run a reality television show centered around legitimate competition. Sometimes, these fellows just aren't very interesting. And with cameras rolling all the time, that costs a pretty penny. Which means the executives at FX want to see something worth putting on TV that will pull ratings. That's what leads to offshoot storylines they're really digging for, like the fact that Andy Ogle and Sam Sicilia are cracking under the pressure, albeit in different ways. Ogle can't handle the isolation and constant attention of the cameras while Sicilia is feeling the tight squeeze of the lofty expectations that come with being a high pick. He was selected number two by Cruz and he feels an added weigh to live up to that selection, which he will attempt to do next week. So there's a nice little storyline. They're also trying -- and failing -- to remind us that Sicilia is friends with Michael Chiesa. This is important because they're on opposite teams and other members of the house are worried that they'll share training secrets. Intrigue! The real desperation move came when UFC President Dana White showed up and tried to replicate his infamous "Do you want to be a f*cking fighter" speech from TUF season 1. And he couldn't do it. In fact, I'm not even sure what he said, other than FX bleeped him out about 28 times in the span of 45 seconds. I don't know about you but that's exactly what I want when I watch television on Friday nights. Like it or not, though, the show will go on and it continues next Friday night with a match-up pitting Sam Sicilia (mentioned previously) and Chris Saunders, someone we know absolutely nothing about. I guess we'll find out next week, won't we? For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode seven click here.

Posted in: ufc, night, tuf, episode, sam sicilia

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by nooger [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: tuf, brazil, nooger, ep

Read the full article at Reddit

A sneak peak at this Friday’s episode of TUF: Live. UFC Tonight airs every Tuesday at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT on FUEL TV.

Posted in: tuf, peak, bum ’, faber ‘, bum

Read the full article at MMA Convert

TUF Live Episode 6 garnered a 1 million viewer average as reported by MMA Junkie.  The number is slightly better than episode 5’s 947,000 viewer average – an all-time low for the TUF series. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers TUF Live Episode 4:  947,000 viewers Payout Perspective: Slightly better than the all-time low for the series.  As we’ve discussed throughout reporting these figures, there are many factors to attribute the lower ratings. But, we may need to just recalibrate our expectations of the series.

Posted in: tuf, episode, viewer, viewers tuf, mma junkie  

Read the full article at MMA Payout

MMA fans may get their third version of the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter franchise to consume as Fight Bulletin is reporting that a United Kingdom vs. Australia version is on the docket for this fall. There was no information given as to potential weight classes, but they did say an announcement should be coming in the next 30 days and that UFC on Fuel victor Brad Pickett is a frontrunner to coach the UK team. September 2012 is the expected launch date, but according to the story, there's some additional details to be worked out. The major decision for UFC officials to make is whether it will be a UK team or an England only team facing off against Australia in the show titled ‘The Smashes’. Providing it’s an UK team, Northern Ireland fighters will also be allowed to audition. Assuming the show will be aired in those markets first, the UFC would likely replicate what they're doing with TUF Brazil for North American fans, airing first on UFC.com and eventually on Fuel TV. Network VP George Greenberg said last week that the Brazil edition will begin airing after the current season of TUF concludes on FX.

Posted in: ufc, team, tuf, uk, uk team

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

An announcement detailing "The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. the U.K." is expected in the next 30 days, launching the next international version of TUF.

Posted in: vs, coach, tuf, uk, australia

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

This week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 saw Chris Tickle finally have to face the music and represent "Team Cruz" inside the cage, as he took on "Team Faber's" Joe Proctor in the sixth episode of the season last night (April 13, 2012) on FX. For the majority of the season, Tickle has appeared to be the weak link on his team and a constant sore spot for his coaches. After another standard, awkward verbal sparring session between coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, Tickle and Proctor hit the scales, made weight, stared each other down (while smelling each other's breath) and got ready for battle. When the dust settled, it was Proctor who emerged with his hand raised, after sinking in a deep rear-naked choke and forcing Tickle to tap his UFC dreams away. We can expect the drama to escalate rapidly now as "Team Faber" has taken the lead in the competition. Hopefully. After the jump, we'll look at the TUF 15 episode six post-fight power rankings: Again, most things are the same, outside of the two fighters who competed this week, as there was not a lot of external drama or excitement. With that said, I have to dock Mike Rio one spot for his continued and constant whining. I have a hard time knocking him down any farther than that, but there has to be some residuals for him being a little bit of a "drama queen." (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence (1)2) Al Iaquinta (2)3) Sam Sicilia (3)4) Joe Proctor (4)5) James Vick (5)6) Michael Chiesa (6)7) Vinc Pinchel (8)8) Mike Rio (7)9) John Cofer (9)10) Chris Saunders (11)11) Andy Ogle (12) Chris Tickle (RIP) Next week, John Cofer will step inside the cage to represent "Team Faber" against Vinc Pinchel as he attempts to get a win for "Team Cruz" to once again even the score. Things just keep ramping up and the action continues to mount as TUF 15 rolls on through another week of MMA fury. If you weren't able to catch all the LIVE action, no worries. Read a complete recap of TUF 15: "Live" Episode five right here.

Posted in: week, team, tuf, episode, tickle

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Team Faber's Joe Proctor outlasted the aggressiveness of Team Cruz's Chris Tickle en route to a submission win in episode six of TUF Live.

Posted in: team, tuf, proctor, tickle, recap proctor

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Bellator, XFC, TUF Live, TUF Brazil, BAMMA; in the six weeks that the UFC has been away, we’ve still had our fair share of MMA, but it feels good to have the familiar octagon back on Saturdays. The kick-off to what will be a very busy summer for everybody in the MMA world, UFC on [...]

Posted in: ufc, mma, tuf, share, summer

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Now that the Ultimate Fighter Brasil is underway, many fans have been asking the question why it has only been available online in locations other than Brazil, but not on television?

Posted in: tuf, fuel tv, brasil, tuf brasil, fighter brasil

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Are you ready for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) to be broadcast year-round? If you just answered with a Diego Sanchez-inspired, "Yes!" then you're about to get good news. Fuel TV's Executive Vice President and General Manager George Greenberg made the announcement earlier today (April 9, 2012) during a special conference call with the media before the upcoming UFC on Fuel TV 2 event in Stockholm, Sweden. Part of the plan is to not have the TUF: "Brazil" season interfere with the current season of TUF: "Live," which airs on sister station, FX. Once the current "Live" season finishes its run on FX, the TUF: "Brazil" replay will begin on Fuel TV this June. The goal isn't to be entirely up with the times -- the "Brazil" finalists are expected to fight each other at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012. On the contrary, it will be more to keep the plate warm for the next season of TUF on FX, which is scheduled to debut later this September. Greenberg explains it all after the jump: "We're probably going to air it in June and the reason why we're not airing it simultaneously is because we don't want to take any air out of the room promotionally for TUF on FX. TUF on Brazil is something that is airing in real time in Brazil and if you haven't seen it hear, that just means you haven't seen it here. In the wonderful world of time-shifting, as soon as TUF on FX is done, then we will premier TUF Brazil which will be a great promotional tool to lead into the next TUF on FX and it will be a constant give and a go between a series that is happening right here and now and a series that possibly did not happen at the exact same time that was going on in real time. So really, there isn't a lot of room in the world for two TUFs at one time and we wanted the first one to sit in there and plant, seat itself and we'll use the next one as a vehicle which I hear is wonderful and I've seen a couple. It's pretty raw and pretty intense and that will lead into TUF again which takes off on FX probably in September." Of course, if you don't feel like waiting, you can watch all the current episodes of TUF: "Brazil" live on en.tuf.tv and we'll continue running live results and update articles here on MMAmania to keep you current in case you need that immediate international fix. So what do you think of this idea? Will you be tuning in to a super-delayed season of The Ultimate Fighter? What do you think of the idea for having a season of The Ultimate Fighter airing year-round on the FOX team of networks? Opinions, please.

Posted in: time, fx, season, tuf, brazil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

If you haven't watched this season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX, you're missing out. It's expertly produced, the live format is significantly more engaging, much of the unpleasant, fabricated variety of ‘drama' has been mercifully stripped out and the talent is at least on par with previous seasons. But if ratings are any indication, the adjustments to the show and the changing of platform have not yielded the results Zuffa anticipated. The most recent episode of TUF: Live pulled in 947,000 viewers, thereby making it the lowest-rated episode in the history of the show. The season itself is on track to be the lowest-rated to date. How can that be? FX is in as many homes as Spike TV, the show was heavily advertised across a variety of sports media platforms and the addition of the live fight should have made the show more DVR-proof than ever. Except that it didn't. And it didn't for reasons that are potentially disconcerting. What's impeding the show could be less about cosmetic adjustments that UFC or FX need to make. It's perhaps existential and intractable realities of television and today's MMA that no amount of adjusting can necessarily fix. Why are things where they are? Let's take a look at what may be causing the declining numbers in the most important show in the history of the sport: 1. MMA Is Deeper and the Climb Steeper Consider this: Forrest Griffin's fourth fight in the UFC was the feature bout for UFC 59 against Tito Ortiz. In fact, the promotional poster for the event had the Griffin vs. Ortiz imagery ahead of Sean Sherk vs. Nick Diaz, the actual co-main of the fight card. Griffin would eventually lose by split decision, but many feel he was the rightful winner. That means Griffin was a legitimate challenge to Ortiz and merited a key fight card promotional position. The point is this: TUF winners or standouts cannot advance through the UFC system as quickly as they once could. There are a few reasons for that. The talent level among more recent cast members isn't as high as it once was. Smaller promotions like Bellator take many high-level prospects away. In fact, so does the UFC. They often take developing talents, e.g. Michael McDonald, and place them directly into the UFC fighting pipeline. UFC also has more shows with different tiers and implications for victory. There's UFC on FUEL TV, UFC on FX, UFC on FOX (which is becoming more than a FX show, but slightly less than a pay-per-view) and pay-per-view shows. High-level talent can be placed on any of these cards, but there is a general sense of hierarchy when it comes to importance, prestige and skill levels of rosters. Let's also contrast the experience of Jonathan Brookins (season 12 winner) with that of Griffin. Three fights into his UFC career and where is he? He just defeated Vagner Rocha on the undercard of FUEL TV. He's about to face Charles Oliveira on the undercard of UFC on FOX 3 for his fourth bout. Simply stated, it's a lot harder and a much slower process for TUF grads to advance through the UFC to the point where they're in relevant fights against known commodities on grand stages. If it takes that long for prospects to turn into stars - and that alteration is by no means a given - is there really a strong incentive to watch the early stages of ascension? 2. Friday Nights Makes Anything DVR-Friendly Part of the impetus to turn TUF fights into live fights was to make them DVR-proof. If the television industry has learned anything, it's that sports are far less likely to be recorded for later consumption. Either you watch sports live or you don't watch them at all. There's an open debate about whether adding the live element to TUF contests - namely, bouts between unknown and still developing fighters - enhances the interest, but we haven't really tested the theory. Friday nights appear to be directly undercutting the effort. Much of the demographic that would or does watch TUF isn't at home on a Friday or is busy with other engagements. TUF on Fridays might be good for FX (more on this later), but it isn't the right format to test the theory about live vs. recorded fights. And of all of TUF's problems, this appears to be the easiest to fix. While such a change wouldn't fix all of the show's issues, the improvement would likely be more than negligible. 3. Changing Channels Isn't Easy Not for programs, anyway. Ask anyone in radio or television: if you change time slots, you risk losing listeners or viewers. Sometimes a lot of them. Now imagine what happens when you change stations or channels. There isn't much the UFC can do about this problem. They aggressively advertised the new show and the change to Spike. And as hard as it may be to believe for the hardcore that it's essentially common knowledge the show moved to FX, it's not. How sizable the casual audience is that is unaware of the transition is not clear. It's likely not a major contributor to the ratings decline. Still, it's another challenge the show is up against and one without any obvious remedy. 4. What's Good for the Goose Is Not Good for the Gander There is a suggestion that while TUF might not be setting the world on fire, this is an improvement for FX. Friday nights are typically dead nights, so if UFC content can spruce this up even just a little, that's a win. The claim is debatable, but let's assume it's true. If it is, only FX wins. This is much more a zero-sum game than one of mutual benefit. The UFC is in a position where it needs to do everything it can to facilitate star growth. Not only does TUF's positioning compromise what it can do with cast members and winners, but it's not helping as a lead-in programming for Primetime shows either. High TUF and Primetime ratings don't necessarily translate to strong gate receipts or pay-per-view buyrates, at least not on a one-to-one basis. But the mass exodus of several top UFC stars in their thirties (BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson, Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin and many, many more) is just a few years away or less. The UFC needs all the star power it can get. Creating figures of public appeal is as much luck as it is craft. Knowing that key programming designed to promote future fights is not being maximized is not a reality the UFC can blithely accept. 5. The Coaching Rivalry is PG Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz are by no means also-rans or unknowns. They are as adept as coaches as they are fighters. They are also active participants in the ‘reality show' trimmings of pranks, stunts and squabbling. Unfortunately, their rivalry isn't a rising tide floating others' boats. Both men are simply too professional to let themselves descend into the frothing at the mouth style of reckless abandon that's historically pulled ratings. That isn't to suggest there's nothing redeeming about their inclusion on the show. But there is reason to reconsider not all rivalries are the same. The ingredients of a successful dispute are more than an impending fight or vocal displeasure. There has to be exquisite disgust and neither Cruz nor Faber seem really capable of it. 6. MMA Is a Star-Powered Sport The highest-rated season of TUF was season 10. It featured all heavyweights, several former NFL players and one Internet sensation who fought people in backyards named Kimbo Slice. Almost unilaterally, it was Slice who helped deliver records for Spike TV and the UFC during that season. The rule in MMA is incontestable: stars move the needle. Yes, they need the right platform. And it's true outside of the UFC many MMA stars have no star power at all. But every conceivable metric - gate receipts, pay-per-view buys, merchandise sales - confirms MMA is a star-driven sport. Reproducing a Kimbo Slice-effect each season is like asking UFC to catch lightning in a bottle. In series history, though, star coaches have provided that role. But even that effect is hard to create. The biggest MMA star of the last five years in Brock Lesnar turned in very tepid numbers as his ‘rivalry' with Junior dos Santos never heated up. Season 11 featured coaches Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, but those ratings don't stack up against season 3's Ortiz vs. Shamrock. This isn't to suggest star power doesn't matter. Rather, it's in tighter supply now than it once was. And even when it's available, getting the application of it right can be tricky. Underscoring problems is a far simpler task than providing meaningful solutions. I am not attempting to draw attention to alleged UFC or FX mismanagement. What we should bear in mind is just how significant the challenge is of maintaining a reality show. That's especially true when the reality show has the rare honor of being the most important television programming in the history of a burgeoning sport. Maybe it's that importance that makes TUF's issues so sticky. Most shows in this genre are eminently disposable programming. There appears to be a natural half-life to them and when a tipping point is reached where the effect the show once had can no longer be duplicated without excess cost or effort (or at all), they are discarded. No show is meant to last forever, but the reality aspect tends to accelerate the timeline. Easy come, easy go and there's relatively low production costs along the way. TUF, by contrast, does not share the luxury of being ephemeral without consequence. The changes the UFC has made are not cosmetic. They're substantive and forward-thinking. It's true the show still revolves around the core concept of fighting in a reality show tournament for a six-figure contract in the UFC. Yet, compare the first season to today's and for better or worse the contrast becomes stark. It's true all reality programming has a dose of gimmick to it, but today's show is truer to MMA than ever before. Most importantly, the show has historically been central to the popularity of the sport and many of its top stars. It's at a minimum responsible for keeping the UFC brand on television on a weekly basis in front of young men 18 to 34 years of age. More than creating tomorrow's stars, that's the real value of TUF today. That's why letting go of it is not an option now or anytime in the foreseeable future. The undeniable issue is what trajectory the show is on and how long it can maintain a steady path. There's a rule in computer programming called GIGO ('garbage in, garbage out') that is as applicable to that science as any other. If you put nothing of value into a system, you get nothing of value out. UFC is still getting value out of the TUF system, but at a significantly greater cost and with less return. And they're not putting proverbial 'garbage' in. Real financial and manpower resources are being invested. That could mean there's a potential issue with the system, not what's being put in or spit out. So what happens when that machine can't run anymore? No one knows and I am not advocating the dismissal of TUF. Not by a long shot. But given how tenuous the hold reality programming is over audiences - especially as those audiences mature - alternatives to showcasing UFC content need to be considered. Calling for revision of the show is helpful in certain respects, but the time for comprehensive overhaul of the show has long passed. It's not clear drastic changes would help. Frankly, it's not clear they're even possible. We have to at least entertain the idea iterating something isn't enough to keep it viable. In the capricious and fast-changing world of reality television, sometimes being new is better than being different from what's old.

Posted in: ufc, show, season, star, tuf

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The ratings are in for the fifth episode of The Ultimate Fighter on FX and it's not pretty. 947,000 viewers tuned in. This is the first time the series has dropped below 1 million viewers. WWE Smackdown on Syfy was the top original cable program in that Friday night time slot with over 2.7 million viewers. Here are the viewership numbers for the series so far: TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewersTUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewersTUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewersTUF Live Episode 4: 947,000 viewers There is more bad news for the UFC as MMA Payout reports that the debut UFC Primetime for UFC 145 drew 462.000 viewers. Related Stories UFC Ultimate Fighter Live Wrap Up: Chiesa Wins Despite FlawsUFC 145 Primetime Video: Jon Jones Vs. Rashad Evans - Episode 1 MMA Payout comments: Dismal ratings all around for the UFC. Do we attribute the poor ratings on the network change, the change to Friday nights, the content changes or all of the above. Certainly, some viewers may DVR TUF Live and UFC Primetime although the show overruns make recording the west coast reruns impossible unless you record the whole night on FX. As we reported last week, the UFC is still where it wants to be on FX based on the demos and overall performance of the network. But, just like a young team that shows promise, there will be lots of growing pains. Payout has more in their first quarter review of the UFC's deal with Fox, FX and Fuel. Here's the commentary on the FX deal: FX and the newly revamped "TUF Live" were a big part of the TV deal with TUF being the key platform the UFC uses to create future stars and PPV draws. So far, the show has been a disappointment (in terms of ratings) with all-time rating lows for the series. Dana White and the UFC brass predicted that they could very well reach 3 million viewers for TUF on FX if they were getting around 1.5 million on Spike TV without any promotion. Well, that prediction hasn't panned out yet, even with heavy promotion leading up the the debut on FX. More shocking is that after UFC moved to FX, FX network's M18-34 and M18-49 demos have decreased compared to Q1 2011 while Spike's have gone up. FX dedicating Friday nights as "UFC Nights", a day which is notorious for bad ratings and when the M18-34 demographic is not at home in front of their TV sets, has also not panned out for the UFC yet. Moving the content to mid-week could be a solution, but FX is happy enough with the Friday night ratings since it's an improvement from what they get with non-UFC content, so it looks like the UFC will have to ride this out for the time being. My take on these numbers is that there are two main issues hurting the UFC's ratings on FX: Fans are confused about where to find UFC programmingDana White has admitted to being frustrated with the ongoing difficulty in getting the message out to UFC fans that the promotion is not longer on Spike TV. This problem will be solved with enough time and the ample promotional budgets of Fox TV and the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter is staleThe UFC acknowledged that the formula needed to be changed up when they adopted the live fight format on this season of The Ultimate Fighter. Well it turns out that fans are not especially interested in seeing fights between unknown and not especially promising young fighters whether they are live or not. The fundamental problem facing TUF is this: the best fighters are not on the show. Where the show once brought us talents like Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez who went on to be champions or title contenders, it's been several seasons since a major star came out of TUF. It's time the UFC stopped giving second-tier talents the big TUF push and spent the money necessary to get the best young prospects in front of the reality show cameras. SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans

Posted in: ufc, fighter, fx, tuf, rating

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Looking at Season 5 to me. submitted by blueboybob [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: ufc, fighter, season, tuf, blueboybob

Read the full article at Reddit

It was not a good Friday for TUF Live last Friday as the series scored its lowest ratings ever with 947,000 viewers.  Its the first time the series has dipped below a million average. It was not a good night for the rest of the UFC programming either as the first episode of UFC Primetime: Jones vs. Evans began after TUF Live. It only garnered 462,000 viewers.  As a comparison, Spike TV’s reruns of UFC content received an average of 408,000 viewers. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers TUF Live Episode 4:  947,000 viewers (h/t:  MMA Junkie) Payout Perspective: Dismal ratings all around for the UFC.  Do we attribute the poor ratings on the network change, the change to Friday nights, the content changes or all of the above.  Certainly, some viewers may DVR TUF Live and UFC Primetime although the show overruns make recording the west coast reruns impossible unless you record the whole night on FX.  As we reported last week, the UFC is still where it wants to be on FX based on the demos and overall performance of the network.  But, just like a young team that shows promise, there will be lots of growing pains.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, episode, viewer, viewers tuf

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil returns with third episode, featuring the second fight of the final 16 than entered the TUF house.

Posted in: team, tuf, episode, vitor, brazil

Read the full article at Low Kick

The UFC continues to fill out their Ultimate Fighter Live Finale card which is set for June 1st. Yesterday they added a featherweight bout between Jonathan Brookins and Charles Oliveira, and confirmed two more solid lighter-weight fights as well. Via UFC.com: Also at featherweight, tough Hawaiian Max Holloway will meet 5-1 finisher Pat Schilling. At bantamweight, TUF 14's John Albert will follow up his wild firefight against Ivan Menjivar with a bout against the well-rounded Byron Bloodworth. Holloway (4-1) made his UFC debut on very short notice against top 10 featherweight Dustin Poirier at UFC 143, but was submitted in the first round. Schilling (5-1) was also submitted in his UFC debut, falling to Daniel Pineda at UFC on FX 1. Albert (7-2) was a contestant on TUF 14 and dropped his last bout to Ivan Menjivar by TKO. Bloodworth (6-2) was another fighter that took his first UFC bout on very late notice, but was finished by Mike Easton at UFC on Versus 6 last year. The main event of the June 1st event is a welterweight battle between Martin Kampmann and Jake Ellenberger. SBN coverage of TUF Live Finale

Posted in: ufc, bout, tuf, ufc debut, ivan menjivar

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Oh look, a former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner fighting at a future TUF Finale card. Who woulda thunk it? UFC matchmaker Joe Silva certainly would, as he's lined up a featherweight fracas for The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale on June 1, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, that should be fairly fun. TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins will look to build on his first round knockout win over Vagner Rocha at UFC on Fuel TV this past Feb. 15 when he takes on Charles Oliveira. The promotion announced the bout late last night. Brookins earned the TUF 12 crown by defeating Michael Johnson in a thrilling lightweight showdown. He quickly made the decision to drop back down to the 145-pound division, though, and has since split a pair of contests. Charles Oliveira has also been doing some bouncing around weight classes, dropping down to featherweight after running into quite a few headaches at 155-pounds. That includes a submission loss to Jim Miller, a no contest thanks to an illegal knee against Nik Lentz, and a technical knockout defeat at the hands of Donald Cerrone. His reinvention a few pounds lighter started with an amazing calf-slicer submission victory over Eric Wisely on the UFC on Fox 2 preliminary card this past Jan. 28 in Chicago. It's a perfect time for Oliveira and Brookins to tango. Kudos to Joe Silva. TUF 15 Finale goes down on June 1 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be headlined by a welterweight number one contender bout pitting Martin Kampmann vs. Jake Ellenberger. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this still developing fight card. And for all the latest TUF 15 news click here.

Posted in: brookin, oliveira, tuf, vega, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., April 6, 2012) with episode five of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And wouldn't you know it, we've finally got a few storylines developing and playing themselves out. Last night's episode featured Michael Chiesa taking on Jeremy Larsen in the live fight portion of the broadcast. It was the first bout of Chiesa's life since the passing of his father, which took place just a few weeks ago. In fact, he found out about it shortly after he punched his ticket to the house in the very first episode. Naturally, this led to quite the emotional ride for Chiesa and, in turn, we the fans. Instantly, we were given a reason to feel emotionally invested in the fight, and not just because of some alcohol fueled shenanigans. Real life had happened while Chiesa was chasing his dream in the odd reality world that is TUF and it was rewarding to watch him battle through his suffering to continue chasing said dream. Even if the fight was a tad ho-hum. Continuing the "family first" theme, a training partner and close personal friend of Chiesa's, Sam Sicilia, was commissioned by his team captain, Dominick Cruz, to spill a few secrets on Chiesa's body of work and training methods in an attempt to give Larsen an edge. Sicilia, though it looked as though he might crack, held fast in his belief that he didn't want to sacrifice the integrity of what he calls his family in favor of helping a team that he will only be bound to for the duration of his time in the TUF house. It was almost noble and made even more impressive due to the issues Chiesa was already facing with his father's death. This was also an interesting storyline because it gave viewers a peek inside the mind of the UFC's Bantamweight Champion, Cruz. We knew from previous episodes that he trains hard and fights harder but his mental fortitude was on full display in this episode. "The Dominator" didn't get to be one of the pound-for-pound best in the business today without the kill or be killed attitude we were introduced to in a far more visceral way last night. "If you want to be champion, you're going to have to take out your boys," he said. The cold-blooded heart of a champion. This attitude bled into the next -- and perhaps most -- interesting storyline of the season. Chris Tickle, the troublemaker from earlier episodes, absolutely drives his coach up the wall. His constant complaining and lackadaisical approach to training goes against everything Cruz believes in. So it's a sight to behold when the two engage in a tug-of-war in the gym with Tickle coming up with a new excuse to quit and Cruz telling him to shut his trap and keep on working. The best part? It comes to a head next week thanks to Urijah Faber choosing Tickle for the next fight, against Joe Proctor, the same guy Tickle was causing problems with earlier on. For the first time, real intrigue. My cynical self is even looking forward to it. You should be too. For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode five click here.

Posted in: fight, night, tuf, episode, chiesa

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Just three weeks after his father's death Team Faber's Michael Chiesa picked up an emotional win over Team Cruz's Jeremy Larsen on TUF Live.

Posted in: week, team, tuf, chiesa, recap chiesa

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Friday announced that a trio of bouts has been verbally agreed to for the TUF Live Finale on June 1 in Las Vegas. TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins will face Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway meets Pat Schilling, and John Albert squares off with Byron Bloodworth. Brookins (13-4) won The Ultimate Fighter as a lightweight, but then dropped back down to featherweight, where he is 1-1 in the Octagon. He is coming off of a victory over Vagner Rocha at UFC on Fuel TV 1 .

Posted in: brookin, oliveira, tuf, vagner rocha, finale mmaweeklycom

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Friday announced that a trio of bouts has been verbally agreed to for the TUF Live Finale on June 1 in Las Vegas.

Posted in: bout, championship, tuf, head, finale

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Just weeks after the death of his father, Michael Chiesa won an emotional fight on TUF Live, defeating Jeremy Larsen by unanimous decision to advance into the tournament's next round. The fight ended up being closer than it otherwise would have been due to an illegal strike that cost Chiesa one point. He controlled nearly the entire first round with a pair of takedowns and his groundwork, but all that work was canceled out when he kneed Larsen against the fence while Larsen's knees were both grounded. Chiesa stayed composed though, and won the second round with his wrestling and elbows from the top. "This is strictly dedicated to my mom back home," Chiesa said after the win. "She had a rough year losing my dad. It was tough to get in here, but at least I got the win." Larsen questioned the decision, saying he thought it should have at least gone to an overtime round. He also admitted that the illegal knee affected him. "It was rattling, but rather than just sit there and pretend I couldn't continue, I was dazed but I'm a warrior and tried to continue," he said. Chiesa's win evened the TUF standings at two wins apiece for Team Faber and Team Cruz. It gave Team Faber control, and the team picked Joe Proctor to face Chris Tickle in next week's match.

Posted in: round, team, tuf, larsen, chiesa

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Four down, eight to go. Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is now in full swing with four episodes in the books and and the elimination fights inside the house well underway. Last week's broadcast showcased a heavy favorite and Dominick Cruz training partner, Myles Jury, finding himself on the business end of a decision loss to Urijah Faber's top pick, Al Iaquinta. Get up to date on all that by clicking here and here. Tonight's show will feature the first fight chosen by "The California Kid," as he attempts to take out who he perceives to be the weakest link on Cruz's team, Jeremy Larsen, using the undefeated Michael Chiesa. Remember, Chiesa lost his father during the first week of the show, so expect that storyline to rear its head tonight. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 10 p.m. ET, after the jump. TUF 15 EPISODE FIVE LIVE BLOG AND RESULTS Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: tuf, episode, decision loss, elimination fights, fighter tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A trio of thrilling fights in the lighter weight classes have been verbally agreed upon for the June 1 TUF Live Finale in Las Vegas.TUF 12 champ Jonathan Brookins will take on submission specialist Charles Oliveira. Brookins looked as good as ever in his last outing, as he knocked out his opponent in the first round. And in Olivera's recent featherweight debut, he took only a few seconds longer to dispatch his opponent to earn a stunning submission win via the rarely-seen calf-crusher. Also at featherweight, tough Hawaiian Max Holloway will meet 5-1 finisher Pat Schilling. At bantamweight, TUF 14's John Albert will follow up his wild firefight against Ivan Menjivar with a bout against the well-rounded Byron Bloodworth. Season Finale Gets Main Event updated March 26Two top welterweights will wage war over five rounds in the TUF Live Finale main event, UFC president Dana White announced today.Verbal agreements are in for a June 1 matchup between Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann will take on Jake "The Juggernaut" Ellenberger.The fighters are coming off of sound wins in main events this winter - Kampmann submitted Thiago Alves in the final minute of their UFC on FX bout earlier this month, while Jake Ellenberger bested Diego Sanchez at UFC on FUEL TV in February.In past years, both men have battled a who's-who of the welterweight division, including shared opponents Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez and Rick Story. A convincing win this summer could solidify their spot on the shortlist of contenders at 170. 

Posted in: jake, bout, event, tuf, finale

Read the full article at UFC

UFC president Dana White says the TUF house helps develop the physical tools and mental fortitude needed to become a true UFC professional.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, tuf house, house, fortitude

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Episode four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" this past Friday night (March 30, 2012) averaged about 1.1 million viewers on the FX channel, according to MMAWeekly.com. That's less than last week (1.2 million) and nowhere near the high-water mark (1.3 million) set by the debut episode back on March 9. It would seem excitement ran high but has ultimately faded away and we're back to the same old, same old. In episode four, supposed favorite Myles Jury failed to put his game plan to good use against top pick for Team Urijah Faber, Al Iaquinta, and was bounced from the competition after three grueling rounds. The win put Faber's squad back in control and finally gave "The California Kid" something to write home about. The next installment of TUF 15: "Live," episode five, is scheduled to take place this Friday night (April 6, 2012), beginning at 10 p.m. ET on FX. The fight Faber ultimately chose was Michael Chiesa, who just lost his father not long ago, taking on Jeremy Larson. The staredown was nasty and the fight should be too. For complete TUF 15 live results click here and for our comprehensive recap and power rankings click here and here.

Posted in: fx, tuf, episode, faber, fx channel

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Event: The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Live FinaleDate: Fri., June 1, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET on FXLocation: Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada Main Event: 170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann Main Card (FX Channel): 155 lbs.: Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2 Preliminary Card (FUEL TV): TBA For the latest TUF 15 Finale news and notes check out our complete event archive right here.

Posted in: vs, event, tuf, card, notes check

Read the full article at MMA Mania

MMA Junkie reports The Ultimate Fighter Live received an average of 1.1 million viewers this past Friday.  Despite the lack of March Madness competition, it was the lowest ratings of the season. TUF Live Episode 1: 1.28 million viewers TUF Live Episode 2: 1.1 million viewers TUF Live Episode 3: 1.2 million viewers Payout Perspective: It may take some time for the UFC audience to gravitate to FX but, this NY Times article shows the reasons why the UFC’s key demo should help FX and vice versa. The article keys in on FX as a revenue generator for Fox as it focuses on the young adult male demo.  Mainly, it cites its original programming geared toward young males.   According to the article, FX was the 10th most watched basic cable channel and 8th most-watched in the 18-49 category in the first quarter of 2012.  This should help the UFC in the long run. Minus Spike’s use of the UFC library next year and insert Bellator into that slot, the UFC should build on its share of the MMA fans on Friday nights.  Keeping the TUF Live product fresh is another issue which the UFC-FX is trying to do.

Posted in: ufc, fx, tuf, episode, viewer

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Finale: "Ellenberger vs. Kampmann," which was recently made official for "The Pearl" in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 1, 2012, will go on sale to the general public on Fri., April 13, 2012, at 9 a.m. ET. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption thanks to two separate special presales. TUF 15 Finale will feature a five-round Welterweight main event between top division contenders Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann, as well as a showdown between the two 155-pound finalists from the "Live" tournament. This season's coaches, Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber, won't square off until UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, also in "Sin City." Here is TUF 15 Finale tickets sales schedule (all times ET): UFC Fight Club presale: Weds., April 11 at 7 a.m. UFC Newsletter presale: Thurs., April 12 at 7 a.m. General tickets sale: Fri., April 13 at 9 a.m. TUF 15 Finale tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch for free on FX at 9 p.m. ET on fight night. For the latest TUF 15 Finale news and notes check out our complete event archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, ticket, finale, april

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Book it. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced its Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Live Finale, now official for June 1, 2012 at "The Pearl" in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featuring a five-round Welterweight main event between Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann, the live finale will also crown a new TUF champion in the promotion's stacked 155-pound division. This season's coaches, Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber, won't square off until UFC 148 on July 7, also in "Sin City." UFC President Dana White comments via today's release: "The welterweight division is stacked and Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann are going to fight for the chance to earn a title shot. They will headline the season finale of TUF Live on FX to crown the next Ultimate Fighter. There's a lot at stake for the guys competing on this card at the Palms." No other match-ups have been announced at this time; however, keep it glued to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card. More on this season of TUF 15 "Live" and its finale here and here.

Posted in: ufc, season, tuf, palm, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by swampskater [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: video, tuf, episode, brazil, swampskater

Read the full article at Reddit

After an entertaining debut that saw a bevy of vicious knockouts and crafty submissions (not to mention a slugfest straight out of a Leonard Garcia fight), The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" is about to get down to the nitty-gritty in its second episode this evening (April 1, 2012). Teams will be picked. Rivalries will form. And assorted shenanigans will undoubtedly ensue ... possibly in a clothing-optional manner. MMAmania will provide complete coverage of TUF: "Brazil" episode two as soon as it is released online (ufc.com/tuftv), which should be around midnight ET this evening. Which psychopathic knockout machine -- coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort -- will pick the victorious stable of fighters? Who will emerge as the class clown of the season? Who will be the first Brazilian to be filmed running naked outside the TUF house? Join us after the jump and find out as we prepare for the next exciting episode of TUF: "Brazil:" Patrick here; nothing has happened yet. Pretend I'm saying something witty to keep you entertained until we get to the subtitled face-punching.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, brazil, class clown

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., March 30, 2012) with episode four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And wouldn't you know, it's the same old, same old. The allure of the live fight format has already worn off and we're only four episodes in. Sure, it still serves to create the kind of feel a prerecorded bout could never come close to, but when you strip it all away, does it really matter if the fights are live? It's still the same show, after all. Last night's episode truly showcased that watching men train and game plan for their upcoming fight can only make for good TV for so long. And by so long, I mean a few episodes. Where's the meat? Because of the way the show is set up, TUF inevitably runs into the wall of having to introduce each contestant on the show. This despite the fact that sooner rather than later, that very same contestant isn't going to be an active participant. Such was the case with Myles Jury, who was a heavy favorite to defeat Urijah Faber's top pick, Al Iaquinta. In fact, it was widely expected that Jury could be one of the two men remaining at the live Finale in Las Vegas. So we got to know him and the fact that this was his second go-round on the show, the first coming during season 13 when he was bounced unceremoniously thanks to a knee injury. He was created into somewhat of a sympathetic character because of this and it was hard not to hope for the best for him. And then a scene plays that showcases Team Dominick Cruz pulling Jury out of the shower to lead him in a cheer for his upcoming fight. And suddenly we're smacked in the face with a reminder that this is just a silly reality show and there's no real reason to care at all. That's why it didn't matter all that much when Jury turned in an uninspiring performance in the eventual fight. He didn't do what he was told by his coaches and he failed miserably to live up to his 9-0 record. Al Iaquinta, on the other hand, looked outstanding in his role as the underdog who can scrap. Urijah Faber took control of the game with Iaquinta's win and so chose the next match-up, a right with which UFC President Dana White seems to believe the entire show revolves around. We know this because he makes sure to remind us how important the fights are because it will determine who controls the next match-up. Even though eventually the list whittles down to a point in which it doesn't matter. Just more trivial garbage to pass the time, I suppose. For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode four click here.

Posted in: fight, show, tuf, episode, jury

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The fights are live and now the odds are too. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 returns to FX tonight (Fri., March 30, 2012) at 10 p.m. ET with another episode of the long-running hit reality television series featuring the next elimination. Team Dominick Cruz has "dominated" the competition so far, getting off to an impressive 2-0 start that looks to continue tonight when former TUF 13 contestant and Cruz training partner Myles Jury squares off against the Serra-Longo trained Al Iaquinta. Nick Kalikas of BetonFighting.com opened the odds with Jury as a 2-to-1 favorite but the public quickly made Jury a heavy favorite, as he currently sits at -285 with Iaquinta bringing up the rear at +225. Anyone think we're headed for an upset tonight? And remember to follow along with all the night's action, as well as a running live blog of Jury vs. Iaquinta right here on MMAmania.com tonight.

Posted in: jury, iaquinta, nights action, odd, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

We're just a few hours away from the fourth episode of "The Ultimate Fighter LIVE" Friday on FX. But down in Brazil, 16 fighters are vying to be the first international TUF winner. Meet the cast...

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brazil, tuf house, tuf winner

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

After learning two weeks ago Thiago Tavares was replacing an injured Dennis Hallman, UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson has yet another new adversary to prepare for after Tavares apparently went down in training as well and will be unable to recover in time for their scheduled match-up. Filling in for the Brazilian will be Michael Johnson, an Ultimate Fighter finalist who is coming off a victory over Shane Roller. The UFC recently confirmed the change to the UFC on FOX 3 lineup giving both men about five weeks to prepare for the fight. Ferguson has been on a tear since winning TUF 13, taking out Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards in consecutive clashes. “El Cucuy” holds an overall record of 13-2 with eleven finishes including eight TKOs. Ferguson Sees Similarities Between Self, Veteran Competitors Comparably, Johnson is 10-6 with a 2-1 record since falling to Jonathan Brookins on TUF 12. The 25-year old has never been beaten by way of strikes, adding an interesting facet to the May 5 meeting considering Ferguson’s impressive stand-up. UFC on FOX 3 is headlined by Jim Miller meeting Nate Diaz for #1 contendership in the lightweight division with other featured fights including Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares, Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson, and Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fox, ferguson, tuf, fox fight

Read the full article at Fighters.com

"TUF Brazil" is shown on Globo, a major TV channel in Brazil. Fans love it. Best estimates are that 12 million of them are watching. After watching the first episode online, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the house and watching some good fights as the...

Posted in: fan, tuf, brazil, tuf brazil, tv channel

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

A brief look at the 16 fighters that made it into the TUF Brazil house, and a sneak peek at what happens during the season.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brazil, house, peek

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 winner Anthony Ferguson looks to continue his undefeated run through the UFC lightweight division when he makes a trip to the "Garden State" later this year to battle fellow TUF guy Michael Johnson at the UFC on FOX 3 event booked for May 5, 2012, from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford. He was originally expected to face off against Dennis Hallman Thiago Tavares; however, UFC officials today announced the Brazilian was felled by injury and replaced by Johnson. Ferguson (13-3) graduated at the top of his TUF class by beating the brakes off fellow finalist Ramsey Nijem. That set up a jaw-breaking win over Aaron Riley followed by a unanimous decision victory over the venerable YYves Edwards. Can "El Cucuy" scare up another "W" in Dirty Jersey? Standing in his way will be Johnson (10-6), who's looking to string together consecutive wins for the first time in over two years. "The Menace" failed to capture the TUF crown after a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Brookins in the 2010 live finale. He's since sandwiched a loss to Paul Sass between wins over Edward Faaloloto and Shane Roller. Is this going to be his breakout fight? UFC on FOX 3 will be headlined by a lightweight fight featuring Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz. The victor is widely-expected to move on to face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson, who rematch later this year. For more details on the promotion's return to the FOX network click here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, tuf, tuf class

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Amidst some nervous sky is falling vibes from the UFC and various critics regarding PPV buys, Zuffa must be happy about the performance of TUF Brazil. The season preimiere on Globo TV drew 8 million people, which is nearly seven million more than the live TUF on FX is pulling. That's pretty cool news for the UFC, as it seems Brazil's love affair with the UFC wasn't just a flash in the pan.Less cool: Globo TV's competition Rede Record leaked the finalists for this season on their R7 Portal site: Many specialized MMA websites, and in addition, to the fans who anxiously waited for the results of the show that happens every Sunday on Globo, which debuted yesterday, March 25th were disgusted by a written piece titled "R7 anticipates the four finalists in the new MMA reality TV program from Globo; find out who the winners are." This isn't the first time TUF results have been leaked. TUF 10 saw Kimbo Slice spoilers hit the web before the show aired and one of the reasons Dana White and Sherdog hate each other is over Sherdog revealing who the TUF 4 finalists were. Unfortunately for the Baldfather, he probably doesn't have the connections in the Brazilian TV industry to exact swift vengeance upon Rede Record. Maybe crushing them in the ratings department will suffice?

Posted in: ufc, tuf, tv, finalist, globo

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" this past Friday night (March 23, 2012) averaged about 1.2 million viewers on the FX channel, according to Sherdog.com. That's an improvement from last week (1.1 million), however, still not the high-water mark (1.3 million) that the debut episode set a fortnight ago, featuring 32 fighters and 16 live, one-round elimination fights to earn a spot in the TUF house. In episode three, Dominick Cruz-coached Justin Lawrence put his stamp on Urijah Faber-coached Cristiano Marcello with a knockout in round two. Faber was warning his Brazilian pupil throughout the Lightweight fight to keep his "chin down," but something was clearly lost in translation. The next installment of TUF 15: "Live," episode four, is scheduled to take place this Friday night (March 30, 2012), beginning at 10 p.m. ET on FX. "Team Cruz" has gotten off to a strong start and is currently undefeated (2-0), meaning that the pressure is on Al Iaquinta to take out "Team Faber's" Myles Jury this weekend. For complete TUF 15 live results click here and here. For our comprehensive recap and power rankings click here and here.

Posted in: fighter, fx, tuf, episode, brazilian pupil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

MMA Junkie reports that TUF Live’s third episode received an average of 1.2 million viewers.  The ratings remain flat from last week’s 1.1 and the debut’s 1.3 million viewer average. The ratings reflect an 8 percent increase from last week but the 1.2 million viewers is the new average for the series’ debut on FX. White was quoted as stating he didn’t think that TUF Live would do “3.5 million out of the gate.”  Well, its done 3.6 million…in the first three episdoes.  Probably not the performance he was hoping for although there is still time to do better. Payout Perspective: We should probably temper the concern right now considering the last two weeks have been subject to competition from March Madness.  As we wrote this morning, Dana White is optimistic that the ratings will come.  It would be interesting to see what viewers think about TUF Live on FX. Have the changes helped? Or, is it too soon to determine.  At this point, none of the competitors have distinguished themselves as someone you’d tune in to watch.  In my opinion, it’s hard to get into the Faber-Cruz rivalry.  I realize that every rivalry is not going to be Rashad-Rampage and I realize that there’s real disdain between Faber and Cruz.  Yet, it feels like something is missing.

Posted in: tuf, viewer, march madness  , point none, morning dana

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The first episode of the first regional spin-off of "The Ultimate Fighter" went down on the interwebs last night, and while I presume the UFC would kinda like us to watch it, they're not making it easy.  Why it's not just aired on FuelTV is a mystery, and navigating the UFC's various websites isn't exactly intuitive.  For example, there's few if any obvious links to episodes of either TUF 15 (aka TUF Live) or TUF Brasil on ufc.com, ufc.tv wants to charge you to watch TUF 15 but it's free on ultimatefighter.com, and neither of those even mentions TUF Brasil which has it's own separate site at en.tuf.tv.  WTF.  Throw in a little geo-blocking here and there and things get downright fun. Anyways, if you were already snug in bed like me when TUF Brasil aired at midnight last night (again, WTF), you can watch check it out HERE.  Again, I note that this video is linked from en.tuf.tv but actually hosted on ufc.com... more like "WTF: Brasil", amirite?  And if that video doesn't work for you, perhaps "piracy" can come to your rescue.  Not that I'm encouraging such crimes, just sayin'. Complete fight results after the jump. read more

Posted in: tuf, brasil, fight results, tuf brasil, i note

Read the full article at Fightlinker

MMA Junkie reports that despite good reviews, The Ultimate Fighter Live ratings are not reflective of the praise.  Still, Dana White believes that the show is positioned well on FX. The debut of TUF Live on FX scored an average of 1.28 million viewers yet saw a decline in the ratings over the course of the show. The second episode last week were down with a 1.1 million viewer average. We may discount last week’s ratings decrease since it went up against the NCAA Tournament. Via MMA Junkie: “There’s so many things that are involved in those numbers,” White said. “I didn’t expect to jump on FX and do 3.5 million viewers right out of the gate. But here’s the thing: The format is awesome. It’s perfect. We’ve got a great season, and we’re going to build this thing. “Believe me, the way that FX deals with their programming and how they handle it, they’re so analytical. These guys are like [expletive] rocket scientists how they break this stuff down and look at it. Trust me, everything is positive over there.” One thing that has peaked White’s interest is that Vegas sportsbooks are taking action on the TUF Live fights.  White also addressed the fact that the ratings are due in part to the NCAA tourney. “March Madness” will wrap soon, casual viewers will eventually figure out the show is now on FX, and hardcore fans may very well become again interested in the show thanks to the new format. Payout Perspective: We may discount last week and this week due to the tournament but we shall see if viewers will gravitate to FX.  We will see if the ratings will increase over the season as White predicts (or hopes).  The UFC has tinkered with the show to keep the show different and the jury is still out on whether the live fights will attract more viewers.  Of course, there was White’s initial expectations about the viewership doubling on FX.  Perhaps we were not to take this literally or expect the ratings to double in the first season on FX but there are definite expectations on how TUF Live will perform.

Posted in: show, fx, tuf, rating, viewer

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is still delivering mixed martial arts (MMA) action every weekend, despite not having a numbered pay-per-view (PPV) or network television event for another couple of weeks. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is bringing you double the action and double the fun beginning with TUF 15: "Live" on the FX Channel, which beams into your brains on Friday nights thanks to the coaching duties of bantamweight rivals Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. And some very hungry lightweights. On the International front, TUF: "Brazil" kicked things off last Sunday night (March 25) on TUF.tv with Vitor Belfort assuming the role of opposing coach against Wanderlei Silva. Under their charge is a select group of middleweight and featherweight hopefuls, who were thrust into the elimination challenge to see who makes the finalized roster and who goes home Which prospect made it one step further to a "six-figure contract" in their respective bouts? Follow me after the jump for all the gory details. Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" Results, play-by-play and live blog Talking Heads video review Recap and final thoughts Post-fight power rankings Video aftermath between Team Faber and Team Cruz Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil Results, play-by-play and live blog Recap and elimination results That's a wrap from TUFville. Be sure to lock it in right here on MMAmania.com next weekend for more results and live coverage for The Ultimate Fighter 15 "Live" (Friday night) and "Brazil" (Sunday night).

Posted in: night, result, fighter, tuf, brazil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil kicks off this evening, with the action being broadcast on the internet in the United States at the same time the show hits airwaves in Brazil. Stateside fight fans interested in staying up on the first international edition of TUF can catch all the action on TUF.tv, beginning at 11:30pm ET tonight and airing weekly on subsequent Sundays. And don’t worry, it will be subtitled in English. Tonight’s premier episode will feature 32 middleweight and featherweight UFC hopefuls competing against each other (in their respective divisions) in the elimination round of the TUF tourney. These initial fights will determine which fighters stay on the show and advance and which will be forced to pack their bags and go home. TUF: Brazil will feature Brazilian mixed martial arts legends Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as opposing coaches, with the two veterans slated to revisit their 1998 UFC Brazil meeting upon the show’s conclusion. In another first for the series, The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil overlaps the currently-running, U.S.-filmed TUF: Live, which airs Friday nights on FX. For those unable to catch the TUF.tv streams on Sunday nights, it is likely that The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil will air in its entirety on FUEL TV, though, nothing has been announced officially to that effect.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brazil, fighter brazil, video “

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is planning on taking control of The Ultimate Fighter: Live by winning each and every single week. So far, through two episodes, Cruz has done just that. This past Friday, Justin Lawrence of Team Cruz defeated Cristiano Marcello. That followed up a victory by James Vick in the first fight of the season. Cruz and Urijah Faber – the other coach – are scheduled to meet for a third time later this year after TUF. Each has won once against the other, with “The Dominator” claiming the last fight. In a recent interview with John Morgan of MMA Junkie, Cruz explained his strategy on the reality show, which has included pitting top picks against top picks early on. I’m going straight for the jugular, straight in for the kill. I’ve done it since the beginning of my career. You start from the bottom, and you work to the top, and you get the ‘W.’ I’m feeling pretty good. It feels nice. Cruz is only helping raise his stock in the UFC by coaching TUF and having so much success. He has proven his abilities inside the Octagon, and if he can become even more marketable, he could surpass Faber as the “Golden Boy” of the smaller weights. Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Combatlifestyle.com

Posted in: reality show, tuf, cruz, faber, cristiano marcello

Read the full article at MMA Convert

TUF Brasil premieres at Midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT on TUF.tv in the United States. Check out a quick preview of what to expect.

Posted in: tuf, preview, premiere, brasil, states check

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is pairing Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil," the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's popular reality television show designed to produce new and up-and-coming stars from a pool of undiscovered talent. And it airs live tonight (March 25, 2012) online at midnight ET on TUF.tv. TUF: "Brazil," which is the first international edition of the MMA reality show, will showcase 32 contestants in the Featherweight (145 pounds) and Middleweight (185 pounds), hailing from 15 of the 26 states in the South American nation. In the debut episode later this evening, the initial group of 32 fighters will be whittled down to the final 16 who will move into the TUF house after their elimination bouts. At the conclusion of the season, Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort will face off at UFC 147 this summer for Brazilian bragging rights. To check out the complete 32-fighter roster for TUF: "Brazil" click here. And remember that we'll deliver LIVE TUF: "Brazil" results later on tonight right here. See you then.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brazil, debut episode, championship ufc

Read the full article at MMA Mania

After 13 years and a roller coaster of championships, hellacious knockouts, unmatchable streaks, precipitous falls and unexpected resurgences, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has taken its mixed martial arts (MMA) reality franchise to South America. Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, two of the most dangerous men in the promotion's middleweight division, will serve as the coaches for the historic The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil," the first international season of its kind. Taking place in the titular nation and entirely in Portuguese, the tryouts brought hundreds of Brazil's finest from every conceivable weight class to test their mettle. Eventually, 16 Middleweight and 16 Featherweight fighters were selected, including several of the brightest prospects in the game today. Tonight (March 25, 2012) at 11:30 p.m. ET, we get to see the start of one of the most talent-rich seasons in the show's history, as 16 fights decide who will take the first step towards achieving their UFC dreams. UFC.com has the details: The Premiere episode will showcase elimination bouts, narrowing down the initial group of 32 fighters to the final 16 who will move into the TUF house. From there, they will be split between "Team Vitor" and "Team Wanderlei" and face weekly eliminations until the finale, where a winner from both weight classes will be declared The Ultimate Fighter and win an international UFC contract. MMAmania will have a live blog of the episode, which will be streamed with subtitles on UFC.tv. The good stuff is after the jump (beginning at 11:30 p.m. ET): LIVE TUF: "BRAZIL" RESULTS COMING SOON!

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, episode, brazil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Already, Dominick Cruz is looking like the more strategic of the two coaches on TUF 15. Not only did he get inside the heads of Urijah Faber and his team by surprising them with the opportunity to pick who they wanted to fight Justin Lawrence, but then he and his team developed...

Posted in: tuf, faber, dominick cruz, urijah faber, urijah

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: tuf, preview, brazil, swampskater link, swampskater

Read the full article at Reddit

Team Cruz continues to dominate TUF 15, thanks to Just Lawrence's victory over the BJJ wiz Cristiano Marcello.

Posted in: tuf, episode, cristiano, lawrence, lawrences victory

Read the full article at Low Kick

I don't know about anybody else, but it feels to me like TUF may have finally run its course as a succesful entertainment product. With the move to the new live format, there are obviously teething problems to be expected but it feels really disjointed and somewhat awkward to me. Some of that is really just production stuff - like John Anik commentating on the fights by himself, and the weird 10 second interview with Dana between the last commercial break and the next fight selection. Some of it, however, seems to be endemic to the live production of the show - not enough time to create a coherent storyline from a weeks worth of footage, ads during a live fight. So I'm wondering whether or not it might be time to scrap the whoel TUF concept and basically rip the Bellator tournament model and Friday night fights to create a new weekly UFC product. These tournaments could fulfil the same purpose that TUF fills - building up new/talent-light weightclasses by giving the winner a UFC contract, as well as impressive performances being rewarded with future UFC fights as well. Thoughts? submitted by deanacus [link] [comment]

Posted in: fight, time, tuf, ufc product, newtalentlight weightclasses

Read the full article at Reddit

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., March 23, 2012) with episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And now that we've settled in to a groove just a few episodes in, suddenly the reality television show looks like, well, a reality television show. That's because the initial allure of the live fight format has somewhat worn off, mostly because that's only for the final 15 minutes of each respective episode. The first 45 minutes are still filled with all the usual nonsense we've come to know and hate. Manufactured drama? Check. Petty bickering over ridiculous issues? Check. Stupid pranks that even the most unintelligent of human beings find unfunny? Check. Training montages with voice overs interspersed with interviews? Mate. Essentially, for 45 minutes it's the same old, same old, which makes it so very tough to get to the excitement of the final 15. But that doesn't mean there aren't reasons to really like the show, some of which were on full display last night. Watching a fight live is very much like catching a live musical act. Sure, it's enjoyable no matter what way you slice it but there's just a different connection to it when taking it in live, as it happens. In the case of this season of TUF, it adds a level of enjoyment to the training and game planning process that would otherwise not exist. It's endlessly fascinating to see Dominick Cruz coach up his fighter, Justin Lawrence, on the exact takedowns his opponent, Cristiano Marcello, would be working for once the bout got underway. "The Dominator" more or less told his pupil to expect the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert to exchange briefly before shooting in for a takedown. So they planned for such a thing and brought in a special training partner to get Lawrence ready. This made it all the more incredible to watch Lawrence put what he learned into practice in the actual fight. That kind of access isn't something UFC fans are used to. The depth of consumption typically consists of press conferences, weigh-ins and then the fight itself. TUF gives us the added benefit of seeing the game plan and watching for certain subtle nuances. Or sometimes, in the case of Marcello, not so subtle. Urijah Faber, Marcello's coach, warned him of the dangers of the high looping left hand Lawrence loves to throw with such dangerous intentions. So when we watched it happen in the fight, and it landed hard enough to end the fight, it gave the viewer a certain appreciation we may not have felt otherwise. That's without mentioning Faber's palpable frustration at the fact that Marcello just refused to tuck his chin, which helped lead to the knockout loss. Watching coaching in action, as well as seeing a fighter ignore it, is really a thing of beauty and an aspect of the show that we should all appreciate. But can you make it through those 45 minutes of ridiculously stupid "pranks" and silly manufactured drama? Let's be real: Seeing Faber "kick Cruz's team out of the gym" by simply holding the door open and saying, "Please leave, guys," had to be a lowlight of the entire series. Legitimate beef is fine, laid back surfers attempting to get lippy is just silly. But hey, we're two elimination fights in and we've seen two knockouts. Can't beat that, right? For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode three click here.

Posted in: fight, show, tuf, episode, minute

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Team Cruz took a 2-0 lead over Team Faber, as 21-year-old Justin Lawrence knocked out Cristiano Marcello in episode three of TUF Live.

Posted in: team, tuf, cristiano marcello, lawrence, team faber

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

UFC President Dana White’s dream of one day creating a “World Cup” of Ultimate Fighter champions takes its first step towards reality this weekend when TUF Brasil is unveiled. Featuring coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, the show will follow the American version’s format as sixteen featherweights/middleweights compete for the right to be named a TUF winner while also earning a sizeable contract in the process. The first episode of TUF Brasil airs this Sunday on Brazilian outlet Rede Globo with international fans getting streaming access to it hours later on TUF.TV (12:00 AM EST/9:00 PM PST). It is expected to feature the initial elimination round as well as team selections and the debut of the TUF Brasil house. Silva Feels Special Duty in Serving as TUF Brasil Coach Among the many Brazilian UFC stars expected to lend their advice to the contestants are middleweight champ Anderson Silva, heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos, featherweight champ Jose Aldo, as well as former title-holders Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida. At the end of the season it is expected both finals, as well as a bout between Belfort-Silva, will be featured on a June card in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, champ, tuf, brasil, tuf brasil

Read the full article at Fighters.com

submitted by swampskater [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: fight, tuf, justin, cristiano marcello, cristiano

Read the full article at Reddit

Good news, North American MMA fans, you too can watch the complete series of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. UFC officials announced that all 13 episodes of TUF: Brazil will air Sunday nights on TUF.tv at midnight ET / 9 a.m. PT, and the premiere episode will air this Sunday, March 25. The first-ever international edition of The Ultimate Fighter will feature Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva coaching middleweights and featherweights. Unlike the current American edition of The Ultimate Fighter currently airing on FX in North America, TUF: Brazil won't be live, as the entire season, except for the finals, has already been taped. The finals are expected to take place at the UFC's return to Brazil on either June 16 or June 23 on the undercard of Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II. Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort II will also take place on the card. The premiere episode of TUF: Brazil will feature 32 fighters vying for the chance to make it on the show. The 16 winners (eight 145ers and eight 185ers) will then enter the TUF house for a chance to win a UFC contract. The show will air in Brazil on Sunday nights as well, so there won't be much of a delay between its Brazilian TV premiere and when its premierier online for US and Canadian fans. The UFC also announced that Brazilian greats Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos, Jose Aldo, Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua all make appearances on the show. Check out the entire TUF: Brazil roster here.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, premiere, brazil, premiere episode

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

No Portuguese? No problem. Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil, featuring middleweight coaches and division rivals Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, will air online via TUF.tv, complete with subtitles, beginning this Sunday night (March 25, 2012) at 11:30 p.m. ET. As with most TUF debut episodes, aspiring fighters must compete against each other in the opening elimination round to earn a spot on the show. Start with 32, end with 16. Here's how they match up for Sunday night (via F4Wonline.com): Middleweight: Leonardo Mafra Teixeira (5-0) vs. Samuel Trindade (6-1)Daniel Sarafian (7-2) vs. Richardson Moreira (3-0)Francisco Drinaldo (10-1) vs. Charles Maicon (8-1)Delson Heleno (23-6) vs. Gilberto Galvao (19-4-1)Sergio Moraes (6-1) vs. Thiago Rela (3-1)Cezar Ferreira (4-2) vs. Gustavo Sampaio (5-1)Joao Paulo de Souza (8-4) vs. Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo (8-1-1)Renee Forte (7-1) vs. Fabio Luiz Vital da Costa (9-0-1) Featherweight: Alexandre Ramos (5-0) vs. Hugo Viana (5-0)Giovanni da Silva Santos Jr. (10-1) vs. John Teixeira (13-0-1)Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini (19-3-1) vs. Pedro Nobre (10-0-1)Rodrigo Damm (9-5) vs. Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva (14-1)Rony Mariano Bezerra (10-3) vs. Dileno Lopes (8-0)Anistavio Medeiros (12-7) vs. Rafael Bueno (7-1)Wagner Campos (11-3) vs. Fernando Duarte Guerra (10-1)Godofredo Pepey (8-0) vs. Johnny Goncalves (4-0) Check out a TUF Brazil video sneak peek after the jump. Belfort and Silva, along with the top two finalists from each TUF Brazil weight class, will settle their differences at the UFC 147 pay-per-view (PPV) event in June. More on that upcoming fight card right here.

Posted in: vs, silva, tuf, brazil, programming reminder

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Just three episodes in and the biggest fight of the season could be going down tonight. Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is now in full swing with two episodes in the books and and the elimination fights inside the house already underway. Last week's broadcast showcased the fighters moving into the TUF house to earn a shot at the coveted "six-figure" UFC contract, as well as James Vick smashing Daron Cruickshank to advance to the quarterfinals. You can get up to date on all that by clicking here. Tonight's show will feature the fight chosen by Dominick Cruz -- after Urijah Faber and his squad froze when they were given the chance to -- Justin Lawrence vs. Cristiano Marcello. The former is a near 2-to-1 favorite over the latter but that's why they fight, Maniacs. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 10 p.m. ET, after the jump. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15 EPISODE THREE LIVE BLOG Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fight, fighter, tuf, episode, fighter tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

TUF BusinessWill Justin @AmericanKiddMMA Lawrence make #TeamCruz 2-for-2 or will @CristianoBJJ Marcello win one for #TeamFaber? #TUFLive 10p on FX!  -Inside TUF ‏ It's only week 3, and Anderson Silva's teammate is fighting Wanderlei's jiu-jitsu coach tonight http://on.ufc.com/GWZIk2 Not bad, eh? #TUFLive  -UFC ‏ Ready for weigh ins on thursday, ready and prepared to shock the world. 2nd Corinthians 2:14  -Justin Lawrence ‏ Got a day off from training yesterday, @UrijahFaber came to the TUF house and kicked it. Livin' the dream!! #TUFlive @InsideTUF  -Michael Chiesa ‏chilled with sum animals at the TUF house yesterday!! Enjoyed the day off @InsideTUF  @danawhite @ufc   -Myles Jury ‏ Training is going awesome on #TeamFaber I'm getting the itch 2 fight soon so lets hope I can get in there soon Love & miss u Chelsea Ruxton  -Joe Proctorfriday is the big day. red team gets another win. I'm ready to get in the cage to prove myself again, hopefully soon.  -Jeremy Larsen ‏ Chompin at the bit to get in the damn cage! Be patient with me it'll be worth it >:)  -Samuel Sicilia ‏ here to hand out kit kats and ass whoopings and I'm all out of kit kats. love u babe miss you a lot. check out my fb fan page. peace  -Chris Tickle ‏ Did u guys hear the crickets when Faber's team could pick any1 they wanted 2 fight Justin? Maybe fighting isn't 4 them. What do u think?  -Vinc Pichel ‏ ok that was the best knockout I've ever had in my career! Thanks to everyone who has helped me get to this point, I love you all so much!  -James Vick ‏ Champ ChatChamp @RondaRousey sits down w/ Fox Sports to talk about growing up shy, throwing Ugg boots, and hitting on @ginacarano  http://msn.foxsports.com/video/....   -Strikeforce ‏ MMA MomsThis is why my tweets are *usually* pg 13... Love you mom... pic.twitter.com/MBx5iNn5  -Amir Sadollah ‏ My mom duct taped me to chairs as a kid (meals and homework mostly)... I had issues. #TrueStory  -Tim Kennedy ‏ It’s the Little Things…Just washed my head phones and they still worked #blessed  -Joseph Benavidez ‏ I just got added to a list called Ninja Assassins. That might be the best thing that has ever happened to me on twitter.  -Stipe Miocic ‏ Fighter Cuisine .@lastcall155 pissed cuz his peanut butter n blueberry sandwich wasn't very good http://lockerz.com/s/194788331   -Chad Mendes ‏ @chadmendes it was delicious, you a^^hole!!!  -Danny Castillo ‏ Jorgensen vs Barry: The Saga Continues“@UFC_writer: @Scottjorgensen @ufc What happened to you fighting @HypeOrDie I was down for that one lol #daivd&Goliath” he backed out  -Scott Jorgensen@Scottjorgensen NAH AHHHHH!!! SCOTTY GOT DEPORTED BACK TO EASTER ISLAND  -Pat Barry ‏ @Scottjorgensen better see your ass in havasu! Ya all talk Lil boy -Cowboy Cerrone ‏ If You Do, Tweet Pics!Dr. that wear their scrubs for traveling look idiotic. I wonder if I should walk around in my fight shorts, MMA gloves and no shirt. -Tim Kennedy ‏ Your Next Nap: Outlaw Approved!Nothing like a good nap to punctuate your day. #EatSleepTrain  -Dan Hardy ‏

Posted in: day, tuf, justin, love, tweet

Read the full article at UFC

TUF Brazil is finally here and will begin airing this Sunday at 11:30PM. But before you start fiddling with your remote trying to figure out where that stupid FUEL channel is hiding (answer: on another cable provider), get this. FUEL isn't showing it. Instead you'll have to go to the TUF.tv website to catch the show.Meanwhile, FUEL continues to try and ram a dizzying array of UFC news shows down our throat. What is it gonna take to convince FOX execs that we want fights, not talk about fights? Is it so shocking that no matter how slick the production might be, we'd rather see Wanderlei Silva coaching a bunch of crazy Brazilians than some fat sportscaster behind a desk ponying up hype pieces?I can only imagine the moronic conversation at FUEL that led to this decision. "Well, we could have the first piece of must see international UFC content but that would mean having a show with subtitles, and according to our data UFC fans can't read. Let's stick with more Thrillbillies reruns instead." Hey, I'm not complaining. This makes it easier for everyone to watch TUF Brazil.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, brazil, fuel, tuftv website

Read the full article at Fightlinker

For hardcore MMA lovers outside of Brazil, TUF Brasil will begin broadcasting this Sunday evening via stream on TUF.TV. The show will feature coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort working with featherweights and middleweights from Brazil. It is the first international season of TUF and will stick with the previous setting to determine champions in each weight class. It is expected that the show will be available for viewing on FUEL TV later this spring or summer. It will air online each Sunday at 11:30 p.m. ET. Also, the elimination-round matches have been determined and announced, and are listed below as confirmed by MMAJunkie. Middleweights Leonardo Mafra Teixeira (5-0) vs. Samuel Trindade (6-1) Daniel Sarafian (7-2) vs. Richardson Moreira (3-0) Francisco Drinaldo (10-1) vs. Charles Maicon (8-1) Delson Heleno (23-6) vs. Gilberto Galvao (19-4-1) Sergio Moraes (6-1) vs. Thiago Rela (3-1) Cezar Ferreira (4-2) vs. Gustavo Sampaio (5-1) Joao Paulo de Souza (8-4) vs. Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo (8-1-1) Renee Forte (7-1) vs. Fabio Luiz Vital da Costa (9-0-1) Featherweights Alexandre Ramos (5-0) vs. Hugo Viana (5-0) Giovanni da Silva Santos Jr. (10-1) vs. John Teixeira (13-0-1) Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini (19-3-1) vs. Pedro Nobre (10-0-1) Rodrigo Damm (9-5) vs. Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva (14-1) Rony Mariano Bezerra (10-3) vs. Dileno Lopes (8-0) Anistavio Medeiros (12-7) vs. Rafael Bueno (7-1) Wagner Campos (11-3) vs. Fernando Duarte Guerra (10-1) Godofredo Pepey (8-0) vs. Johnny Goncalves (4-0)

Posted in: vs, sunday night, silva, tuf, sunday

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

For those wondering what was next for Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann, you now have an answer, courtesy of FX's the Ultimate Fighter website: Two top welterweights will wage war over five rounds in the TUF Live Finale main event, UFC president Dana White announced today. Verbal agreements are in for a June 1 matchup between Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann will take on Jake "The Juggernaut" Ellenberger. Ellenberger (27-5) is coming off a decision victory against Diego Sanchez, which was awarded the Fight of the Night and subsequent bonus. Kampmann (19-5) touts a late submission victory over Thiago Alves, which earned him the Submission of the Night bonus. With this five round battle of recent event headliners now set, both men are likely thinking about title shots after this fight - although neither will be an easy obstacle for the other to overcome. As a TUF Finale main event, this is likely to end the night on a terrific note although neither Ellenberger nor Kampmann are involved in the filming of either FX's TUF or Brazil's TUF.

Posted in: ellenberger, round, event, tuf, kampmann

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The UFC added a trio of interesting fights to its busy summer schedule on Wednesday. Jake Ellenberger will meet Martin Kampmann in a five-round main event at the TUF Live Finale on June 1, UFC officials announced. The welterweight clash could very well produce the next No. 1 contender in the 170-pound division after champion Georges St-Pierre and interim champion Carlos Condit unify the belts later this year. The TUF Live Finale, which will also feature the finals of the 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter, will air live on FX and is expected to take place in Las Vegas. No venue has been announced for the event, thus far. Ellenberger (27-5) most recently defeated Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision last month, while Kampmann (19-5) submitted Thiago Alves with a guillotine with just 48 seconds remaining in their UFC on FX 2 fight earlier this month. In other UFC news, the organization announced that UFC 148, scheduled for July 7 in Las Vegas, will feature the 170-pound debut of Demian Maia against Dong Hyun Kim, plus hard-hitting Costa Philippou will meet Riki Fukuda in middleweight action.

Posted in: ufc, ellenberger, tuf, las vegas, kampmann

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Despite an 11-2 record which Richie Whitson has acquired fighting in promotions in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, he is still best known for a brief stint on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). The 26 year-old was extremely unfortunate to suffer an infection during TUF 9 and was unable to train properly before being beaten by eventual winner Ross Pearson. Since that setback, Whitson has been on good form as he has fought all over the world and more often than not come away with the win. The UFC has yet to come calling but the long time Team Quest member has instead signed a multi-fight deal with ONE FC, courtesy of his manager Heath Sims. Sims recently joined Evolve MMA to head the wrestling program there and his student and protege has been training with him in Singapore as he prepares to take on experienced Dutchman Danny Van Bergen at ONE FC 'Battle of Heroes' on March 31. Whitson chatted to MMAmania.com about life after TUF and fighting for the first time in Asia. How did the chance to fight for One FC come about? One FC is a great organization and one that I had heard great things about so when my manager Heath Sims told me the he could possibly set up a fight for me in the One FC I was all for it. There will be 7,000+ people in the Singapore Indoor Stadium and the show will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports. Have you ever fought on an event on this scale before? I have fought on some big shows before, but this may be the biggest. I'm very excited for my Asian MMA debut to be in such a big show. Did you enjoy TUF and do you think it helped you to improve as a fighter? TUF was a great experience. I definitely did not enjoy living in a house with 15 other men for 6 weeks, but other than that the experience was a good one. I learned a lot from it and got a lot of exposure which has helped my career as fighter. Were you disappointed not to get a chance to fight on the TUF finale? Yeah I was disappointed. I felt I had a very good fight to get into the house but then had some bad luck by getting impetigo which is a bacterial infection. That forced me out of any training up until I fought the eventual winner Ross Pearson. I figured knowing my story and how well I did the first fight I would get a shot in the finale, but it didn't turn out that way. In the end I'm just happy I got a shot to be on The Ultimate Fighter Are you hoping to get back in the UFC one day? Some day it would be nice to be back in the UFC, but for now I’m extremely happy to be fighting for One FC. I think Asian MMA is going to blow up with One FC and I’m happy to be here when it does. Do you have a multi-fight deal with One FC or is this just a one off? I do. I believe it’s a five fight contract? You have spent a few weeks at Evolve MMA with Heath Sims, how have you found that experience? It's been a very good experience. The trainers and fighter here are great and Singapore is a awesome city. What are your thoughts on your opponent Danny van Bergen? I think he is a tough opponent, but I think I'm better than him everywhere. Does knowing that so many people in Asia are going to be watching put more pressure on you or do you feel more relaxed because you are fighting away from the US? No I don't feel more pressure. I'm from a small town called Sitka, Alaska and a lot of people in that town follow my career. I always feel the most pressure knowing that all my friends and family from Sitka are watching. I know it’s important to impress the Asian fans, but no I don't feel more pressure How do you feel about being the first fight of the night, are you hoping to get to watch the rest of the show? This is actually the first time in my whole career that I'm the first fight of the night. I think after this fight they will definitely have me higher up on the card, but it will be cool to get the fight done and be able to have a few beers and watch the rest of the fights. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, fighter, tuf, fc, im

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by killasin [link] [comment]

Posted in: tuf, episode, hasnt, killasin link, killasin

Read the full article at Reddit

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" got into full swing with the second episode last night (March 16, 2012), as coaches Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz picked their teams, set up the first fight and got the training underway. This week's show was capped off by a brutal knee knockout by James Vick over Daron Cruickshank that surprised most people, including me. For a detailed account of how it all went down be sure to hit up out TUF 15: "Live" results post right here. Nonetheless, several things became evident in episode number two: Cruz is super uncomfortable in front of the cameras. We pretty much knew that based on his past on-camera appearances for fight-hyping press ventures, but it became overwhelmingly evident on the show, especially when he is seen talking to his guys. One-on-one, he seems to do okay, but in front of a big group, he seizes up. Maybe he'll get better and relax. We'll see. As much as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White takes a bad wrap from time to time for being so outspoken, I thought this episode showed a side of him that we do see every now and then, but doesn't get publicized often. After Michael Chiesa experienced the loss of his father, White paid for him to fly home, take a day to be with friends and family, then allowed him to come back to the show. I'm not trying to give the guy a Nobel Peace Prize, I just thought it was good to see a more "human" side of Dana. It's still a little awkward how they're balancing the "LIVE" action with the canned/production stuff. The episode went About 40 minutes in before we heard from sometimes-host Jon Anik for the second time. It was brief and felt forced, almost like they're trying to find something for him to do. I don't hate the FX production quality of TUF, but it definitely still feels like they're figuring it out. Without further ado (which, I believe is Latin for: "jibber jabber"), here are the TUF 15 Power Rankings for episode two: For this week's power rankings, I deferred to the coaches. Call that a cop-out, if you will, but I figure guys who get paid to fight and have been training in mixed martial arts (MMA) their whole lives know better than I do. Cruickshank was, of course, left off the rankings, reflecting that he lost his fight and is out of the competition (barring a wild card scenario). (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence: (7)2) Al Iaquinta: (11)3) Sam Sicilia (3)4) Cristiano Marcello (1)5) Myles Jury (13)6) Mike Rio (8)7) Joe Proctor (9)8) James Vick (14)9) Michael Chiesa (2)10) Vinc Pichel (5)11) John Cofer (15)12) Chris Tickle (6)13) Andy Ogle (16)14) Jeremy Larsen (10)15) Chris Saunders (12) It's still early, so it's hard to make a lot of predictions yet, but these are the things I'm going to be watching for as the season unfolds: In my opinion, Michael Chiesa is still one of the guys to watch for, but how will he respond to the loss of his father? Sometimes, that kind of setback can be a huge motivator. Sometimes, it can cause the heart to get in front of the head and bring about big losses (see: Jake Shields, Mark Hominick and Sam Stout). I'm pulling for him, and I hope he's able to overcome this obstacle, but it's with reservations that I believe it's going to happen. For now, anyway. Vick may very well be a sleeper here. I liked Cruickshank a lot. Vick has now beat two established MMA fighters in back-to-back appearances. He seems to be learning quickly and has the build and frame to be a potentially very good fighter. His length may pose a problem for many of the guys in the house. It will be interesting to see how Faber handles the first loss. Can he rebound and shake it off, or will he follow in the footsteps of other coaches like "Rampage" Quinton Jackson, Ken Shamrock, Frank Mir and Josh Koscheck, who talked a good talk, but didn't end up being able to back it up in the coaching category. Now's the part where you get to beat me up. In the comment section below, leave us a note (or 15) to tell us what we got wrong, your predictions, as well as any other things that stand out to you thus far, in regard to TUF 15. Sound off! Miss the show last night? No problem, we've got you covered. Check out a compete recap of TUF 15: "Live" Episode 2 right here.

Posted in: guy, show, fighter, tuf, episode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., March 16, 2012) with episode two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 on FX. No, it wasn't the season premiere but it felt far more like the season debut with the 16 winning fighters moving into the house, picking their beds and figuring out how to pass the time over the next few months. The early verdict? Beer. As usual. This season's coaches, UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and his arch rival and number one contender to the 135-pound title, Urijah Faber, chose their respective teams. The first point of contention of the season came here with Cruz drafting Chris Tickle, a guy who wanted to be on Faber's team and was virtually promised as much. Too bad, so sad. Shortly after teams were chosen, we were treated to the first official argument of the season between the two coaches, as "The California Kid" brought to light issues he had with recent comments made by "The Dominator" in a magazine interview. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This new season of TUF, the fifteenth of its kind, was heavily promoted on the promise of something fresh and different. That's centered mostly around the fact that the fights are live for each episode but the week leading up to the fight is filmed, cut, produced and edited to be shown in a 45 minute block before the live fight. To that end, nothing's really changed at all. Petty bickering between coaches? Check. Constant training montages with voiceovers to introduce who's who? Check. A new wrinkle in the house to cause some form of emotional attachment? Check. This week it was Michael Chiesa tugging at our heart strings as he was informed his father had passed away after a two year battle to keep going. He didn't die, however, without getting the chance to watch his son win a fight on television on his way to realizing his dream. It was just as emotional as UFC President Dana White promised. Again, though, without the visceral emotion brought forth by Chiesa and his very real life issues felt whilst living in house with 15 other fighters locked away in Las Vegas, the episode was short on anything of actual substance. There are only so many changes that can be made to the format to spice things up. As long as they throw a group of guys into a house and strip them of even the most basic of amenities, all we're left with is a group of testosterone-laden TUF guys trying to find something to do to entertain themselves in between training sessions. The break from such things comes when the coaches can't help but get at each other's throats but if last night's argument between Cruz and Faber was any indication of what we can expect throughout this season, it's going to be a long, strange boring trip. Thankfully, the live fights format works like a freaking charm. On top of the live fight we were treated to last night, the UFC also offered a live streaming video of the gym in the time leading up to the bout itself. Not exactly groundbreaking originality, but a nice new wrinkle, nonetheless. And hey, if every fight is something like watching James Vick viciously knock out Daron Cruickshank inside the first round, to hell with the 45 minutes leading up to it, right? For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode two click here.

Posted in: fight, night, season, tuf, episode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

So what are we calling this thing? TUF 15? TUF Live? How about we just call it what it really is: Unadulterated televised crack that's virtually inescapable. That would make the acronym 'UTCTVI,' which sounds like medicine to cure some difficult venereal disease. For the purpose of this article, we'll just refer to tonight as 'That time when James Vick scored a stunning knee KO over Daron Cruickshank.' We could call it 'TTWJVSASKKOODC' for short. Technically, it would be 'TTWJVSASKKOODC 1' since it's the first time it has happened in the planet's history. If these two ever fight again and James Vick pulls off the same knee KO, then we could call it TTWJVSASKKOODC 2 and all the hipster UGers will make fun of the people that didn't witness the first TTWJVSASKKOODC live. Perhaps it's best that we get on to James Vick's knee KO of Daron Cruickshank at TUF Live tonight, before we get into any more trouble with the Global Acronym Naming Committee. Props to ZombieProphet for the .gif.

Posted in: tuf, knee, vick, james vick, ttwjvsaskkoodc

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Now that fighters have made it into "The Ultimate Fighter" house, they can start working towards their goal of winning TUF. Their journey starts tonight as the fights will be shown live on FX. Bellator continues their season by starting … Continue reading →

Posted in: fight, bellator, tuf, fighter house, fx bellator

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Has it been discussed at all? submitted by merkmerk [link] [27 comments]

Posted in: ufc, tuf, women, competition, merkmerk

Read the full article at Reddit

Time to pick teams. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought a brand new format to its reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which started season number 15 last week with a 2.5 hour season premiere on its new channel FX. The best part? It was all the way live, folks. Last week's broadcast showcased 16 fights featuring 32 competitors attempting to smash their way into the TUF house to earn a shot at the coveted "six-figure" UFC contract. You can get up to date on all that by clicking here. Tonight's show will feature those 16 winners finding a home on one of two squads, Team Dominick Cruz or Team Urijah Faber. And, of course, another live fight. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 9 p.m. ET, after the jump. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15 EPISODE TWO LIVE BLOG Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fighter, team, tuf, fighter tuf, championship ufc

Read the full article at MMA Mania

TUF StuffThis 1st episode of TUF Live this friday just might be one of the best/emotional eps in TUF history!I got Ogle'd!!! http://pic.twitter.com/IUHTHyZi  -Dana White  #TUFLive Blog 2 #TeamFaber http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnIje9ho0aI&feature=youtube_gdata_player  -Urijah Faber ‏ If nothing else I gained I solid friend out of the #TUFLive experience. I give you, a stache-less @PrisonStare. http://pic.twitter.com/NSgFwued   -James Krause ‏ Speaking of Mustaches“@XStraightEdgePK: @Unclecreepymma How do you grow that awesome mustache ?” magic with a sprinkle of stupidity –Ian McCallGoing hard with the stache. Time to educate the Lil ones at wrestling practice @combatfitness http://instagr.am/p/INb6hOINkN/   -Scott Jorgensen ‏ Who Needs an In-Flight Movie?I know Ima bigger dude, but I LOVE watching people bigger than me try to fit into airplane seats.  -Matt Mitrione ‏ She Should Train Cartwheels With Diego SanchezMelbourne is cool. Although I'm worried about my daughter Ellie, apparently she might of broke her ankle doing a cartwheel in her room.  -Michael ‏ BispingPractical Advice for the Zombie Apocalypse  The show Doomsday Bunkers is proof that when zombies come you better be friends with one of these lunatics.   -Miguel Angel Torres ‏ CowBANGThanks to @Cowboycerrone for stopping by @303BJJ and drilling with me. http://pic.twitter.com/Jl9pBLLo  -Duane Ludwig ‏ Style Ain’t Always EasyLong arms are awesome for fighting. Not so much when trying to find dress shirts. 17.5 neck...38 sleeve. Fffffffffffuuuu...  -Josh Barnett ‏ Sam Stout’s Dream Come TruePumped to finally be in the #UFC undisputed3 video game. Just crossed it off my bucket list!!  -Sam Stout ‏ The Life of the ChampJust took a hot shower while drinking an ice blended dark chocolate latte - that's one kickass combo - I'm gunna do it again tomorrow!  -Ronda Rousey ‏ The Carpenter AbidesGuy at the hotel lobby just called me Mr Lebowski after I showed him my bowling license! Hysterical!!!   -Clay Guida ‏ What Did Josh Neer Ever do to You?I hate the dentist   -Keith Berry ‏ Gimme the ME, Barber!"@stuartlally92 what do you ask for when you go for a hair cut?!! - I ask for the 'Dan Hardy'. :-)   -Dan Hardy ‏ Mayhem Miller: Now 3x Weirder!Let's get weird! Let's get weird! Let's get weird!  -Jason Mayhem Miller ‏ Miesha’s Arm Harm UpdateConsidering I had my arm snapped in half the wrong direction a a little over a week ago i don't think it's in all that bad shape now lolRegardless of what happend I think its fair 2 say my fight w RR was competitive & exciting, who wouldn't wanna watch a rematch dwn the road?  -Miesha Tate ‏

Posted in: tuf, hotel lobby, diego sanchezmelbourne, ’s dream, nbspnbsp dan

Read the full article at UFC

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 kicked off its first "live" season via the FX channel this past Fri., March 9, 2012. If you tuned in, you were treated to 2.5 hours of action packed fights, 16 to be exact. 32 men entered, and now half of them are moving into the house. But whose team will they be on? That's what will be decided on tomorrow night's second episode when UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and number one 135-pound contender Urijah Faber get their pick of the litter. To get a look at who they'll have to choose from click here. UFC President Dana White is propping up this week's episode on Twitter, as well, saying, "This first episode of TUF Live this Friday just might be one of the best/emotional episodes in TUF history!" We shall see. In the meantime, stay up to date on all things TUF 15 by clicking here.

Posted in: tuf, episode, urijah faber, weeks episode, bestemotional episodes

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter Live debut on FX drew an average of 1.28 million viewers, as previously reported on MMAPayout.We will now take a closer look at the quarterly ratings breakdown, viewership ratings pattern, and expectations coming into the show. The UFC ratings press release labeled the ratings as a “strong start” to the series, and according to John Solberg of FX, “Transformers” and the UFC led the channel to a #1 ranking on Friday (prime time) for the A18-49 and A18-34 demographics. We will now take a closer look at the numbers in our Ratings Breakdown analysis.   TUF Live FX Debut Ratings Breakdown: Viewership for First Hour (15 Minute Intervals): 1,505,000 1,454,000 1,446,000 1,364,000 Viewership for Second Hour (15 Minute Intervals): 1,389,000 1,160,000 1,236,000 1,181,000 Viewership for Third Hour (15 Minute Intervals): 1,173,000 1,052,000 Total Average Viewers: 1.28 Million   TUF Live FX Debut Comparisons (Same  Friday  Time Slot): TUF LIVE Premiere (FX) – 1.28 Million Average Viewers TUF Friday’s (Reruns on Spike TV) – 653,000 Average Viewers Bellator 60 Live (MTV 2) – 169,000 Average Viewers Historical Comparisons and Notes: TUF Premiere Episode Averages Seasons 1-14:  2.0 million viewers TUF 14 Premiere on Spike – 1.5 million viewers (lowest of the 14 seasons) TUF 13 Premiere on Spike – 1.5 million viewers (lowest of the 14 seasons) TUF 12 Premiere on Spike – 1.6 million viewers TUF 11 Premiere on Spike – 1.9 million viewers TUF 10 Premiere on Spike – 4.1 million viewers (highest of the 14 seasons) TUF 1 Premiere on Spike – 1.7 million viewers   Expectations from the UFC: From a Dana White interview MMAWeekly.com performed regarding the matter: “Now that we’ve got this new platform, going on big Fox and FX, the amount of viewers that are going to watch, I mean this season of the ‘Ultimate Fighter’ with no promotion whatsoever is pulling between 1.5 and 1.8 million viewers (on Spike),” White said. … “We’ll more than double that when we go onto FX. I mean we’ll probably have more than 3 million viewers on FX watching the ‘Ultimate Fighter’.” Expected Viewership: More Than 3 Million Viewers (Actual: 1.3 Million)   UFC’s Reaction: Dana White’s answer after ratings were reported and asked if 1.3M was, as he tweeted, “:) sweet!”: “yup!!! On a Friday night when our demo is out.” White’s answer when asked by a fan if they could move their time slot away from Friday to improve ratings and not miss their demo: “that’s when FX wants us on”   Payout Perspective: There are a few things to point out here.  The most obvious and important one is the ratings pattern, which constantly declined throughout the show.  That is not a good sign for the UFC who was hoping to make a big splash for their debut episode on FX.  The second observation to point out here  is that TUF Live lost one third (33%) of their audience from start to finish, which also isn’t great.  The event was heavily promoted all over FOX properties and all over the internet, which makes the 1.3 million that much more disappointing.  It was also the lowest TUF season debut in the history of the series, although it did win the A18-49 and A18-34 demos as well as their head to heads with Bellator on MTV 2 and Spike’s TUF repeats. The main complain that was loudly heard from the fans was that the show format just didn’t seem to work live.  There were many awkward moments with no commentary while the fights were going on and you heard talking and conversation from Dana White and the TUF coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber discussing their observations, but it just didn’t seem to work out. John Anik’s usage seemed particularly odd, as he could have been doing the play-by-play but instead was relegated to doing interviews and announcements.  Most casuals we received feedback from labeled the event as “2.5 hours of random guys fighting one rounders that someone was filming from some underground location”. The positive here is that this will not be TUF’s normal format, and their 30 minutes of drama and 30 minutes of fighting should improve the quality of the show, but you have to wonder how many first time viewers will return after that many turned their TV sets to another channel. Again, the typical format should be much more favorable to the casual and TUF fans, so we will have to wait and see

Posted in: fx, tuf, rating, viewer, spike

Read the full article at MMA Payout

UFC Insider featuring behind the scenes at TUF 15, Joe Rogan's top TUF fighters ever (spoiler: Rashad Evans) and Griffin and Bonnar BS for our amusement.

Posted in: tuf, spoiler, tuf fighters, ufc insider, bonnar bs

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Georges St-Pierre updates us on his road to recovery, Mark Hunt takes on Stefan Struve at UFC 146 and TUF Brazil gets underway.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, stefan struve, george, tuf brazil

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

UFC president Dana White obviously was riled up by some of the comments about the format of this season's The Ultimate Fighter debut and used a few minutes on his latest video blog to rip on the critics. Here's some highlights of the nine-minute clip that spans UFC 144 and UFC on FX 2 in Australia: While on the set of TUF Brazil, White said he wanted to "crush myths" about TUF. He reiterates that what he and coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber were doing wasn't commentary and that Jon Anik's role will be just the host. "TUF will be the same as you remember it...just as raw and unedited as it ever was." He said there's no place for commentators at the gym as these fighters aren't in the UFC. We go behind the scenes at UFC 144 in Japan with a dejected Quinton Jackson complaining about his knee but saying, "I don't know what's wrong with me." White was shown talking to matchmaker Joe Silva about the sharp belt he was about to award Benson Henderson, which apparently was a new one. We see a furious White telling both Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson about the Australian commission's scoring tabulation error. After taking in the news, McCall asked, "Do I get my win bonus?" White is also shown talking to Martin Kampmann about his third round submission win. Watch the entire clip after the jump.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, video blog, ian mccall, tabulation error

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Its time again for another edition of the Dana White vlog. The title of this one, "TUF Live FX Vlog" is a little misleading because there is only a small serving of TUF talk on this video. The TUF talk is like a side dish of steamed veggies compared to the main course meat and potatoes behind the scenes footage Dana serves up in this video from UFC Japan and UFC Australia. As always there are some candid moments with Dana and the fighters and some fun behind the scenes type moments. There's even some exclusive footage of the backstage talks Dana has with Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson to inform them of the judges scoring mishap and you can see some of the fighters like Rampage and Edgar getting worked on post fight. Check it out:

Posted in: dana, tuf, vlog, fx vlog, side dish

Read the full article at Middle Easy

submitted by Fyuryus [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: tuf, friday, fyuryu, dislocation, toe dislocation

Read the full article at Reddit

Let the fun begin! Less than a week after making a fairly smooth live debut this past Friday night it looks like the Ultimate Fighter 15 has hit its first snag. While details are still sketchy and undoubtedly destined to emerge when the show returns in a few days with another “real time” event, the situation was at last bad enough to force UFC President Dana White to readjust his schedule. “Just landed in Vegas from TUF Brazil and something bad has already happened on TUF here so on my way to the training center,” White wrote earlier on Twitter. Past incidents meriting an impromptu visit from White have included fighters leaving the show, physical altercations between contestants, and serious injuries requiring a replacement. TUF 15 airs at 9:00 PM EST every Friday night with highlights from the previous week of taping as well as a live fight between two contestants. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: tuf, friday night, tuf brazil, show returns, schedule “

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

submitted by Avertr [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: dana, tuf, something, avertr, dana something

Read the full article at Reddit

It's the dawn of a new era as 1.3 million viewers caught the debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15, which kicked off its "live" season last Friday night (March 9, 2012) via the FX Channel. Under the tutelage of bantamweight rivals and reality show coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, 32 lightweight fighters went to war for a spot in the TUF house in one-round elimination fights. The results produced 16 next-generation stars, as well as 0.95 household rating. Those numbers failed to meet the 1.5 million established for the season 14 debut, according to Sherdog.com. That doesn't necessarily mean the sky is falling, as the promotion (and network) will need time to find its groove as fans are not only growing accustomed to a new time, date and channel, but also a new format. Considering the massive overhaul for TUF 15 (and counter-programming efforts from Spike TV), 1.3 million viewers doesn't sound half bad. Let's see what they get for episode two. For complete TUF 15 live results click here. For our comprehensive recap and power rankings click here and here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, fx channel, counterprogramming efforts, bantamweight rivals

Read the full article at MMA Mania

TUF: Brazil Cast List Reveals Middleweight, Featherweight Fields From SBNation sister site, MMAFighting.com, Mike Chiappetta brought word via Globo (the Brazilian TV network that the UFC broadcasts on) of the 32-man field for the Brazilian segment of TUF. The elimination round is set to debut on March 25, and will air on UFC.com. The UFC and FUEL TV have both acknowledged a hope of airing the show on television, but as of yet, a deal that would make it possible has yet to be officially announced.

Posted in: tuf, fuel tv, elimination round, ufc broadcasts, brazilian segment

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Let the debate about The Ultimate Fighter's debut ratings begin. On Monday, the cable network released the numbers for Friday's live debut with 1.3 million viewers tuning in, good for a 0.95 household rating for FX. The near three-hour MMA extravaganza featured 16 live fights from Las Vegas with the winners moving into the house for the opportunity to compete for a UFC contract. Based on a sample of social media when the news hit, the numbers are being viewed anywhere from extremely positive to very negative with some immediately pointing to TUF's ratings on Spike for last season's debut (1.5 million) and the expectations being higher with the mass amount of advertising both sides did leading up to the show. On the flip side, FX Senior VP of Public Relations John Solberg pointed out on Twitter that a re-air of Transformers 2 and TUF helped the network get to No. 1 with adults 18-34 and 18-49, among other highlights. @JohnSolbergFXJohn Solberg Premiere of The Ultimate Fighter Live (9-11:38 PM ET) #TUFLive was up +58% in A18-49, +96% in M18-49 and +124% in M18-34 vs. year ago TP. Mar 12 via web Favorite Retweet Reply The final season of TUF on Spike drew an average of 1.5 million viewers per episode.

Posted in: fx, tuf, viewer, debut, cable network

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is pairing Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil, the promotion's popular reality television show designed to produce new and up-and-coming stars from a pool of undiscovered talent. TUF Brazil will be filmed entirely in Portuguese and air via Globo TV beginning March 25, 2012, but stateside fans will also get the chance to watch the season in its entirety (via tape-delay) on FUEL TV. At the conclusion of the season, Silva and Belfort will face off at UFC 147 for Brazilian bragging rights. Check out the complete 32-fighter roster for TUF Brazil (via Sports Globo) after the jump. Featherweight (145 lbs.): Alexandre Ramos (5-0)Rodrigo Damm (9-5) Rony Mariano Bezerra (10-3) Godofredo Pepey (8-0) Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini (19-3-1) Medeiros Anistavio (12-7) Johnny Goncalves (4-0) Hugo Viana (5-0) Fernando Duarte Guerra (10-1)John Teixeira (13-0-1) Rafael Bueno (7-1) Wagner Campos (11-3) Pedro Nobre (10-0-1) Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva (14-1) Dileno Lopes (8-0) Giovanni da Silva Santos Jr. (10-1) Middleweight (185 lbs.): Sergio Moraes (6-1) Cezar Ferreira (4-2) Leonardo Mafra Teixeira (5-0) Daniel Sarafian (7-2) Gustavo Sampaio (5-1)Richardson Moreira (3-0) Fabio Luiz Vital da Costa (9-0-1) Renee Forte (7-1) Joao Paulo de Souza (8-4)Francisco Drinaldo (10-1) Thiago Rela (3-1) Charles Maicon (8-1) Gilberto Galvao (19-4-1) Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo (8-1-1) Samuel Trindade (6-1) Delson Heleno (23-6) Keep it glued to MMAmania.com for more on the upcoming season of TUF Brazil in the coming weeks.

Posted in: season, silva, tuf, brazil, tuf brazil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

It’s a big month for “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. TUF Live on FX just premiered last Friday and TUF Brazil is set to premiere on March 25 on Globo in Brazil. It’s still unclear how fans outside Brazil will be able to watch it, however UFC officials have stated in the past that they will figure something out. In the meantime, here’s the full cast list for TUF Brazil which was released today on GloboEsporte.com: Featherweights Alexandre Ramos Dileno Lopes Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva Fernando Duarte Guerra Giovanni da Silva Santos Jr. Godofredo Pepey John Teixeira Johnny Goncalves Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini Medeiros Anistavio Pedro Nobre Rafael Bueno Rodrigo Damm Rony Mariano Bezerra Wagner Campos Middleweights Cezar Ferreira Charles Maicon Daniel Sarafian Delson Heleno Fabio Luiz Vital da Costa Francisco Drinaldo Gilberto Galvao Gustavo Sampaio Joao Paulo de Souza Leonardo Mafra Teixeira Renee Forte Richardson Moreira Samuel Trindade Sergio Moraes Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo Thiago Rela Video promo for TUF Brazil

Posted in: tuf, brazil, ufc officials, tuf brazil, cast list

Read the full article at MMA Convert

 32 lightweights made the casting cut but only 16 would make it into the Ultimate Fighter Live house. The UFC and FX went with a one round five minute format for the preliminary fights. The results of the TUF shoot out was a mixed bagged of talent. TUF Live Fights resultsLas Vegas, NVJoe Proctor def. Jordan Rinaldi via submission (guillotine)Cristiano Marcello def. Jared Carlsten via submission (rear-naked choke)Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via TKO (8 seconds)Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via TKO (24 seconds)Andy Ogle def. Brendan Weafer via unanimous decisionVinc Pichel def. Cody Pfister via submission (rear-naked choke)John Cofer def. Mark Glover via unanimous decisionChris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via unanimous decisionJames Vick def. Dakota Cochrane via split decisionMichael Chiesa def. Johnavan Vistante via submission (rear-naked choke)Mike Rio def. Ali Maclean via submission (rear-naked choke)Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via first-round TKO (85 seconds)Daron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober via unanimous decisionJeremy Larsen def. Jeff Smith via unanimous decisionAl Iaquinta def. Jon Tuck via unanimous decisionMyles Jury def. Akbarh Arreloa via unanimous decisionUpsets, favorites and dark horses after the jump. Biggest upset: Justin Lawrence def. James Krause- 25 years old and with nearly 20 fights worth of pro experience under his belt James Krause (15-4) was a fighter built to win the TUFL tournament. A 5'8 lightweight with just three lackluster pro fights Justin Lawrence (3-0) was just another name among the 32 fighters. Lawrence needed less than 90 seconds to crush Krause with punches and earn his spot in the house. Favorite that impressed: Mike Rio- A wrestling powerhouse Mike Rio (8-1) was close to earning a UFC contract with his regional dominance on the Florida MMA scene. Rio took care of business with a quick submission win over Ali Maclean (9-5-1). The 30 year old Rio should have a deep run the TUF Live tournament. Favorite that disappointed: Al Iaquinta- Talent wise Al Iaquinta (5-1) is a top three prospect in the TUF Live cast. Iaquinta had a tough draw with underrated Guam fighter Jon Tuck (6-0) in the prelim round. The 24 year old edged out Tuck in a close fight and will do well on the show where two round fights are the norm. Dark horse that emerged: Sam Sicilia- Eight seconds was it all took to get Sam Sicilia (10-0) into the TUF Live house. Sicilia will be fresh heading into the tournament when he needed just single overhand right hand punch to knockout Erin Beach (3-1). The 26 year old Sicilia stockpiled a perfect record almost exclusively on the Washington state MMA scene where the 155 pound competition is subpar.

Posted in: fight, submission, rio, tuf, sicilia

Read the full article at UltMMA

If you were home last Friday night, chances are you have no social life caught the debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15, which kicked off its "live" season via the FX Channel on March 9, 2012. Under the tutelage of bantamweight rivals and reality show coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, fans got two slam-bang hours of action-packed elimination fights with some fairly interesting results. If you watched TUF 15 because Kimbo Slice told you to, then you saw Dakota Cochrane get outed then ousted, while Jon Tuck lost a spot in the house -- while nearly losing his ability to walk upright. So much for putting your best foot forward. That kind of thing can happen when you only get one round to prove your mettle. Two rounds are for wieners but bonus checks aren't, as Dana White was rewarding the finishers in what was widely perceived as an under-produced broadcast. This time, the focus is on the fights, not the glitz and glamor of network television. So now that the smoke has cleared and you've brought yourself up to speed with our live results and post-TUF recap, here's a look ahead at this week's episode and what to expect going forward. See you on the other side. After 32 lightweight hopefuls made their best case for UFC stardom, only 16 remained. Here's who's getting a shot at a "six-figure contract" and Octagon infamy: Joe Proctor (7-1)Cristiano Marcello (12-3)Sam Sicilia (10-0)Chris Tickle (7-4)Andy Ogle (8-1)Vinc Pichel (6-0)John Cofer (7-1)Chris Saunders (9-2)James Vick (4-0)Michael Chiesa (7-0)Mike Rio (8-1)Justin Lawrence (3-0)Daron Cruickshank (10-2)Jeremy Larsen (8-2)Al Iaquinta (5-1)Myles Jury (9-0) It's difficult to judge which of the above fighters are going to make some noise this season when all you have is one round to judge them on. That's why our resident numbers cruncher, Kevin Haggerty, was kind enough to assemble the TUF 15 power rankings (here) to give you something to chew on. So, what's to come this Friday night, March 16? Probably lots of arguing between Cruz and Faber. They face off for "The Dominator's" belt at UFC 148 later this summer but until then, they'll have to concentrate on picking teams, which is likely to be the focal point of this week's episode. Along with another live fight. So before you head into another TUF 15 offering, take our refresher course with live results here, then get The General's thoughts on everything that went down right here. Of course you can also get more details on Dakota Cochrane's loss to James Vick right here and see Jon Tuck's digital salute over here. All the TUF 15 news that's fit to print by clicking here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, weeks episode, generals thoughts

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A promo for TUF Brazil. Anyone speak Portuguese and want to translate?

Posted in: tuf, brazil, anyone, promo, portuguese

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

When B.J. Penn exploded onto the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene, "The Prodigy" was a quickly given and just as apt moniker. Debuting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rather than paying his dues on the regional circuit, the highly decorated and even more highly touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) specialist scored three first round stoppages to earn himself a shot at the lightweight title wrapped around Jen Pulver's waist. The fight was a classic. The two 155-pounders were the first in their weight class to headline a UFC pay-per-view (PPV) and while the lightweights didn't gain a foothold in the promotion until several years later, they are now a viable moneymaker thanks in part to Penn, Frankie Edgar and the current champion Ben Henderson. Early estimates of UFC 144's buyrate, featuring the title showdown between "The Answer" and "Smooth", clock in at nearly 400,000. Before The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5, the lowest the reality series dipped was 170-pounds. Welterweight fighters were featured in the second and fourth seasons and Matt Hughes acted as coach in the sophomore year. TUF 5 saw the reemergence of lightweights, both inside the Octagon and out as Pulver and Penn were tapped as coaches. They were and have been the smallest coaches in TUF history. That is, until this season when bantamweights Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber take the reins of 16 contestants looking to be the next Ultimate Fighter. Small as they may be, the 135-pound champion and his challenger can still scrap. At the TUF 5 Finale, Penn and Pulver helped prove the old adage true: it's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of fight in the dog. Let's take a look back at the lightweight rematch. They meet in the center of the Octagon and Penn throws a combination which causes his opponent to lose his balance. The Hawaiian continues to swarm, peppering Pulver with hooks and uppercuts. Unrelenting, Penn keeps up the barrage before pushing the former lightweight champion against the cage and then securing a takedown. From there, he lands more punches and elbows on the quickly looking to be overmatched opponent. Pulver manages to get to his feet but he's immediately slammed back down. In this position, Penn looks to land more ground and pound and "Lil Evil" gives up his back. Penn, the BJJ specialist, slides over for an armbar -- the submission photographed above -- but Pulver is able to escape the hold, turning into his opponent. He also turned right into a triangle choke attempt. Despite not being the vaunted grappler "The Prodigy" is, Pulver is more than experienced when it comes to avoid submissions having done so for nearly a decade at that point. This attempt is no different. He loosens himself from the position and ends up in Penn's full guard to the roar of the crowd. The Hawaiian avoids most of the offense Pulver throws his way during this time save for a big elbow that catches Penn cleanly. They're back to their feet and spend the final minute of the opening round clinching, throwing short hooks and uppercuts to the head and knees to the body before breaking and starting all over again. A wild head kick from Pulver whiffs over his opponent's head and the fight looks much different going into the second round as it did early on in the first. They're back in the center of the cage, picking away at each with single punches. An uppercut from Pulver catches Penn; the Hawaiian throws a right that rattles "Lil Evil." A big left from the former champion is caught by Penn and he uses it to secure a trip takedown, landing in half-guard. Keeping his head down to avoid punches, Penn throws his own while slowly but deliberately making his way to full mount. From there, Penn brutalizes his opponent with vicious ground and pound. Pulver -- as he did in the first -- gives up his back which leads to even more ground and pound and eventually the end of the fight. Pulver defended as well and as long as he could but with someone as talented as Penn on your back, defenses will eventually falter. Wrapping his legs around Pulver's body -- and trapping the former champ's left arm as well -- Penn sinks in a rear naked choke and forces his opponent to tap. The submission -- cranked a little longer than it probably should have -- was sweet retribution for the Hilo boy. As much of victory as it was for Penn, it was also a win for the smaller guys fighting in the UFC. The fifth season of TUF blew the doors open for 155-pounders, an act hoping to be replicated by last season's featherweight and bantamweight cast. It also helped establish "The Prodigy" as a star. Will the same be said for Cruz come July?

Posted in: fight, opponent, tuf, penn, pulver

Read the full article at MMA Mania

While it may have drawn criticism from some seeking slicker production, UFC President Dana White was as pleased could be following Friday night’s debut of TUF 15. The show featured sixteen live, elimination-style bouts to determine who would make it into the house and compete on this season. “Going into this thing…you’re always nervous when you do something new and do something different,” said White in an interview with MMAJunkie. “We worked long and hard on this show to make sure this came off with no hitches. I’m very happy with how it came off. It was perfect.” Bantamweights Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz, coaches on the season, provided commentary during the live fights with White. However, several of them didn’t last very long with finishes in half of the bouts though White clearly didn’t mind, “We’ve got a lot of guys who are very good, guys who are strong finishers,” the outspoken executive glowed. “I love that. I love guys with killer instincts.” TUF 15 will air every Friday for the next thirteen weeks with a live fight capping off highlights from the previous week of training/in-house antics. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: guy, tuf, eliminationstyle bouts, season “, thing …you

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Check out Jon Tuk's mangled toe from last night's TUF. Possibly even more disturbing than Logan Stanton's devil finger! But not quite as terrible as this right here.

Posted in: night, tuf, toe injury, jon tuks, nights tuf

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Based on one round of fighting for the first live session of "The Ultimate Fighter Live", it's hard to see each fighter's full arsenal of tools and ability to read his opponent. But, I think the 16 fighters chosen to move into the TUF 15 house for the next three...

Posted in: fighter, tuf, move, house, arsenal

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

TUF: Live, the newly revamped FX version of The Ultimate Fighter, may not deserve to be judged on its opening episode, which will differ from episodes to come over the 13-week season, but the show did give a sampling of what viewers could expect from the fighters soon to inhabit the house as well as the production that goes along with it.As a live sports presentation, it was a bit uneven in its delivery. While TUF fans are used to watching fights without a play-by-play man and color commentator, it felt strange to do so for 2 1/2 hours straight. With the move to FX and in theory, a broader audience, the broadcast might have benefited from announcers to explain what was happening.There was good and bad to the show, with most of the high spots coming during the in-cage action. Among the standouts? Justin Lawrence, who walked on to the set as a little-known newbie in MMA but walked out as one of the favorites to win it all after steamrolling respected veteran James Krause. TUF: Live Review-- When the UFC announced that all 16 elimination fights would be aired on FX, we wondered how that could be possible. The answer was one-round fights. That was a good call, immediately raising the stakes and ratcheting up the intensity level. In addition, $5,000 awards were promised for finishes. Not surprisingly, eight of the first 12 bouts went to a finish. The last four went to decisions, but remember, those fighters had been waiting to compete for over two hours by that time, so they might not have been as fresh and loose as the guys who fought early.-- Throughout the broadcast, FX imposed an "Ultimate Fighter FX Live" logo on the upper right part of the screen. While those types of placements are relatively standard in TV presentations, on an HD set, it happened to be in a place that often covered fighter's faces as they moved around the cage. In most stick and ball sports, the producer can contain the action in the middle of the screen, and that ad is merely an annoyance, but in MMA, it's blocking a participant, and could cause a viewer to miss the impact of a fight-changing strike. It should be moved or completely removed by next week. -- UFC president Dana White and coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber filled some of the lulls in fights with their commentary at a cageside desk. Their significance was highlighted during one of the night's last fights, when fighter Jon Tuck suddenly looked down before continuing to fight. At home, it was hard to tell why, but Cruz immediately pointed out Tuck had broken his toe. Cruz was especially good at analysis and explaining what a fighter was doing right and wrong in a given situation, even though he was doing it in a conversational way while talking to White. The trio also had some humorous moments, like when White told Cruz and Faber that their cornermen sucked for not informing the fighters how much time was left on the clock each round. Cruz pointed out that his corners had timers on their phones but the production staff had taken them phones away, to which White replied, "Real professional. You go in the corner with your phones?"-- On the other hand, the trio shouldn't have had to carry the information load. It would have made more sense to have a broadcasting team and to occasionally listen in on Cruz and Faber scouting the fights as they went along. -- Refreshing: A series of 16 fights with no booing. Stale: No crowd. A very small (and quiet) group watched the fights live at the TUF training center. In the past, there was no audience in order to guard the results from leaking out into the public, but there's no real purpose for it now. Unfortunately, the TUF gym isn't big enough to house much of a crowd, so this one's mostly out of their control. -- Based on the UFC's pledge of $5,000 per finish, they shelled out $40,000 last night. The fastest finisher: Sam Sicilia, who needed only eight seconds to knock out Erin Beach. The slowest: Vinc Pinchel, who took 3:39 to choke out Cody Pfister with a rear naked choke after slicing him open with an elbow from the top. -- Next week, TUF: Live moves to its "jive-live" format, with pre-taped segments stemming from the contestants' time in the house leading into the first first-round fight. That will feel more like the old TUF with the added element of the live bout. Given White's insistence that the FX network, with its broader demographic reach than Spike, will bring in many first-time viewers, it just seems like it would make sense to have announcers explaining the fights as they happen. At least we can say that the sporting experience is as it should be, live, and for most fans, that is the more important change of the two.The 16 ContestantsJoe Proctor (7-1)Cristiano Marcello (12-3)Sam Sicilia (10-0)Chris Tickle (7-4)Andy Ogle (8-1)Vinc Pinchel (7-0)John Cofer (7-1)Chris Saunders (9-2)James Vick (4-0)Michael Chiesa (4-0)Mike Rio (8-1)Justin Lawrence (3-0)Darren Cruikshank (10-2)Jeremy Larsen (8-2)Al Iaquinta (5-1-1)Myles Jury (9-0)Four FavoritesJustin Lawrence - 3-0, Team Black House fighterCristiano Marcello - 15-year veteran, 11 finishes in 12 pro winsMike Rio - 7 finishes in 8 pro fightsSam Sicilia - Undefeated, 8 first-round finishes in 10 wins

Posted in: fight, fighter, fx, tuf, cruz

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought back its reality show baby, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), for season number 15 last night (Fri., March 9, 2012) for a 2.5 hour season premiere on its brand spankin' new channel FX. But this wasn't like any old regular premiere. This was the first time the series had ever featured live fights. Indeed, 32 competitors got together in Las Vegas for 16 elimination bouts to determine who would be moving into the infamous TUF house. Of the many changes we'll see this season, that's not one of them. Those who managed to fight their way into the house will find the same restrictions of years past. No television or texting or e-mail or any of that jazz. Just fighting. Speaking of which, that's all the season premiere featured last night, as the promotion packed as much action as possible into its 2.5 hour time frame. But it came with a twist. Instead of the traditional format of two five minute rounds, UFC President Dana White opened the episode by explaining to the budding TUF guys they would get just one round to put their best foot forward. Two men with five minutes alone inside a cage with the stakes so high? What could be better? Well, for starters, the performances of those who typically start slow. In theory, the new gimmick sounds good but in practice it made for some seriously uneven performances from fighters with far more potential than what showed in the short time they were given. Dakota Cochrane, for example, showed promise both as a competitor and a reality show style contestant but fell prey to a split decision defeat. Would we have seen a different outcome had he been given another round to work with? Who's to say? And that's the problem, really. Some of the bouts went quick, with guys like Justin Lawrence and Chris Tickle letting it all go and having it pay off while others fell victim to insecurity and chose to work a safer wrestling style approach. It's difficult to blame them but one can't help but wonder how different the house would look had they not tinkered with the formula. As for the new live format, it most certainly added a level of excitement not seen in seasons past. There's something to be said about knowing you're watching a fight go down in real time. However, the broadcast felt low rent at times, as though they were operating on a smaller budget. Some fans, like myself, may have enjoyed the presentation, but others may not feel the same. This is the UFC we're talking about, after all. An aspect of the fights I truly enjoyed more than anything, though, was the fact that while Jon Anik was on the scene live and giving interviews, they didn't let him do commentary. Instead, we at home were treated to UFC President Dana White, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber casually chatting cageside while the fights were going on. It felt very visceral, as though we were being given a peek behind the curtain and hearing something we weren't necessarily supposed to. It also gave us certain insights we wouldn't have gotten from Anik, a skilled broadcaster but lacking knowledge on the level of either Cruz or Faber, the two coaches this season. Overall, there wasn't much to glean from the season premiere. Simply put, it was 16 fights -- some good, some bad -- and a whole lot of conversation between White, Cruz and Faber. A solid introduction to FX but the best, hopefully, is yet to come. But that's it from me, Maniacs. Now it's your turn to sound off with all your thoughts on the season premiere of TUF 15. What did you think of the new live format? And what of the fights themselves? Sound off! For complete results and individual recaps of all 16 fights from last night's premiere episode click here.

Posted in: fight, time, season, tuf, premiere

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Gnarly. Halfway through his one round showdown against Al Iaquinta during tonight's (Fri., March 9, 2012) live season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 on FX, Jon Tuck got his feet all tangled up with his opponents. The result of their brief little game of footsy was the pic you see above. When Tuck looked down to assess the damage, Urijah Faber could be heard cageside wondering why he was just looking around in the middle of a fight. Must have been quite the shock to look down and see his toe bent back up towards him. And leave it to "The California Kid" to be the guy to tweet the nasty picture. So not only does Tuck fail to get in the TUF house, losing out on his shot at the "six-figure" contract, he's also headed to the hospital to get his toe reset. Just a day in the life of a would-be Ultimate Fighter, y'all. For complete results and recaps of all 16 fights from tonight's live TUF 15 season premiere click here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, toe, toe reset, fx jon

Read the full article at MMA Mania

That was close. Perhaps the most curious contestant to ever be considered for inclusion on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) mixed martial arts (MMA) television reality series, Dakota Cochrane, tonight (March 9, 2012) got his big opportunity to show what he's really made of inside the Octagon. He came up just a bit short. Cochrane, who performed in "gay-for-pay" porn flicks several years ago, took on James Vick in a five-minute fight for the right to compete on TUF 15 season and a "six-figure" Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract. Giving up nearly eight inches, Cochrane was at a clear size disadvantage, which he attempted to neutralize almost immediately by closing the distance and securing a takedown. Vick defended for basically the entire round, threatening with a choke from the north-south position that never really had Cochrane in any sort of danger. Cochrane finally completed his ill-fated takedown with about 10 seconds left in the fight, but it was a case of too little, too late. He went on to lose the 155-pound bout via split decision, ending what might have been the most interesting TUF house storyline before it ever even began. Check out our complete Dakota Cochrane vs. James Vick fight recap after the jump: "The moment you were all waiting for (don't lie) saw Cochrane shoot in on Vick and lock up the body. He worked hard for a few takedowns, none of which did anything other than force Vick to stand back up. James worked a front headlock while Dakota just sort of sat there and let it happen. There was never any threat of a finish, though, and after nearly four minutes of action, White, Faber and Cruz sat cageside opining on the possible need of a second round. This was a clinchfest with Cochrane pushing Vick against the cage a la Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera at UFC 105. A brief flirtation with striking eventually gave way to more ground work and by the time the horn sounded, no one was sure who won. Except the judges, who gave it to Vick." Cochrane -- who insists he is not gay and just made a "big mistake" because he needed money -- will now likely return to his fiance and child and continue his MMA career on the regional circuit. Who knows, perhaps a few more wins -- or even a last-minute injury -- will get him the UFC shot that he missed out on the evening. Let's remember that he recently scored a lopsided unanimous decision win over former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner at Titan Fighting Championship 20 last September. That's nothing to sneeze at. For complete TUF 15: "Live" results and recaps for all the opening 16 fights click here. Be sure to check out our complete TUF 15 archive right here. And for more on Cochrane and his gay porn past click here.

Posted in: tuf, cochrane, split decision, vick, james vick

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Kimbo Slice says to watch the TUF Live 1 premiere tonight on FX which is pretty funny because Kimbo is also hosting Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter Fridays” counter-programming tonight.

Posted in: fx, tuf, kimbo slice, slice, kimbo

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Tonight ushers in a completely new era for the Ultimate Fighter franchise including sixteen live fights on FX. With match-ups still under wraps, the show remains as much a mystery minutes before airing as it was when the list of competitors was first announced, adding to the intrigue surrounding the popular reality show’s fifteenth season. What is known is bantamweight rivals Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will coach two teams over the next thirteen weeks with each contestant hoping to make a name for himself as the next Ultimate Fighter champion. Faber and Cruz will also face off in July with Cruz’s divisional title on the line. Additionally, each week will feature highlights from the past few days’ activities as well as a live bout. Read below to see how things unfold when the curtain gets pulled back at 9:00 PM EST including results from the fights with each victor securing a plce inside the TUF 15 house, health-permitting: Check out a live feed from the TUF Training Center showing what’s going on behind the scenes below:

Posted in: tuf, cruz, dominick cruz, time results, mystery minutes

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

In tonight's season premier episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Faber vs. Cruz, the two Bantamweight coaches will appraise the skill of the potential entrants. Along with a move to the FX network, tonight's episode will be debuting an entirely new format. All 16 fights will be aired live in the two and a half hour broadcast. This will continue throughout the rest of the season, where every fight for the next 13 weeks will be aired live, preceded by a recap of the action inside the house from the week prior. Join us at 9 pm EST (6 pm PST) to see which fighters will be able to earn their way into the TUF house. After the jump, a complete list of the 32 potential TUF cast members. Akbarh Arreloa, Chula Vista, Calif.Al Iaquinta, Wantagh, N.Y.Ali Maclean, Belfast, North IrelandAndy Ogle, Tynemouth, EnglandAustin Lyons, Cordova, Tenn.Brendan Weafer, New York, N.Y.Chris Tickle, Bloomington, Ill.Cody Pfister, Amarillo, TexasCristiano Marcello, Curitiba, BrazilChase Hackett, Littleton, Colo.Chris Saunders, Long Beach, Calif.Dakota Cochrane, Omaha, Neb.Daron Cruickshank, Wayne, Mich.Drew Dober, Omaha, Neb.Erin Beach, San Diego, Calif.James Krause, Blue Springs, Mich.James Vick, Fort Worth, TexasJared Carlsten, Los Angeles, Calif.Jeff Smith, Mechanicsburg, Penn.Jeremy Larsen, Phoenix, Ariz.Joe Proctor, Pembroke, Mass.John Cofer, Hull, Ga.Johnavan Vistante, Pearl City, HawaiiJon Tuck, Hagtna, GuamJordan Rinaldi, Matthews, N.C.Justin Lawrence, Villa Ridge, Mo.Mark Glover, Liverpool, EnglandMichael Chiesa, Spokane Valley, Wash.Myles Jury, San Diego, Calif.Mike Rio, Miami, Fla.Sam Sicilia, Spokane Valley, Wash.Vinc Pichel, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, tuf house, house, bantamweight coaches

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Tonight's the night. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing a brand new format to its reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which starts season number 15 tonight (Fri., March 9, 2012) at 9 p.m. ET with a 2.5 hour season premiere on its new channel FX. The best part? It's all the way live, folks. Tonight's broadcast will showcase 16 fights featuring 32 competitors attempting to smash their way into the TUF house to earn a shot at the coveted "six-figure" UFC contract. In keeping with that, MMAmania.com will provide live coverage of all the night's action, with quick recaps and results as they occur. It's all after the jump, Maniacs. The Ultimate Fighter 15 Quick Results: Match-ups to be announced* Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, season premiere, nights action, fx tonights

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Be there or be square!

Posted in: pm, tuf, chat, square, eliminator

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Posted in: tuf, chat, tuf chat

Read the full article at Fightlinker

... even though he's hosting "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays" on Spike TV tonight (March 9, 2012), which is playing in direct competition to TUF 15's 2.5 hour season premiere on FX at 9 p.m. ET. Meanwhile the crafty fellas with the UFC have him promoting TUF "Live" on FX: "Ultimate Fighter fans, listen up. If you're not watching FX, you're missing the all new season of The Ultimate Fighter live. That's right, this year's season is airing live ONLY on FX. Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, and 32 other fighters are squaring off live, only on FX. It's tonight at 9 p.m. Watch the all new season of the Ultimate Fighter, only on FX." That's three mentions of TUF airing live "only on FX," folks. War is hell and all that, right? For all the latest details on TUF 15 click here.

Posted in: fighter, fx, season, tuf, fx thats

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Joe Rogan looks back at his favorite TUF moments from the Spike era in this video feature. Reminder: TUF Live 1 premieres tonight on FX at 9pm ET.

Posted in: joe, tuf, moment, tuf moments, spike era

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Fighters competing on TUF Live 1, which marks the 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter, discuss the pros and cons of participating in the show, as well as the pitfalls of drinking alcohol in such an atmosphere.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, pro, drinking alcohol, fighter fighters

Read the full article at Low Kick

"The first season was the first time reality television was integrated with such an exciting and intense growing sport, and it came together in the most beautiful and poetic way possible with the finals ... The estimations were that there were as many as eight million people watching this fight. That’s unfathomable! People are at home, and they were calling their friends up, and they’re like, ‘Dude! You’ve gotta watch this. There is a crazy fight going on and these two white guys are beating the (expletive) out of each other!’ And that was the birth of modern mixed martial arts. That was the fight that put it on the map." With The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 set to debut tonight (March 9, 2012) LIVE on the FX Channel, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan "Riffs" on some of the greatest moments in TUF history, including the epic finale from season one featuring Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar. What's your favorite moment from the combat sports reality show? Get up to speed on tonight's TUF 15 debut right here.

Posted in: fight, tuf, moment, tuf history, fight thatrsquos

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Love it or hate it, The Ultimate Fighter has a special place in all of our hearts as fight fans. It feeds into our desire to watch MMA constantly, it quenches our adolescent need for disgusting pranks. We get to observe high level training montages and the banter, my god the banter. Most importantly, TUF allowed MMA fans to draw another line in the way of the mean nickname department. If you were introduced to MMA post 2005, you are now lovingly referred to as a TUF Noob. Personally, I'm thankful that TUF finally made my wife appreciate MMA on another level, mostly because she thought a 2005 era Stephan Bonnar was a 'weird and funny' guy, silly TUF noobs. Tonight TUF is back with their fifteenth season and this time as we all know, the fights are live. Since fifteen is a relatively big number for a TV series and everyone is feeling a little nostalgic, here's Joe Rogan riffing on The Ultimate Fighter. [Source]

Posted in: mma, fighter, tuf, fight fans, fighter love

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Making it to the 15th season of anything on television is an impressive feat. And if you have made it that far, the plan moving forward is usually “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But when it comes to playing it safe, UFC President Dana White is the wrong guy to talk to. So when he got a new broadcast partner in FX, it was time to shake things up, and tonight will be the first test of what promises to be a compelling new experiment in reality TV.“Basically, the reality portions of the show that you’re gonna see will have been shot in the last two days,” said White. “So everything is real-time. And the most incredible part of the whole thing is that every Friday night, these fights are live.”That’s right, when the 15th season of TUF, entitled “The Ultimate Fighter Live,” premieres on FX, there will be 16 live fights to determine which 16 fighters continue on to the traditional TUF house to be coached by either UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz or former WEC featherweight champ and current number one bantamweight contender Urijah Faber. And each week, the pattern will continue, with a week’s worth of filming culminating in a live fight on Friday night. That’s bold, but it’s also innovative, and something never before done in combat sports. “Even if you look at formats like 24/7 on HBO, where they do real-time things leading up to a fight, it never ends in a fight,” said White. “The fight is on Pay-Per-View or whatever. This is real-time and the fight is every Friday night.”Yet despite the new format, one of the always popular features of the show, which launched in 2005, is the fact that when the bell rings, all you’ll hear are the fighters’ cornermen, their teammates, and the referee. “One of the cool things about this show is that when you’re watching it, there’s no commentary, there’s no crowds cheering, there’s no announcers going back and forth,” said White. “It’s very raw and very, very cool. You feel like you’re a fly on the wall in this place and you’re watching these fights happen.”And when the fight’s over, the cameras will continue to roll, letting viewers in to see what happens after the final bell has sounded, a look behind the scenes that few will forget.“As soon as it’s over, we follow them back to the locker rooms and you’ll feel all the emotion,” said White. “Let’s say you’ve been here sacrificing everything, giving a hundred percent of yourself, and then you lose. You were that close and you lost. All that drama and all that emotion pours out right there live in front of you. It’s not canned, it hasn’t been edited; you’re seeing it as it’s happening.”So who are the 32 lightweight hopefuls competing for a UFC contract and the chance to change their careers and lives over the space of just three months? They range from seasoned vets to youngsters with just a handful of pro fights, and they hail from everywhere from Tijuana and Belfast to England and New York. Here’s a look:Akbarh Arreola (19-6-1) – A Mexico native who lives in Tijuana, but fights and trains out of Chula Vista, California, Arreola has faced the likes of Mac Danzig, Toby Imada, and Ronys Torres, and owns a win over UFC and TUF5 vet Gabe Ruediger.Al Iaquinta (5-1) – The 24-year old Serra / Longo fight team member from Wantagh, New York has come up in the same Ring of Combat promotion that once played host to UFC vets like Frankie Edgar, Jim Miller, and stablemate Chris Weidman.Ali Maclean (9-5-1) – A 22-year old Belfast native, Maclean is the first Irish fighter on TUF, and he brings a five fight winning streak into the competition. “Growing up, everyone else played soccer, but I was rubbish in that and every other sport,” he said. “So I do what I do best and what my life revolves around and that is train and fight.”Andy Ogle (8-1) - Tynemouth, England’s Ogle did play soccer in high school, but by 2008 he was competing as an amateur in MMA, and a little over a year later he made his pro debut. Following a loss in his second fight, he has won seven in a row.Austin Lyons (9-1) – Tennessee submission specialist Lyons has finished seven of his pro wins by tap out, and he expects similar success on TUF. “Guys don’t want to go to the mat,” said Lyons, who once tipped the scales at 250 pounds. “I’ll let somebody take me down because I know I can submit them.”Brendan Weafer (6-3) - New York’s Weafer began fighting in 2005, though after an on and off career, it wasn’t until 2011 that the 28-year old striker began to hit his stride, as he won two in a row leading into this week’s premiere.Chris Tickle (7-4) - Bloomington, Illinois’ “Bad Boy” Tickle gets right to the point when it comes to his fighting philosophy heading into the TUF competition: “I want it more than anyone,” he said. “I’m experienced, relentless, very aggressive and like to beat you up.”Cody Pfister (6-3) – Tough Texan Pfister learned to fight “as the smallest kid growing up, weighed about 80 pounds.” That scrappy attitude and determination has led him to six pro wins in nine fights and a shot at earning a spot in the TUF house.Cristiano Marcello (12-3) – The lone Brazilian in the 32-man field, Marcello hails from the same city as Anderson Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and with wins in six of his last seven bouts, the former Chute Boxe jiu-jitsu coach is hoping a win on TUF will allow him to join his countrymen in the Octagon.Chase Hackett (4-1) – 4-1 as a pro with three victories by submission, Littleton, Colorado’s Hackett has gotten off to a good start to his career, but until he starts winning on TUF, the talk will likely center on the epic mustache sported by the man nicknamed “Prison Stare.” Chris Saunders (9-2) – A veteran of nearly three years in the pro game, Long Beach, California’s Saunders was in with WEC veteran Chris Horodecki in his most recent bout last July.Dakota Cochrane (11-2) - Omaha, Nebraska’s Cochrane has been a pro since 2009, but his biggest win came last September, when he decisioned former WEC champion Jamie Varner. Now he’s got the opportunity to take things even further if he can win on Friday night.Daron Cruickshank (10-2) – Cruickshank has done well for himself thus far in MMA, but that’s not surprising, considering that the 26-year old Wayne, Michigan native’s mother is a former pro kickboxer and that his father is his striking coach. Now it’s time to see if TUF is ready for his family’s brand of Taekwondo.Drew Dober (8-3) – Being in the world’s living room every week is nice, but that’s not why Omaha’s Drew Dober is here. “I’m here because this is what I was meant to do. And destiny, fate, whatever, but I believe I’m going in the right direction and I’m going to be the Ultimate Fighter because I work hard, I push myself, and I have a lot of heart and passion in this.”Erin Beach (3-1) – Motivated by the birth of his daughter to give his MMA career a hundred percent in terms of dedication, San Diego’s Beach will likely have one fan cheering him on Friday night, his Alliance MMA stablemate and TUF Live coach Dominick Cruz.James Krause (15-4) – One of the most experienced fighters in the 32 man field, Blue Springs, Missouri’s Krause is a WEC veteran who faced Donald Cerrone and Ricardo Lamas in the blue cage. Winner of three in a row, Krause is eager to get back in the big show.James Vick (4-0) – Unbeaten as a pro, Fort Worth, Texas’ Vick has got his future in the sport all planned out. “If I get on this show and win, with basically five years of training, then in my mind I can be a world champ in another five.”Jared Carlsten (3-0) – Nicknamed “Crazy Legz,” LA’s Carlsten has finished all three of his pro bouts via submission, not surprising considering that he owns a brown belt under Eddie Bravo.Jeff Smith (9-1) – 24-year old Smith lost his first pro bout via submission in 2009, but no one has come close to beating the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native since, with seven of his nine wins coming by way of tap out. Jeremy Larsen (8-2, 1 NC) – A veteran of the Arizona fight scene, Phoenix’ Larsen has won four of his last five, with the only loss coming to UFC vet Efrain Escudero. Joe Proctor (7-1) – Despite graduating with a degree in business management from UMass-Dartmouth, Pembroke’s Proctor just wants to fight. “I have more drive than anybody else,” said the 26-year old. “I have so much heart and I want to fight for a living.”John Cofer (7-1) – If Hull, Georgia’s Cofer wins on Friday night and gets into the TUF house, he may have a leg up on his competitors because it’s likely that he got some pointers from his trainer at the Hardcore Gym, TUF3’s Rory Singer. Johnavan Vistante (3-1) - Pearl City, Hawaii’s Vistante goes by the nickname “The Immortal Warrior,” and if you sport a moniker like that, you’d better be ready to back it up. He is. “I’m a monster striker,” he said. “If Anderson Silva and Jon Jones had a baby, it’d be me.”Jon Tuck (6-0) – Guam’s Tuck doesn’t mess around when the bell rings, ending all six of his pro bouts in the first round. And with three knockouts and three subs, he can get you wherever the fight goes.Jordan Rinaldi (5-0) – Hailing from Matthews, North Carolina, Rinaldi is a highly-regarded prospect who has finished four of his five pro opponents by submission. Included in this list is TUF 14 finalist and current UFC fighter Dennis Bermudez.Justin Lawrence (3-0) – The 21-year old Lawrence, who has been kickboxing since the age of six, claims to have over 150 amateur fights, which makes him an interesting puzzle to solve for any opponent.Mark Glover (6-1-1, 1 NC) – Thai specialist Glover makes no bones about it; when this Liverpool native is in there, expect fireworks. “I don’t like all these wrestlers who hold people down and bore the crowd. People pay good money to watch you put on exciting fights and that’s the mindser to go into fights with.”Michael Chiesa (7-0) - Spokane Valley, Washington’s Chiesa has represented the Pacific Northwest well thus far as a pro, winning all seven of his bouts, including five by submission.Myles Jury (9-0) – The unbeaten Jury is no stranger to TUF fans, as he was a competitor on season 13 before a knee injury forced him from the show. Promised by White to get another shot, that shot comes this Friday for the San Diegan.Mike Rio (8-1) – A two-time state wrestling champion in high school, Miami’s “Wolverine” is a well rounded competitor who has ended four of his victories by knockout and three by submission.Sam Sicilia (10-0) – With three consecutive wins in less than 30 seconds, hard-hitting Spokane Valley, Washington product Sicilia may be one of the best finishers on this season’s 32 man roster.Vinc Pichel (6-0) – But then there’s Sherman Oaks, California’s Pichel, whose six pro wins have all come by knockout, making him a pretty fair bet for some future Knockout of the Night bonuses should he get past Friday night’s elimination bouts and go on to win a UFC contract.There you have it - 32 fighters, one UFC contract, and what promises to be a season to remember, not just for the competitors, but for everyone watching.“You have people that have dreamt and trained for this moment and this opportunity their whole life, and then you get to sit back and watch what they do with this opportunity,” said White. But he forgot one thing…You watch it live. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, year, tuf

Read the full article at UFC

The first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) had then-light heavyweight champ Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell as its coaches. Two competitors, yes, but no animosity existed between the two. They were simply two athletes who happened to be at odds inside the Octagon. If there was no ill will between the two 205-pounders, there was even less between season two coaches Rich Franklin and Matt Hughes. Not only were they separated by a weight class which made an end of season showdown between the two impossible, they were chummy beyond belief, like two best friends at summer camp. It seemed the only tension the two had existed in their own desire to avoid "losing." The first couple of seasons of TUF hinged its drama on the men fighting for a spot on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster, rather than the coaches chosen to lead them towards their goal. That all changed in 2006. Much like Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, TUF 15 coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have a bit of history. "The California Kid" defeated Cruz at 145 pounds while the current bantamweight champ bested Faber last year at 135 pounds. Their three month journey begins tomorrow (Mar. 9) when the first FX season of TUF premieres. We'll use this opportunity to take a look back at another TUF blood feud, its first and likely its most infamous. After his UFC 51 victory over Vitor Belfort in early 2005, Ortiz became a free agent and pursed his option outside the Octagon. He showed up in a professional wrestling ring as a special guest enforcer -- and despite not being known for his heavy hands, managed to "knock out" Jeff Jarrett - and received some interest from PRIDE Fighting Championships but nothing materialized. Toward the end of the year, UFC President Dana White not only announced Ortiz's return to the promotion but also named "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" as a coach for the third season of TUF opposite none other than his old rival Shamrock. The feud dates all the way back to UFC 13 where Ortiz made his Octagon debut as a tournament alternate. When a fighter dropped out due to injury, he slid into the spot to face Lion's Den fighter Guy Mezger. Surprisingly, the younger fighter was getting the better of the Shamrock-trained veteran but a wonky doctor stoppage helped Mezger pull out the victory. A rematch was booked two years later. This time there was no doctor stoppage and Ortiz completed the job he had started at UFC 13. One offensive t-shirt later and Shamrock was climbing up on the cage and wagging his finger in Ortiz's face. It was right then the UFC's first great rivalry was born. By this point, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" was waist deep in a career as a pro wrestler so the feud was kept alive mostly in interviews. So by the time they were booked to face off at UFC 40, the fight was hyped as the biggest in the sport's history. Ortiz -- the light heavyweight champion at the time -- defended his title against Shamrock, stopping him at the end of the third round. It seemed like a decisive victory for the champ and a definitive ending to the feud. Shamrock needed only say one phrase to cast enough doubt to warrant a second fight: torn ACL.At UFC 61, the two finally met again inside the Octagon. More than seven years after Ortiz had beaten Mezger, it looked like the rivalry between "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" and the founder of the Lion's Den would come to end. The Las Vegas crowd had whipped themselves into frenzy by the time the bout started. The elder fighter almost instantly pushed his younger foe against the cage with a bevy of strikes. Back against the proverbial wall, Ortiz pushed forward with a huge knee and did what he was best known for when he scooped Shamrock up and dropped him down onto the canvas. From full guard, the former champion began to rain down vicious elbows, one after the other, while Shamrock was seemingly unwilling or unable to defend himself. A handful landed against the former pro wrestler's skull before the referee jumped in to halt the fight after a little over a minute of action. Fans were outraged. Shamrock was livid. He immediately jumped to his feet to protest the stoppage. The fury was such that White announced a third fight soon after and while it took a minute longer to finish, the result remained the same. The third season of TUF helped prove bad blood equals ratings. Is there enough between Cruz and Faber to make them both stars?

Posted in: ufc, season, ortiz, tuf, shamrock

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Out with the old, in with the new. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing a brand new format to its reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which starts season number 15 this Fri., March 9, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET with a 2.5 hour season premiere on its new channel FX. The best part? It's all the way live, folks. Indeed, the powers that be dumped the old stale format formerly seen on Spike TV in favor of a fresh new look. That means every Friday night for the next 13 weeks, fight fans will get to see live bouts on FX as fighters attempt to advance to the finals to earn a contract with the world's largest fight promotion. There's a lot we don't know regarding how things will look with the show's fresh new face, but there's plenty we do know. After the jump are all the details we currently have on TUF 15 and what you can expect this upcoming season: TUF 15 will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. Tomorrow night's premiere episode will feature all 16 fights to see who gets in the house. And while we don't know the pairings, we do know all 32 competitors you will see in action. Click here for the entire list. And yes, it includes Dakota Cochrane, he of gay porn fame (not that there's anything wrong with that). He may or may not make it into the house, which is still a staple of the show, even with the live format. Again, though, much of what you see will be shot in as close to real time as possible with the fights themselves being live. Speaking of real time, MMAmania.com is nothing if not durable and we'll adjust to the new live format by bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of all the fights as they occur. That's right, be sure to make us your home for complete coverage tomorrow night, as we'll have immediate quick results of all 16 fights, as well as a comprehensive recap of all the night's action. And, of course, at the conclusion of the season, "The Dominator" will put his 135-pound title on the line (again) against "The California Kid" at UFC 148, tentatively scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Get it? Got it? Good. To stay up to date on all you need to know on TUF 15 click here.

Posted in: fight, night, season, tuf, format

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by JoeLauzonDotCom [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: tuf, tomorrow, joelauzondotcom, reddit

Read the full article at Reddit

Your wait is almost over, folks. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) comes waltzing back into your lives in a matter of days. FX Channel and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will officially roll out the new season with TUF 15, scheduled to debut LIVE on the cable television network at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9, 2012. TUF 15 will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. "The Dominator" will put his 135-pound title on the line (again) against "The California Kid" at UFC 148, scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the longtime rivals aren't doing anything in "Sin City" until they satisfy their coaching duties on TUF 15, beginning with the 2.5 hour season premiere and then one hour every Friday night (at 10 p.m. ET) for the following 13 weeks up until the June 1 live finale. Y'all ready? For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right here.

Posted in: sin city, tuf, fighter tuf, championship ufc, rivals arent

Read the full article at MMA Mania

"He was absolutely 100 percent upfront. When you come on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' you get drug tested, you have extensive background tests, check-ups ... we do everything on these guys. Medicals, etcetera, etcetera. He's was 100 percent upfront and honest. We've had guys come on the show who have not been as upfront and honest and we find out before they ever make air. We were well aware of what he had done and so was FX. I'm cool with it." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White spoke with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani about The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 competitor Dakota Cochrane and his previous life as a gay pornstar, news that has only recently come to light. The revelation and the response to it was under a magnifiying glass, especially with the recent similar situation with UFC ring girl Chandella Powell. Cochrane, who is now married and is a proud father, has since come out publicly stating that the previous employment history was a "mistake," and that it was something he did to help provide a way out financial struggles during college. According to White, it's not a big deal because Cochrane was transparent during the audition process and withheld no information. Will it be a big deal to the other contestants in the house or to the audience viewing at home? Only time will tell, but people tend to forgive and forget when athletes perform well. Watch a live preview video for TUF 15, including interviews with B.J. Penn, Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell, here. TUF 15, along with Cochrane and the rest of the cast, will debut on the FX network this Friday night (March 9, 2012,) at 9 p.m. ET in the 2.5-hour premiere special.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, cochrane, upfront, magnifiying glass

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The first 15 are in the books, now it’s time for the heavy hitters. In anticipation of this Friday’s premiere of The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX, who are the 15 greatest fighters to ever emerge from the long-running reality series?15 – Stephan Bonnar Post TUF record: 8-6Stephan Bonnar could fight for another 10 years and win multiple titles, yet to most fans, he will always be remembered for the fight he lost to Forrest Griffin at the TUF1 finale in 2005. It was the war that put the UFC on the map and made Bonnar a household name to MMA fans. Since then, “The American Psycho” has had his share of ups and downs, but midway through 2010, he bounced back, and with three consecutive wins over Krzysztof Soszynski, Igor Pokrajac, and Kyle Kingsbury, it will be interesting to see what Bonnar can do at 205 pounds this year.DEFINING FIGHT – L3 Forrest Griffin ITUF TALK –“I knew it (Griffin I) was a good fight when the final bell rang and the crowd was going nuts and yelling for another round. Just looking into the crowd and at everyone’s face, the energy level was so high, I said, ‘it must have been a good one.’”14 – Matt SerraPost TUF record: 3-3How does Matt Serra, a guy who has a .500 record since winning The Ultimate Fighter get to this point on this list? Well, first, one of those three wins saw him take the UFC welterweight crown with a knockout of Georges St-Pierre, a man many believe will one day be seen as the greatest welterweight of all-time, and two, one of the losses (a close three round decision) came to the man who currently holds the title of greatest welterweight ever – Matt Hughes. Add in Serra’s TUF4 finale win over Chris Lytle (a loss Lytle avenged in 2010), his wins on the show over Shonie Carter and Pete Spratt, his UFC victories over Frank Trigg, Yves Edwards and Jeff Curran, and his memorable battles with Carter, BJ Penn, Din Thomas, and Karo Parisyan, and you’ve got a body of work that certainly warrants his place among the best fighters ever to appear on The Ultimate Fighter.DEFINING FIGHT – TKO1 Georges St-PierreTUF TALK – “I was actually in Manhattan the other day and I got stopped like six times by people wishing me good luck and stuff like that. Then I was in 7-11 and this guy stops me and goes, ‘man, you look just like Matt Serra.’ It’s kinda surreal. But listen, that could be gone tomorrow, so I keep everything grounded. I’m not gonna let anything get to my head. I went in there thinking that if I put on a good performance and get to show some skill, it can really help out my schools. Of course I wanted to win the whole thing, but I knew there would be a bunch of tough guys in there and I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I just said, ‘man, this could really do wonders for my school.’ This is how I make my living, teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and that’s what I’m sticking to. My school enrollments picked up a lot, it’s been a blessing, and I’m just keeping grounded with that. I’m not going Hollywood.”13 – Roy Nelson Post TUF record: 3-3The most experienced fighter on TUF 10, former IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson showed himself to be a cut above his fellow competitors as he defeated Kimbo Slice, Justin Wren, James McSweeney and Brendan Schaub to win the season title. He didn’t skip a beat with an impressive 39 second TKO of Stefan Struve in his proper Octagon debut, and while “Big Country” has since lost decisions to Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, and Fabricio Werdum, an impressive third round TKO of Mirko Cro Cop in 2011 and a renewed attention to his cardio regimen shows that the iron-jawed Las Vegan is one big win away from being back in the title hunt soon.DEFINING FIGHT – KO1 Brendan SchaubTUF TALK – “I’ve never been in jail, but I could imagine jail actually being a little bit easier. And the way I always say it is that I can’t wait to do my Visa commercial – Gloves: $50, Tapout T-shirt: $28, Living in The Ultimate Fighter house: priceless.”12 – Matt WimanPost TUF record: 8-3With an exciting fight style, eight UFC wins, and an engaging personality, you have to wonder why Matt Wiman isn’t a bona fide star yet. But with his most recent win, a Fight of the Night victory over TUF6 winner Mac Danzig, Wiman should be in everyone’s consciousness. And if he hasn’t, you can be sure that a win over Mark Bocek at UFC 145 in April won’t hurt.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Cole MillerTUF TALK – “I don’t feel comfortable backing up and running around. I don’t feel comfortable if I’m not working hard for something, and if I’m playing it safe, I feel like the other guy is plotting and planning, so I want to put him on the defensive and I want to push the pace and bring the fight to him. I’ve tried fighting other ways and tried to be overly technical, and it just doesn’t work for me. I obviously practice technique and I have good technique, but that isn’t the most significant thing to me – I like going hard and pushing the pace and taking care of business, not in a reckless way, but in a smart way.”11 – Joe Lauzon Post TUF record: 7-4After debuting in the UFC in September of 2006 with a stirring 48 second knockout of Jens Pulver, Joe Lauzon didn’t need The Ultimate Fighter as a springboard into the organization, but he took the opportunity to compete with one of the series’ most talent-rich casts anyway. And though he didn’t take the season five title, his post TUF stint in the UFC has been quite impressive in its own right as he’s won three of his last five bouts (all by submission), with his only losses in that stretch coming to Anthony Pettis and George Sotiropoulos. And let’s not forget the seven post-fight bonuses he’s picked up since leaving the show, establishing him as one of the sport’s premier action heroes.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub1 Melvin GuillardTUF TALK - “I got to train with such world-class guys like BJ Penn, Regan (Penn), and Tony (DeSouza), and even the other guys on our team. It was a great measuring stick. You think ‘I can do okay against this guy or that guy’, but until you actually get to do it, you really have no idea. I think being put up against the best was awesome for me because I know where I am and where I have to get and how I measure up against other people. It’s weird because when you train with ‘your’ guys, you really don’t have as much of a measuring stick to other people. When you get to go up against the best, it’s a much more accurate read.”10 - George SotiropoulosPost TUF record: 7-2In MMA or any sport for that matter, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets oiled, and soft-spoken George Sotiropoulos is anything but a squeaky wheel. But when you win your first seven UFC fights after competing on season six of The Ultimate Fighter, it’s hard to be ignored, and in 2010, Sotiropoulos had a stellar year that saw him emerge as a true 155-pound contender as he defeated Joe Stevenson, Kurt Pellegrino, and Joe Lauzon in succession. 2011 was a rocky one, as he lost bouts to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos, but odds are that we will see the Aussie standout back in contention in 2012.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Joe StevensonTUF TALK –“Seeing different types of people and different traditions and different walks of life, I got to have a very open mind. I’ve seen what life’s about, I’ve seen good and bad in other things, and I’m grounded. For example, the kids in Thailand, in a lot of cases when they train over there it’s not really sport; they’re forced to do it because their families can’t afford to keep them. They send them to training camps and in a way it’s something they gamble on. So being in the (Ultimate Fighter) house was easy because it was my choice to be there and I wanted to be there because I love it so much. A lot of the guys were so miserable in there and they don’t know how lucky they were.”9 – Matt HamillPost TUF record: 9-4The raw talent of Matt Hamill was evident on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, but it wasn’t until he bounced back from a TKO loss to Rich Franklin two years after his Octagon debut that he began fulfilling his promise. After the Franklin fight, Hamill won five in a row, with only his DQ victory over Jon Jones being a less than stellar performance. And when Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, and Keith Jardine are the guys you’re beating, you’re a legit contender. In 2011, Hamill retired after defeats to “Rampage” Jackson and Alexander Gustafsson, but it’s safe to say that “The Hammer” won’t be forgotten by fight fans anytime soon.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Tito OrtizTUF TALK –“In wrestling, success came easy. It came so naturally, and the mat was my home. Joining this sport has been a challenge. I learn new things every day and others can knock me down, which they never could in wrestling. But I'm getting better and I’m still striving to be at the top in MMA also.” 8 - Nate DiazPost TUF record: 10-5With the attitude of a true fighter and good bloodlines (brother Nick is a UFC vet), Nate Diaz was going to make it to the UFC with or without The Ultimate Fighter. But the reality series jump-started the Stockton, California native’s career, and he defeated Rob Emerson, Corey Hill, Gray Maynard, and Manny Gamburyan to win the season five title. He’s continued his run of success with 10 Octagon victories, including ultra-impressive wins over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone in his return to 155 pounds after a brief stint at welterweight.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub1 Takanori GomiTUF TALK - “I talked to my brother and my manager, Cesar, and they were telling me that it would probably be the best thing for me. I was definitely not too excited about going. I wanted to, but at the same time I didn’t. I didn’t feel like I was too good on camera, and I’m not great at interviews, but I’m glad I did it the way it turned out. I thought I was gonna be one of the least experienced guys in the house fightwise, to be honest with you. “Once I was there, I realized there were people there with less fights than me, but there wasn’t any pressure. I thought I had a good chance, that’s for sure.”7 - Diego SanchezPost TUF record: 12-5It’s been a crazy career thus far for season one TUF winner Diego Sanchez. From his early days at welterweight, where he went 4-0 before back-to-back losses to Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, to a brief stint at lightweight where he challenged then-champion BJ Penn for the UFC crown, and then to his recent resurrection at 170, the man formerly known as “Nightmare” and now dubbed “The Dream” has always been exciting in the Octagon and nearly as compelling outside the cage. Needless to say, win or lose, odds are that we’ll be talking about him for a long time.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Karo ParisyanTUF TALK – “In my mind all the TUF guys are gonna lose and I’m gonna be the only undefeated fighter and I’m still gonna be the only guy that went through the show, finished everybody, and I’m gonna be ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ They’re gonna say, ‘that guy Diego Sanchez, he was ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ through all the seasons.’ They’re gonna say that he was the only guy that dominated it, came out after it, stayed undefeated, won the belt, and got out of his contract undefeated.” (Before his bout with Karo Parisyan)6 – Josh Koscheck Post TUF record: 15-5A no-nonsense competitor whose ‘tell it like it is’ attitude has made him a polarizing figure from the time he was on the first season of TUF, Josh Koscheck has basically grown up in the UFC, with 20 of his 24 pro fights taking place in the Octagon. Along the way, ‘Kos’ has battled the best in the game, from Georges St-Pierre and Diego Sanchez, to Thiago Alves and Matt Hughes, all the while adding new wrinkles to his world-class wrestling attack. Most potent of his new weapons is a devastating right hand, one he’s used to great effect over the last couple years, and as he continues to grow as a fighter, Koscheck will certainly remain entrenched among the best 170-pounders in the world.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Diego SanchezTUF TALK - “I get thousands and thousands of e-mails every day and it’s amazing what it’s done for my life. Most of the time, if you’re calling my phone in the last six months, it’s been ‘voice mail filled’. So it was overwhelming at one point. Now things are starting to slow down a little bit, but you really don’t picture yourself in that position - because I grew up in a blue collar, hard working family - getting to the point to where ‘okay, now you’re on a reality show.’ So I get on TV, and after the show it’s like ‘Oh my God, it’s crazy.’ I go into the UFC and they have to move my seat because fans are coming down to get autographs and pictures. So it is a bit overwhelming, but in another sense it’s good. It’s good for our sport and the fighters.”5 - Kenny FlorianPost TUF record: 12-5A fighter who actually caught the eye of UFC President Dana White in a losing effort against Drew Fickett in 2004, Kenny Florian entered the TUF1 house with little fanfare, but he defeated Chris Leben to make it to the middleweight final against Diego Sanchez. Sanchez pounded out a decisive victory over Florian in the finals, and many wondered where KenFlo fit in the great scheme of things. We found out soon enough as he dropped to welterweight and then lightweight, where, after a title fight loss to Sean Sherk in 2006, Florian put together a six fight winning streak with victories over Din Thomas, Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta, and Joe Stevenson that earned him a second title shot. And though Florian was submitted in the fourth round by Penn and lost a 2010 bout to Gray Maynard, the New Englander earned a title shot at 145 pounds with a win over Diego Nunes in June of 2011. That title shot against Jose Aldo ended in a decision defeat, and currently, Florian is contemplating his fighting future while doing excellent work as a studio and Octagonside analyst for UFC telecasts on Fuel TV and FX.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub3 Takanori GomiTUF TALK – “After experiencing the last Ultimate Fighter finale, I feel like I can really go through anything now. Just experiencing the craziness of everything that happens backstage prior to the fight, the interviews leading up to the fight, I’ve matured in a way that I’m gonna stay focused on the fight itself. Having gone through that before, I feel like I’ve definitely grown.”4 - Michael BispingPost TUF record: 12-4The man who put MMA on the map in the UK, Michael Bisping had little difficulty winning on the British circuit, and he continued his winning ways on TUF3 as he took out Ross Pointon, Kristian Rothaermel, and Josh Haynes to win the season’s light heavyweight title. His good fortunes continued in finishes of Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic, but his rep took a hit after a controversial decision win over Matt Hamill at UFC 75. Bisping would lose for the first time in his next bout, a UFC 78 loss to Rashad Evans, but his gutsy performance in the razor-thin decision defeat won back some of the fans he lost after the Hamill bout. Losing to Evans prompted Bisping to drop to 185, and three straight wins (Charles McCarthy, Jason Day, and Chris Leben) followed before a devastating knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 in July. Eager to get back in the race, Bisping has won five of his last seven, including Fight of the Night victories over Denis Kang and Yoshihiro Akiyama.DEFINING FIGHT – TKO2 Denis KangTUF TALK - “You’re not gonna see me in any factories for quite some time.” (In the locker room after winning TUF3)3 - Forrest GriffinPost TUF record: 9-5There’s probably no one in the game who would want to avoid the spotlight more than Forrest Griffin, but that became an impossibility when the former police officer won season one of The Ultimate Fighter with a stirring three round win over Stephan Bonnar that kicked off the MMA explosion in 2005. After that, it was a constant stream of interviews, appearances, and photo shoots for Griffin, who still found time to engage in a memorable war with Tito Ortiz, get upset by Keith Jardine, and rebound to shock Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, the latter bout earning him the UFC light heavyweight crown in 2008. Griffin went on to lose the belt to Rashad Evans and get stopped in a single round by Anderson Silva, but consecutive wins over Ortiz and Rich Franklin put the ever-popular Griffin back on track before Rua got even with a first round TKO victory at UFC 134 last August. DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Stephan Bonnar ITUF TALK – “I didn’t get here through all that hard work and winning fights nonsense; I got here through a TV game show, and I’m comfortable with that.”2 - Gray MaynardPost TUF record: 8-1-1, 1 NCA three-time All-American wrestler for Michigan State University, Maynard entered The Ultimate Fighter’s fifth season with just a few fights, yet he quickly made his presence known among the talented cast with wins over Wayne Weems and Brandon Melendez. And though he lost his next bout to Nate Diaz, he didn’t miss a beat since the show ended, rapidly rising up the lightweight ranks thanks to big wins over the likes of Frankie Edgar, Rich Clementi, Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Diaz, and Kenny Florian. In January of 2011, he got his long-awaited shot at the title against previous victim Edgar, and though he was seconds away from finishing the champ in the first round, he had to settle for a five round draw. “The Bully” got another shot at Edgar in October of last year, but after another near knockout win in the first round, he got stopped himself in the fourth, putting his title dreams on hold for the moment.DEFINING FIGHT – DRAW 5 Frankie EdgarTUF TALK – “To tell you the truth, I thought I looked like crap on the show. The one fight against Brandon (Melendez), I don’t know what happened there, and I just couldn’t wait to get back in the gym and train. I was back in the gym a couple days after the show ended, and it just felt good to be back training right, and I can’t wait to get back in there and prove that I’m a lot better than I was on the TV show.”1 - Rashad EvansPost TUF record: 12-1-1An undersized heavyweight with little reputation to precede him, former Michigan State wrestler Rashad Evans wasn’t expected to do much with the giants on TUF2, but four wins later (Keith Jardine, Mike Whitehead, Tom Murphy, and Brad Imes), the New York native had won the show’s title. Evans continued to surprise in his post-TUF career, and though he received a reputation for putting on less than compelling fights early on, by the time he was blasting out Jason Lambert and Sean Salmon, that rep changed. Evans would then engage in two close battles with Tito Ortiz and Michael Bisping, decisioning Bisping and fighting to a draw with Ortiz. These fights were preludes to a spectacular knockout of Chuck Liddell and a decisive finish of Forrest Griffin that put the UFC light heavyweight championship belt around his waist. Evans lost the title to Lyoto Machida in his first defense, but rebound wins over Thiago Silva, Rampage Jackson, Ortiz (in a UFC 133 rematch), and Phil Davis have earned him a shot at the title belt held by former teammate Jonny “Bones” Jones in April.DEFINING FIGHT – KO2 Chuck LiddellTUF TALK – “I surprised a lot of people, including (UFC President) Dana White. A lot of people thought that I didn’t have any talent at all. See, I always had confidence in myself, but the better I did, people would say ‘wow’ and they just couldn’t believe it. I knew my own potential, but they didn’t know, so it was a big surprise to them.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, ’t, tuf

Read the full article at UFC

After failing to get into the Season 11 TUF house, Costas Philippou got poetic justice Saturday with a win over TUF 11 winner Court McGee at UFC on FX in Sydney.

Posted in: ufc, fx, tuf, philippou, justice saturday

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

MMA:30 gets reactions and feedback on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" from -- who else -- top UFC stars, including former reality show contestants and coaches Forrest Griffin, B.J. Penn, and Chuck Liddell, along with Miesha Tate, Martin Kampmann and TUF 15 coach Urijah Faber. TUF 15, which premiers LIVE this Friday night (March 9, 2012) via the FX Channel, will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of Faber and his arch nemesis, Dominick Cruz. See the entire TUF 15 roster and more right here.

Posted in: tuf, video preview, chuck liddell, ufc stars, fx channel

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter will return on March 9th, with the new TUF: Live format, featuring Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as coaches, and hosted by Jon Anik. The fights "in the house" will be aired LIVE on FX, with no less than 32 Lightweights battling for their place on the show. MMA fighters King Mo, Urijah Faber, BJ Penn, Chuck Liddell and many others shared their thoughts about the new format, and what fans can expect from TUF

Posted in: tuf, jon anik, faber, format, urijah

Read the full article at Low Kick

This Friday night, March 9th, a new era in the history of The Ultimate Fighter begins, as the 15th season of the reality series premieres on FX with a new twist: all the fights are live. And even with this exciting change in format, one thing remains the same, the fact that the show will be the launching pad for some of the mixed martial arts world’s brightest stars and perhaps a few champions. So after 14 complete seasons, who are the 30 fighters who have emerged as the cream of the crop? Today, we start the countdown to find out.So how did we determine the fighters chosen here? First is level of success. Winning a UFC championship is the obvious pinnacle, and only three TUF competitors (Matt Serra, Forrest Griffin, and Rashad Evans) have reached those heights. Fighting for a UFC belt is big plus in a fighter’s favor as well. Next up is quality of opposition. Fighting at the highest level of the game and losing a few fights will get you more points here than winning a bunch of fights at the prelim level. And finally, we’re looking at impact on the organization, which is a subjective call, but one that is necessary. Headlining pay-per-views and being in the public eye consistently adds a level of pressure fighting in non-televised bouts just doesn’t have. That’s why a Michael Bisping, who has been the face of UK MMA and the headliner or participant in a featured bout on many major cards, is in the top five while other veteran performers are below him. With that said…30 - Kendall GrovePost TUF record: 9-7Heading towards journeyman status when he entered the TUF house for season three, Grove began taking his training and fighting career seriously under the tutelage of coach Tito Ortiz and ran the table en route to the season three middleweight title. What has followed since has been a mix of impressive wins over Alan Belcher, Evan Tanner, and Goran Reljic, crushing KO losses to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera, and a two fight losing streak that prompted his release in 2011. “Da Spyder” has since won two of three outside of the UFC, and if he can find consistency, maybe we’ll be seeing him back here sooner rather than later.  DEFINING FIGHT - W3 Evan TannerTUF TALK - “Before the show I never had anybody come up to me and shake my hand and tell me that I was one of their favorite fighters. But after the show, it started to happen and it was just a mind trip.”29 – Joe StevensonPost TUF record: 8-8Joe Stevenson, a pro since the age of 16, was about to walk away from the game when he got the call to compete on season two of The Ultimate Fighter. Stevenson went on to defeat Jason Von Flue and Marcus Davis on the show before winning that season’s welterweight title in a three round war with Luke Cummo. Following his stint on TUF, Stevenson was upset by Josh Neer, a defeat which prompted a drop to 155 pounds. At lightweight, ‘Joe Daddy’ found his home, winning four in a row before getting submitted by BJ Penn in a 2008 challenge for the vacant 155-pound crown. Stevenson has hit a rough patch after that, losing six of his last eight, including a decision loss to Javier Vazquez that got him his walking papers last year. But given his history, it would be foolish to count him out just yet.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub1 Melvin GuillardTUF TALK – “I probably wouldn’t have continued if it weren’t for the show. The show is such a springboard for the fight game, and for the athlete himself, that it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. There are things in your life you just don’t say no to.”28 – Mike SwickPost TUF record: 9-3A rising star who had won five of six fights before appearing on season one of TUF, Mike Swick solidified his place as one of the game’s top prospects during the show, losing a tough bout to Stephan Bonnar, and then tore through his opposition in the middleweight division, winning four straight in the first round and then decisioning former title challenger David Loiseau. But after losing a three rounder to Yushin Okami, Swick resurfaced in the welterweight division. He looked to be settling in with decision wins over Josh Burkman and Marcus Davis, but it was in his next two bouts that he finally looked to be acclimated to 170 as he stopped Jonathan Goulet and Ben Saunders. In his last two bouts though, Swick has struggled in losses to Dan Hardy and Paulo Thiago, and after taking some time off to deal with an esophageal condition that has been plaguing him over the last few years and a knee injury, he hopes to return to action soon.DEFINING FIGHT – TKO2 Ben SaundersTUF TALK - “This is my job. I’m very passionate about it and I want to move up and be the best in the world. I’ve given up a huge portion of my life for this, and I didn’t do it for nothing. I’m taking it to the top, one way or another.”27 – Keith JardinePost TUF record: 8-9-1Some will look at the five knockout losses suffered by Jardine since he left season two of The Ultimate Fighter and dismiss him, despite the fact that those defeats came at the hands of Wanderlei Silva, Thiago Silva, Houston Alexander, Ryan Bader, and Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold. Yet we can’t forget that Jardine holds wins over a pretty impressive group that includes the names Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Wilson Gouveia, and Brandon Vera, and in 2009 he ate bombs from Quinton Jackson for 15 minutes before losing a hard-fought decision. So you can rightfully say that “The Dean of Mean” needs to find consistency, but you can’t question what he can do as a fighter. Just ask the men he’s beaten.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Chuck Liddell TUF TALK - “Fighting is the apex of all competition, and there’s nothing harder than getting in the ring to fight. Actually, that makes it easier for everything else you do in life. Anything hard in life I might be doing, it’s just like, ‘this is nothing compared to fighting.’ I’ve conquered the demons from going into the ring and fighting, so everything else is easy after that.”26 - Krzysztof SoszynskiPost TUF record: 6-3If you said Krzysztof Soszynski’s career before The Ultimate Fighter 8 resembled that of a journeyman, he would probably agree with you. But that’s the life you lead when you’re learning on the job and running towards killer competition on a regular basis. What this education did for Soszynski was make him a dangerous fighter when it was time to step on the world stage, and since TUF, he has proven himself to be finally hitting his stride, as he’s won six of nine UFC bouts, with the only losses coming to Igor Pokrajac, Brandon Vera and Stephan Bonnar (in their rematch). And while he’s hinted at retirement, Soszynski probably still has a good amount of gas in his fighting tank.DEFINING FIGHT – TKO3 Stephan BonnarTUF TALK – “People look at my record and they think ‘oh, he’s just a mediocre fighter and got into the show through The Ultimate Fighter. But to me, I work my butt off every day in the gym, I give everything I have to this sport and even though I have nine losses on my record, most of them were early on in my career when I really didn’t know any better and didn’t train with anybody who was top level and who could teach me the right way. It’s been a learning experience for the last six years, I finally made it, and I’m gonna stick with it and keep training my butt off.”25 – Tony FergusonPost TUF record: 3-0Tony Ferguson didn’t play around on TUF 13, knocking out Justin Edwards, Ryan McGillivray, and Chuck O’Neil on the show before winning the season title with a first round KO of Ramsey Nijem. He hasn’t stopped yet in his post-TUF career either, TKOing veteran Aaron Riley, and winning an exciting three rounder over another vet, Yves Edwards. Now slated for a bout with Dennis Hallman in May, “El Cucuy”  (The Boogeyman) is certainly putting a scare into his fellow lightweights.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Yves Edwards TUF TALK – “I wouldn’t give it up for the world. Even though I almost had a heart attack seeing myself on TV, I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to do that. At the time you’re in the house, it drives you nuts, but looking at it now, the whole experience was amazing and I miss the house.”24 – Nate QuarryPost TUF record: 7-3For a long time, Nate Quarry may very well have been the most underrated fighter in the middleweight division, and that went back to what could be referred to as the first phase of his UFC career in 2005. That year, Quarry went from TUF to the Octagon, won three fights in a row by knockout, and was then given a shot at Rich Franklin’s middleweight title, which he lost by devastating KO himself. Following the defeat, Quarry underwent a serious spinal fusion surgery and few expected him to return to form when he came back in 2007. But come back he did, winning four of six bouts, including classic wars with Pete Sell and Tim Credeur. It was an amazing comeback, earning Quarry – one of the game’s good guys – some well-deserved accolades. And though a TKO loss to Jorge Rivera in March of 2010 prompted him to announce his retirement from the sport, “Rock” certainly made an impression on all who met him and watched him fight.DEFINING FIGHT – KO3 Pete Sell TUF TALK – “To be honest with you, sitting down and watching the show could be very disturbing at times. Especially the episode where Chris Leben had the problems with (Josh) Koscheck and Bobby Southworth. After I watched that episode, I had a hard time sleeping. I was up for three, four hours after the show and I had a hard time sleeping for the next couple of days because it just seemed so personal and so emotional, and now all of a sudden someone has seen those personal sides of me. Millions of people that I don’t know are seeing parts of myself that I don’t show to just anybody – things that don’t come up in everyday life.”23 – Marcus DavisPost TUF record: 12-7One of the UFC’s most exciting fighters, pound for pound, during his nearly five year run, Marcus Davis made a successful transition from the pro boxing ring to the Octagon, but it wasn’t without some serious growing pains and soul searching. But once “The Irish Hand Grenade” realized that his fists alone would only take him so far in MMA, he began winning, and winning, and winning, even throwing in four submission wins in the UFC along the way. Owner of victories over the likes of Chris Lytle, Paul Kelly, and Paul Taylor, Davis hit a rough patch that saw him lose four of five, but Davis has won three of four since being cut from the UFC, proving that you can’t keep a good man down.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub1 Paul Taylor TUF TALK - “In a lot of respects, I was a boxer who was trying to fight in mixed martial arts, somebody who was trying to pick up some of the tools and just use some of them in order to use my boxing game. And after being in the UFC and seeing that I can’t do that, I realized that if I wanted to be in the UFC and be a mixed martial arts fighter, that’s what I have to be. I can’t be a boxer who uses partial mixed martial arts techniques to box. So now I don’t look at myself as a boxer – I look at myself as a mixed martial artist22 – Ryan BaderPost TUF record: 7-2This may be a little overdramatic, but Ryan Bader was about to become a cautionary tale of ‘too much, too soon’ heading into his UFC 144 bout with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson last month. Sure, Bader was talented, but after using his raw skills to pound his way to a 5-0 Octagon record after winning season eight of TUF, back-to-back losses to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz in 2011 could have crippled him psychologically. Not “Darth” Bader though, and when the pressure was at its highest, he delivered with a shutout win over the former light heavyweight boss that resurrected the Arizonan as a light heavyweight contender.DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Quinton “Rampage” Jackson TUF TALK – “2011 was an interesting year, but I’m glad it happened because I wouldn’t have changed some things if those losses didn’t happen. That was the catalyst for great things this year. I’m gonna go out there and beat a legend of the sport and I’m gonna be a new fighter. Each fight I’m gonna get progressively better and I want to get up there in the upper echelon of the 205-pound division and stay there.”21 – Melvin GuillardPost TUF record: 9-4Season two’s Melvin Guillard was always talented. The question was, could he keep his game together when dealing with a myriad of out of the ring issues and tragedies. Well, once he hooked up with the Greg Jackson team in Albuquerque, a new version of “The Young Assassin” emerged, and he was nearly unstoppable, going on a five fight winning streak before losing back-to-back bouts against Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller. Now training with the Blackzilians team in Florida (who he worked with part-time for the Lauzon bout and full-time for Miller), Guillard is amped up for a strong return to form in the ever-crowded lightweight division.DEFINING FIGHT – TKO1 Evan DunhamTUF TALK –“I’ve been through so many ups and downs in my career, and in my personal life, and one thing I always remember is that (UFC President) Dana (White) has always been good to me and he’s always been honest with me. And Dana sat me down one time a while back and he said ‘kid, you have all the talent in the world, and we like you. Don’t throw it away.’ And for my boss to come and tell me that they really care for me, that’s an honorable thing for me, and if my boss believes in me, why shouldn’t I believe in myself? I’m my own worst enemy. If I mess myself out of this, it’s because I did something. But I’m just so happy that I got to see what I was doing wrong.”20 – Brendan SchaubPost TUF record: 4-2A former fullback for the University of Colorado, Brendan Schaub clearly had the athleticism and the power to compete in the heavyweight division in MMA, but after he was knocked out in the TUF10 finale by Roy Nelson, there were question marks. There aren’t too many of them left anymore though, as Schaub dispatched Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer in rapid-fire fashion before putting together back-to-back wins over veteran contenders Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop, the latter win at UFC 128 earning him Knockout of the Night honors. A loss to the legendary “Minotauro” Nogueira last year was a setback, but a win over Ben Rothwell on April’s UFC 145 card will put the “Hybrid” train back on track.DEFINING FIGHT – KO3 Mirko Cro CopTUF TALK –“It’s kind of like the game’s changed. Now you’ve got to be athletic and you’ve got to have it all. You gotta be able to wrestle, you gotta be able to strike, so the game’s changing. You see guys like Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, guys around my size who are really athletic heavyweights, making a name for themselves and doing well. I think the day of the big, experienced guy who just gets by on his toughness, that’s not gonna fly anymore.” 19 – Ross PearsonPost TUF record: 5-2DEFINING FIGHT – W3 Spencer FisherAlmost universally seen as one of the lightweight division’s top prospects, aggressive battler Ross Pearson had only two hiccups at 155 since winning season nine of TUF, a second round submission loss to Cole Miller, and a close split decision defeat against Edson Barboza. Otherwise, he looked outstanding in beating veteran competition like Aaron Riley, Dennis Siver, and Spencer Fisher, yet despite this, he decided a change of scenery was in order, and late last year he moved to featherweight, where he debuted at UFC 141 with a win over Junior Assuncao.TUF TALK –“Obviously I was very confident in me own skills and confident that I was going to go in there, do my best, and get to the finals, but no one ever really said to me, ‘oh, you’re the favorite to win’ or anything like that,” he said. “It was basically my own self-belief that I would do well.”18 – Matt Mitrione  Post TUF record: 5-1With no pro experience in mixed martial arts, former NFL lineman Matt Mitrione was expected to make some noise on season ten of TUF, and then go away. He had other plans though, defeating UFC vet Scott Junk on the show and then going on to compile a 5-1 record in the Octagon while amazing skeptics with the rapid growth in his technical game. Add in fight changing power and a healthy dose of athleticism, and suddenly the charismatic and popular Mitrione is a player in the heavyweight division.DEFINING FIGHT –KO2 Christian MorecraftTUF TALK – “Verbally, I said I was done competing (after football), but internally, I was never ready to be done, and I think I knew that I had to find something else to do. Sales wasn’t it. I started my own company and that was part of it, but it wasn’t the physical part, and that’s what I missed most. My wife saw that in me and she said, look, you’re gonna be doing something stupid anyway, you might as well get paid for it (Laughs).”17 – Chris LytlePost TUF record: 9-6If you told me that there’s someone out there who dislikes Chris Lytle, I’d say you’re lying. Even the guys who threw hands with “Lights Out” for three rounds couldn’t say anything bad about him, and it’s why you wanted to see him go out with a Lytle-esque performance in his final bout against Dan Hardy last August. And that’s just what he did, showing off his striking, toughness, and finally, his submission game, as he finished “The Outlaw” in the third round. It was everything Lytle represented in 14 minutes and 16 seconds, and a fitting end to a career well fought.DEFINING FIGHT – Wsub3 Dan Hardy TUF TALK – “I don’t know if the word is that I’m addicted to it, but I just love to compete, and there’s nothing I’ve ever found to equal the overall feeling you get after you’ve struggled so much and put so much into something and then come out on top and achieve something. Most of the goals you have in your life never become tangible at one point, but this does. You put everything into this one fight that you’re training for, and when you win it, it’s like everything you worked for in your whole life has been successful. It’s a great feeling. So I’m kind of addicted to that feeling.”16 – Chris LebenPost TUF record: 12-7Whether you loved him or hated him, Chris Leben always provoked strong feelings from MMA fans while being the poster boy for bad behavior on the first season of TUF. His post-TUF career has also matched his persona, thanks to an up and down journey that has always been compelling, regardless of the final result. And though Leben’s only .500 in his last eight, you can’t forget the 5-0 run that began his UFC career, and the back-to-back 2010 wins over Aaron Simpson and Yoshihiro Akiyama that came only two weeks apart, all moments that will forever keep “The Crippler” on fight fans’ minds.DEFINING FIGHT - Wsub3 Yoshihiro AkiyamaTUF TALK - “I’m one of those guys that always thought they were gonna be famous. I thought I was somebody important before I was somebody important, I guess. In my mind, people should have always been pointing to me and saying, ‘hey, there goes Chris Leben.’”Just missing the cut - Patrick Cote, Tim Credeur, Efrain Escudero, Court McGee, DaMarques Johnson, Kyle Kingsbury, Matt Riddle, CB Dollaway, Amir Sadollah, Mac Danzig, Matt Brown, Jorge Rivera

Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, tuf, record

Read the full article at UFC

The first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is credited with many things. It goes from the monumental like being the sole reason the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is still around today to the smaller like skyrocketing the careers of Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Diego Sanchez and the like. But Chuck Liddell's massive popularity was also helped along by the inaugural season of TUF. He was already one of the most popular fighters in the company but his exposure over the 12 week season helped propel him to the next level. Soon enough, "The Iceman" became synonymous with the UFC. The first event after the TUF Finale where Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar unleashed a three round war on an unsuspecting world was UFC 52 which saw Liddell's second bout with fellow TUF couch Randy Couture. They met at UFC 43 and "The Natural" scored the upset, defeating Liddell in the third round. Griffin/Bonnar whet a potential fanbase's appetite for more mixed martial arts (MMA) action. A week later, fans saw Matt Hughes' incredible comeback victory over Frank Trigg and in the main event, Liddell knock out his old rival to finally win the light heavyweight title. Those potential fans were now hooked. The 15th season of TUF begins this Friday (Mar. 9) with coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. After tweaking with the show's formula over the past seven years, a major overhaul is in store this season. The fights will be presented live for the first time in the program's history, adding even more tension to the reality show proceedings. To commemorate the premiere, let's take a look at the bout, one of the biggest highlights in Liddell's storied career. They touched gloves and immediately Couture takes the center of the Octagon, inching forward ever so slightly while LIddell circles around the perimeter. A right from "The Iceman" misses its mark as does the counter Couture throws his opponent's way. "The Natural" had the element of surprise in their first meeting, using his stand-up to batter Liddell since he -- and everyone else -- thought the former heavyweight champion would look to take the fight to the ground as soon as possible. "The Natural" wouldn't have the luxury the second time around. Couture ducks under a left hand and looks to clinch up with his opponent. A long-time practitioner of the dirty boxing style, once "The Natural" gets his hands on an opponent, he'll soon start wearing them down. Liddell immediately backs up and circles away, sticking a jab in Couture's face the entire time. "Captain America" continues to pressure his opponent, however. Staying in the center of the cage while Liddell circles around, Couture is definitely the aggressor in the opening minute of the bout, something which will eventually led to his downfall. "The Iceman" lands an inside leg kick but can't follow up with the ensuing punch combination. Couture answers back with a jab that connects on Liddell's chin and looks to move in closer. Just like he did previously, Liddell backs up and circles out, throwing out a looping left hand to keep his opponent at bay. Liddell lands a couple of good counter punches including a jab that pops Couture right in the nose. "The Iceman" seems more comfortable in attacking off of his opponent's offense, countering anything "The Natural" throws his away. In a weird reversal, it's Liddell who is picking his shots and chipping away at Couture while "Captain America" throws huge, potentially fight ending bombs. Couture lands a grazing hook and follows it up with a leg kick. Another hook finds its mark even better than the first and the crowd lights up. Liddell retreats but the champion is in hot pursuit. He finally grabs ahold of the challenger and begins to unload with uppercuts while pulling Liddell's head down. "The Iceman" struggles to break free and finally does but an errant finger has caught Couture in the eye. Immediately, memories of his UFC 46 with Vitor Belfort come flooding into the minds of everyone watching. The Brazilian's glove caught Couture's eyelid, slicing it open and forcing an end to the bout only seconds into the main event. The fight is temporarily halted so the medical staff can take a look at the champion. The crowd erupts when the doctor leaves the Octagon. The fight is back on. The two fighters meet in the center of the cage and for the next 10 seconds, begin exchanging wildly. An overhand right from Couture gets countered and the champ takes a fistful of leather on the chin. He circles around and begins walking Liddell down, throwing lefts and rights with his chin sticking straight up. It's impossible to know what Couture was thinking at that moment. Perhaps he thought he saw a hole in his opponent's gameplan he could exploit. Perhaps the counter punch he had just taken rocked him enough to warrant leaving his comfort zone to get a takedown. What we do know is that a huge right from Liddell buries itself in Couture's jaw, dropping "The Natural" to the mat and ending the fight. It was right then, right there that Liddell became the most popular MMA fighter on the planet. Will either Cruz or Faber experience anything close to this after their stint on TUF?

Posted in: ufc, right, opponent, tuf, liddell

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Starting next Friday the world will witness a new version of The Ultimate Fighter with sixteen live fights giving fans a look at those making it into the house to compete during the season. The Ultimate Fighter 15 begins on March 9 on FX with coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber heading teams of lightweights/welterweights. Then, in July, Cruz will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Faber with both men looking to settle their rivalry. Faber, a former WEC champion, defeated Cruz earlier in their careers while last year Cruz successfully defended his UFC belt against “The California Kid”, picking up a decision win. Last night both Cruz and Faber joined Jon Anik for an interview during UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann where “The Dominator” focused on how the fighters will react to being live each week. “(Being live) is going to bring the heat up on all the guys,” Cruz said. “They know everything is going to be live and that will make them want to perform that much better.” On the other hand, Faber is excited for both the opportunity to fight Cruz again and try to defeat him in the coaching aspect of TUF. “I am going to enjoy the process,” Faber said. “I don’t have many enemies, so it is nice to have one for a change (in Cruz). I am not afraid to get into any kind of confrontation, physical or verbal.” A “real time” format will be used for TUF 15 involving highlights from the previous week and a live fight between the competitors looking to advance to an eventual season crown and six-figure contract. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, tuf, cruz, faber

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

In the second episode of Spike Television's new rapid fire panel show 'MMA Uncensored', last night UFC veteran Nate Quarry officially retired from the sport when he made an emotional address at the end of the show. Struggling to hold back tears, Quarry reminisced on when he first watched the UFC, how fighting has provided for him and how ultimately his love for his daughter was the deciding factor in hanging up the gloves. Quarry, one of the more respected veterans of the sport from the original TUF era, was a training partner and student of Randy Couture and co at the original Team Quest gym in Oregon, and went 5-1 in the first two years of his career before rising to prominence as a cast member on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Sidelined by an accidental injury on the show, TUF Coach Randy Couture put him to good use as an assistant coach and became a 'Rock' his team mates could depend on. Winning his first 3 fights in the UFC by way of TKO, Quarry was the first TUF cast member to receive a title shot when he faced newly crowned champion Rich Franklin for the Middleweight title, who knocked Quarry out in the first round. Due to surgery required for chronic back problems, Quarry would not fight again for another two years before amassing a further 4 wins and 2 losses, including a victory in his infamously bad fight with Kalib Starnes that saw Starnes retreating for the majority of the match, and Quarry openly mocking him for doing so in an attempt to get Starnes to engage. Just shy of his 40th birthday, Quarry retires with a career record of 12-4 with notable wins over Shonie Carter, Pete Sell, Jason MacDonald and Tim Credeur. After the jump, transcription of Nate Quarry's retirement announcement. Guys, this is kind of hard for me. It was 16 years ago that I saw the UFC on TV, and it changed my life. Everything I have besides my little girl has come from fighting. But after my last fight, when I came home and saw the look in my little girl's eyes and could see how upset she was at how damaged I was, that I knew I wanted to leave when I could still take care of her, and I didn't ever want to be one of those fighters that people said "Why is he still here?". I wanted to leave when people still wanted me to fight. So, I hate to say it but, I'm going to have to exit from fighting. I'm just glad that I get the opportunity to be here and continue the love for this sport that I've had, that has given me everything. So, thank you Spike TV, thank you to my hosts for giving me this opportunity. Thank you to the fans, and thank you to my little girl for making it so easy for me to follow my dream. Related stories on Bloody Elbow MMA Uncensored Episode 2 Live Discussion

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, tuf, quarry

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

On Fri., March 9, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will bring fans the fifteenth installment of the reality television series, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) on FX at 9 p.m. ET. However, viewers can expect to see things ratcheted up a notch this season. On top of the fact that the TUF 15 coaches (Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber) happen to be two fighters who can hardly stand to be in the same room with each other, the innovative way that this series will be broadcast and presented is certainly an exciting prospect. Unlike past seasons, the footage we see, each week, will be very recent (usually shot within the past day or two). Also, the actual fights will be shown live on FX, every Friday night. No editing, no commentators ... just live mixed martial arts (MMA) goodness on your TV screen, in your living room. Last night (March 1, 2012), FUEL TV ran a preview show for the upcoming TUF 15 debut, which included some nostalgic looks back on previous season highlights, as well as interviews with UFC President Dana White and several other UFC personalities. Spoiler alert! Dana is excited: "What we are doing this season with ‘The Ultimate Fighter Live' - it's never been done with television, with sports, with anything," says White. "Basically, the reality portions of the show that you're going to see will have been shot in the last two days, so everything is real time. The most incredible part of all this is that these fights are live, every Friday night. This is revolutionary television." It's well documented that TUF 15 coaches, Cruz and Faber, have little love lost between them. Last night's TUF preview episode continued to document the bad blood. Never one to lack confidence, "The California Kid" has a simple gameplan going into the show: "I'm gonna beat him in the coaching game. I'm gonna beat him up in the fight and then walk away with the belt." "The Dominator" was equally candid about their relationship and how it's festered into what we currently see today on the screen and in the cage: "He's always taking shots and I'm always taking shots. It's basically a never-ending rivalry. That's where we're at now. We're gonna be in there literally trying to kill each other. (creepy laugh)" Ultimately, it's not really about Dominick and Urijah. It's about 32 fighters looking to make a name for themselves and work towards the possibility of one day wearing UFC gold. White believes those factors are what truly make TUF a success on the airwaves: "‘The Ultimate Fighter' has become so popular because, in my opinion, it's the most relevant reality show on television," White continues. "It's not some reality show where you see a bunch of weirdo's on a show for a few weeks and then it's over and you never see them again. These kids are coming in and competing to try and get into the UFC and hopefully become a world champion someday." In addition to TUF being shot in a live format for the first time, it's also the first time the series will be seen on FX (via the UFC's new deal with FOX Sports). White had nothing but good things to say about the way the new deal will improve the way we see TUF on TV: "It was 11 years ago that we bought this company and got into this sport. We had a vision for this thing, and our goal was to get this thing on to television, and then eventually -- network television. The deal that I always dreamt about and the deal that I always wanted was FOX. Our sport lines up perfectly with their network. Now that we're here and we're doing massive fights on FOX and now that we have this opportunity to be on FX and do 'The Ultimate Fighter' LIVE -- this is revolutionary television. Nobody's ever done this before. If you love sports, you love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' You love drama, you're gonna love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' You love reality shows, you're gonna love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' I don't care what type of television that you're into and you like to watch, 'The Ultimate Fighter' is the television show for you." There you have it. It looks like we can expect a very tough cast of competitors, as well as a lot of live drama to keep the fans entertained for an entire season of reality TV goodness. Will you Maniacs be tuning in for the TUF 15 debut? What about this upcoming season excites you the most? Opinions please. Remember to tune in to FX on Fri., March 9 at 9 p.m. ET!

Posted in: show, fighter, tuf, love, television

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials today announced "The Ultimate Fighter Live: The Preview," a 30-minute special airing TONIGHT (March 1, 2012) at 11:30 p.m. ET on FUEL TV, featuring a sneak peek at the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15. TUF 15, which premiers LIVE on March 9 via the FX Channel, will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. From UFC President Dana White: "What we are doing this season with ‘The Ultimate Fighter Live' - it's never been done with television, with sports, with anything. Basically, the reality portions of the show that you're going to see will have been shot in the last two days, so everything is real time. The most incredible part of all this is that these fights are live, every Friday night. This is revolutionary television. The Ultimate Fighter' has become so popular because, in my opinion, it's the most relevant reality show on television. It's not some reality show where you see a bunch of weirdo's on a show for a few weeks and then it's over and you never see them again. These kids are coming in and competing to try and get into the UFC and hopefully become a world champion someday." White will co-host tonight's preview show alongside UFC commentator Jon Anik. Also getting in on the action are Cruz and Faber, who will square off for "The Dominator's" title at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the longtime rivals aren't doing anything in "Sin City" until they satisfy their coaching duties on TUF 15, beginning with the two-hour season premiere on March 9 and then one hour every Friday night (at 10 p.m. ET) for the following 13 weeks up until the June 1 live finale. A video of what you can expect during this upcoming live season, after the jump. The complete TUF 15 roster right here.

Posted in: ufc, show, fighter, tuf, march

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 contestant Dakota Cochrane, who made headlines earlier this week for his previous role as "Danny" in gay porn, has a message for people who have a hard time accepting his past. Say what you need to say, then move on. Cochrane (11-2) is perhaps best known in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) for his lopsided unanimous decision win over Jamie Varner at Titan Fighting Championship 20 last September. That win, along with his overall record, was enough to earn him a spot on the FX Channel reality show. Now he's ready to give fight fans something new to talk about when he debuts as part of the 32-man cast a week from Friday (March 9, 2012) as part of the "new" version of TUF, which includes weekly live elimination fights. More on Cochrane's past, present and future (via MMA Fighting) after the jump. "It's definitely a decision I regret. If I would have known what would happen I definitely wouldn't have done it. But I had money issues and I needed help. I went there to do pictures, and they started throwing pretty high numbers in front of me. I didn't really think. It was a big mistake. I think it's a little bit courageous for both of us. I could just hide in a hole and no one would know except for the people close to me. And to [the UFC], I was up front. I let them know right away so it wasn’t anything that could come back and bite them in the butt. I think maybe they respected that a little bit. I think some people judge against it, some people will be OK with it. Some people will want me to get my butt kicked, and hopefully others will respect what I'm trying to do. I'm looking forward to getting it done and over with. People can be shocked, and people can say whatever they need to say, and then we can move on." Cochrane insists he is not gay, rather suffered from a "temporary lapse in judgment" stemming from financial struggles in college. He reportedly made upwards of $80,000 for his participation in the videos. He was also upfront with the UFC brass prior to being selected as a candidate for the show. The big question now is how the other contestants will react should he earn a spot in the TUF house. Stay tuned. Find out who Cochrane will compete against on The Ultimate Fighter 15 (assuming he makes it past the opening elimination rounds) when it premieres a week from Friday by checking out the complete roster right here. More news and notes on TUF 15 here.

Posted in: tuf, people, cochrane, im, contestant

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Cristiano Marcello was one of the main ingredients that made Chute Boxe one of the premier fight teams in the world, but now he's focusing on his own career and it starts with TUF 15.

Posted in: tuf, chute boxe, boxe, marcello, cristiano

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

From a fan's perspective, I've been enjoying all this UFC counter-programming Spike has been throwing at their old partners. A full day of UFC Unleashed leading up to a fight night? Cool! Fights I can flip to between the live matches and during commercials? The less advertisements for Thrillbillies I have to endure, the better. Now Spike is taking things to the next level with their TUF counterstrike, adding fresh Kimbo Slice action to their 'Ultimate Fighter Fridays' rerun line-up: Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson – the star of the highest-rated season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in the show's history – is making a return to the reality series. Sort of.Ferguson will host Spike TV's debut of "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays" on March 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.The weekly three-hour specials counter-program new episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter 15," which also debuts March 9 – on FX, the series' new broadcast home.Ferguson will share details and new footage from "TUF 10," in which he competed alongside the likes of Brendan Schaub, Matt Mitrione and eventual show champion Roy Nelson. The heavyweights-only season of the reality series shattered previous records and averaged a staggering 3.4 million weekly viewers. Here's hoping they put him in a smoking jacket next to a fire as he introduces clips with a pipe hanging from his lips and a twinkle in his eye. "Here's Rampage Jackson showing us how highschool-style bullying still occurs in the real world. And after the break: Did Zak Jensen really jizz all over the communal shower stall?" Tell us, Kimbo! Share your TUF stories with the world! I'm expecting a little insight and a lot of awkward hosting. More awkward than Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin robo-hosting the 'Top 25 TUF Moments' show? We can only hope. And while I'm determined not to give a sh*t about nerd crap like MMA ratings this year, I can't help but wonder how adding Kimbo will affect ratings. TUF reruns seem like a hard sell, but there's no denying the world loves Kimbo: TUF 10 was perhaps the worstiest TUF in the history of TUFs (impressive considering season 4), and it still smashed records week after week with Kimbo as the hook. Plus there was Kimbo's EliteXC debut on CBS, which held the record for most watched MMA fight in North America right up until November's Velasquez vs Dos Santos fight on FOX. They aren't joking when they say CBS crowds skew slightly older.

Posted in: fight, fighter, tuf, spike, kimbo

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Here's a newsflash for all the keyboard warriors who yelled "I called it!" when Ben Henderson won the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight title by defeating former champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 back on Feb. 25 in Japan. No, no you didn't. You know who did call it? Ben Henderson. In fact, he went on record in the above audition tape to tell the ZUFFA brass that he was going to win The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 9, then go on to claim the promotion's 155-pound strap. They weren't convinced. He might have even won TUF 9 -- had the promotion felt he was a right fit for the former Spike TV reality show. Instead, he was passed over for the likes of Santino DeFranco, Jason Dent, Cameron Dollar and Richie Whitson. It should be noted that being rejected for TUF isn't always an indication of how the promotion perceives a fighter's talent. Edgar was also turned down in his quest to join the cast of season five. Still it's hard not to wonder how things would have unfolded with a "Smooth" run in the TUF house. Ben Henderson vs. Ross Pearson? Or Andre Winner? We'll never know. See how far "Bendo" has come by clicking here.

Posted in: promotion, ben, henderson, tuf, ben henderson

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Myles Jury set the stage to become a mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar when he was selected to be a participant on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in 2011. Instead, the undefeated prospect, who has never left the first round in nine professional fights, found himself sidelined before the competition even began with a devastating knee injury, one severe enough to remove him from the show. The injury turned out to be a torn ACL and "The Fury" was forced to have surgery. Ultimate Fighter, take two. Now, after several months of rehabilitation, his knee is fully recovered and he's ready to get back inside the cage. The 23 year-old prospect will get a chance to pick up where he left off after dropping to lightweight and joining the cast of TUF 15, which makes its FX Channel debut at 9 p.m. ET on March 9, 2012. Myles talks about his long road to recovery, after the jump. Anyone have Jury as a frontrunner for this season? More on TUF 15 here.

Posted in: tuf, knee injury, myle, jury, jump anyone

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Pretty damn cool new trailer for the upcoming TUF on FX "Watch The Ultimate Fighter Live. Special Live Premiere Event, Friday, March 9 @ 9P E/P only on FX!"

Posted in: fighter, fx, tuf, premiere, trailer

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Last October, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White said he "didn't care" if his company employed a gay fighter. In fact, he even went so far as to encourage them to "come out of the closet." Here's an excerpt from that conversation: "I'll tell you right now, if there was a gay fighter in UFC, I wish he would come out. I could care less if there's a gay fighter in the UFC. There probably is and there's probably more than one. I mean, it's 2012. Give me a break." Be careful what you wish for. Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 contestant Dakota Cochrane, who Middle Easy reports is none other than former gay porn star "Danny," could be the first fighter to hold White accountable for his previous statements. For better or for worse. Cochrane (11-2) is perhaps best known in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) for his lopsided unanimous decision win over Jamie Varner at Titan Fighting Championship 20 last September. That win, along with his overall record, was enough to earn him a spot on the FX Channel's March 9 premiere. But even if Cochrane has White in his corner, how will the other contestants react to his presence in the tight living quarters of the TUF house, along with daily grappling drills and other incidental contact? As silly as it sounds, some heterosexual men, like heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, just can't bare the thought of having homosexual hands on his Brazilian body. Not that I want to speak for the gay community, but I'm pretty sure the inside of an MMA gym is the last place anyone wants to be looking for a cheap thrill. Ever walk into the men's locker room after a hard day of training? It's like a potpourri of sweat and swamp ass. Still, the mere thought of homosexuality is enough to upset the apple cart for some men, and it will be interesting to see how the inclusion (or perhaps exclusion) of Cochrane affects the day-to-day happenings on the show. Especially when the booze starts flowing. Find out who Cochrane will share the house with on The Ultimate Fighter 15 (assuming he makes it past the opening elimination rounds) when it premieres a week from Friday by checking out the complete roster right here. More news and notes on TUF 15 here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, men, cochrane, contestant

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The newest season of the Ultimate Fighter is less than two weeks away from its debut on FX after years of airing on Spike TV. The reality show’s new home is one of the numerous changes to TUF this time around with others including a slot on Friday nights and live fights each episode. However, as different as the Ultimate Fighter 15 may be from its predecessors there will be at least thing viewers may recognize from a past run – Myles Jury. Jury, who was set to be part of the Season 13 cast before severely injuring his knee on the show, will return to the fold for TUF 15 as one of 32 men fighting to get into the house at a live two-plus hour event on March 9. His name was listed along with the rest of his cast-mates’ on Monday with a few other familiar faces in the bunch as well. Most notable is Cristiano Marcello who was one of the original core components of the famed Chute Boxe gym in Brazil. He has since compiled a professional MMA record of 12-3 including wins in his last three appearances. TUF 15 will feature teams of lightweights/welterweights coached by UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and rival Urijah Faber. Faber Feels Cruz Isn’t a “Dangerous” Fighter Here is the complete list of fighters set to compete next Friday night: Akbarh Arreloa, Chula Vista, Calif. Al Iaquinta, Wantagh, N.Y. Ali Maclean, Belfast, North Ireland Andy Ogle, Tynemouth, England Austin Lyons, Cordova, Tenn. Brendan Weafer, New York, N.Y. Chris Tickle, Bloomington, Ill. Cody Pfister, Amarillo, Texas Cristiano Marcello, Curitiba, Brazil Chase Hackett, Littleton, Colo. Chris Saunders, Long Beach, Calif. Dakota Cochrane, Omaha, Neb. Daron Cruickshank, Wayne, Mich. Drew Dober, Omaha, Neb. Erin Beach, San Diego, Calif. James Krause, Blue Springs, MO. James Vick, Fort Worth, Texas Jared Carlsten, Los Angeles, Calif. Jeff Smith, Mechanicsburg, Penn. Jeremy Larsen, Phoenix, Ariz. Joe Proctor, Pembroke, Mass. John Cofer, Hull, Ga. Johnavan Vistante, Pearl City, Hawaii Jon Tuck, Hagtna, Guam Jordan Rinaldi, Matthews, N.C. Justin Lawrence, Villa Ridge, Mo. Mark Glover, Liverpool, England Michael Chiesa, Spokane Valley, Wash. Myles Jury, San Diego, Calif. Mike Rio, Miami, Fla. Sam Sicilia, Spokane Valley, Wash. Vinc Pichel, Sherman Oaks, Calif. Tweet

Posted in: fighter, tuf, calif, cristiano marcello, core components

Read the full article at Fighters.com

FX Channel and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials today announced the complete cast and finalized roster for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15, scheduled to debut LIVE on the cable television network at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9, 2012. TUF 15 will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. "The Dominator" will put his 135-pound title on the line (again) against "The California Kid" at UFC 148, tentatively scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the longtime rivals aren't doing anything in "Sin City" until they satisfy their coaching duties on TUF 15, beginning with the two-hour season premiere and then one hour every Friday night (at 10 p.m. ET) for the following 13 weeks up until the June 1 live finale. Check out the official TUF 15 cast after the jump, which includes Myles Jury from TUF 13 fame, who returns to reality television after leaving that season prematurely. WEC veteran James Krause also gets in on the action. Have a look. Akbarh Arreloa, Chula Vista, Calif.Al Iaquinta, Wantagh, N.Y.Ali Maclean, Belfast, North IrelandAndy Ogle, Tynemouth, EnglandAustin Lyons, Cordova, Tenn.Brendan Weafer, New York, N.Y.Chris Tickle, Bloomington, Ill.Cody Pfister, Amarillo, TexasCristiano Marcello, Curitiba, BrazilChase Hackett, Littleton, Colo.Chris Saunders, Long Beach, Calif.Dakota Cochrane, Omaha, Neb.Daron Cruickshank, Wayne, Mich.Drew Dober, Omaha, Neb.Erin Beach, San Diego, Calif.James Krause, Blue Springs, Mich.James Vick, Fort Worth, TexasJared Carlsten, Los Angeles, Calif.Jeff Smith, Mechanicsburg, Penn.Jeremy Larsen, Phoenix, Ariz.Joe Proctor, Pembroke, Mass.John Cofer, Hull, Ga.Johnavan Vistante, Pearl City, HawaiiJon Tuck, Hagtna, GuamJordan Rinaldi, Matthews, N.C.Justin Lawrence, Villa Ridge, Mo.Mark Glover, Liverpool, EnglandMichael Chiesa, Spokane Valley, Wash.Myles Jury, San Diego, Calif.Mike Rio, Miami, Fla.Sam Sicilia, Spokane Valley, Wash.Vinc Pichel, Sherman Oaks, Calif. The debut episode will consist of 16 live elimination fights, so expect this list to be cut in half before anyone even steps foot inside the saloon TUF house. More news and notes and a video sneak peek of The Ultimate Fighter "Live" right here.

Posted in: season, tuf, garden arena, coaching duties, finale check

Read the full article at MMA Mania

With The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil set to debut on March 25, the UFC is trying to create some anticipation by releasing preview videos. The latest came out Sunday featuring one of the coaches, Wanderlei Silva. The short clip opens with Silva and UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos saying hi and signing autographs for fans at an outdoor press event. One of the fans asks Silva, "When are you going to kill Chael Sonnen?" and he replies, "Soon." Silva then shows up at Rio's X-Gym, giving some words of encouragement to a group of fighters that includes former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael Cavalcante. Silva will coach against Vitor Belfort on the first ever TUF to record outside the U.S., expected to lead the way for future international TUFs. The two will coach featherweights and middleweights. Stateside, TUF Brazil will air on UFC.com and on Globo in Brazil. Belfort vs. Silva and the finals of the competitions will air during a summer PPV in Brazil, the same expected to be headlined by Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II. See the video after the jump.

Posted in: silva, champion, tuf, middleweight, brazil

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to debut its The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise on FX next month (March 9, 2012) after a successful run on Spike TV. And they've got a damn good "Evolution" promo to get us ready for it. TUF 15 will feature a mix of Lightweight and Welterweight mixed martial arts (MMA) hopefuls, competing for one "six-figure" contract that is up for grabs in each respective weight class. Bantamweight enemies, division champion Dominick Cruz and number one 135-pound contender, Urijah Faber, will serve as coaches. Cruz and Faber will then collide at the conclusion of the show in a trilogy match that is currently scheduled to headline UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2012. The premiere episode of TUF 15 will be a two-hour television special. Subsequent episodes will run for one hour every Friday night for 13 weeks and, thanks to the new format, will feature LIVE fights. Hope y'all ready. For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right hhere.

Posted in: tuf, friday night, championship ufc, evolution promo, sixfigure contract

Read the full article at MMA Mania

With the Ultimate Fighter 15 set to debut with a new “real time” format in less than two weeks it’s been easy to forget another version of the groundbreaking reality show is already in the process of taping episodes for an upcoming season. The UFC offered a nice reminder of that very fact with a recent video previewing TUF Brasil, the first international adaptation of the Ultimate Fighter featuring coaches Wanderlei Silva-Vitor Belfort leading teams of featherweights/middleweights. In the clip, Silva is shown addressing a room full of fighters who have designs on one day achieving his level of success as well as spending some time talking to fans at a media appearance. “The big game is just starting,” the former PRIDE champion explains Silva to the group including a few familiar faces such as Ronaldo Souza and Rafael Cavalcante. “We just had the first broadcast on FOX. We just had the first broadcast on Globo. Of course it’s been good years until now but I think that what’s coming is much bigger. Everyone can get the opportunity. The sky is made with a lot of stars. You just have to make yours shine.” “The thing is to stay focused. To study the art. To come in to the gym and train. Eat well, sleep well. Keep your health up. We depend on our bodies. Because on fight your buddies won’t fight the fight for you. It will be you up there. And if you lose those guys will find someone else to suck up to.” No date is set for the debut of TUF Brasil though Silva-Belfort are expected to face off in June alongside the season’s finalists. Check out the full Countdown to TUF Brasil preview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brasil, tuf brasil, clip silva

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

submitted by 416fighter [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: fighter, tuf, countdown, brasil, tuf brasil

Read the full article at Reddit

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to debut its The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise on FX next month (March 9, 2012) after a successful run on Spike TV. TUF 15 will feature a mix of Lightweight and Welterweight mixed martial arts (MMA) hopefuls, competing for one "six-figure" contract that is up for grabs in each respective weight class. Bantamweight enemies, division champion Dominick Cruz and number one 135-pound contender, Urijah Faber, will serve as coaches. Cruz and Faber will then collide at the conclusion of the show in a trilogy match that is currently scheduled to headline UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2012. The premiere episode of TUF 15 will be a two-hour television special. Subsequent episodes will run for one hour every Friday night for 13 weeks and, thanks to the new format, will feature LIVE fights. For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right here.

Posted in: tuf, cruz, faber, championship ufc, fx debut

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Two bouts featuring competitors from the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter have been added to the May 5th UFC on Fox 3 card at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Featherweight runner-up Dennis Bermudez will square off against another TUF alum, Pablo Garza, while bantamweight semfinalist Johnny Bedford will face Canadian, Nick Denis, according to UFC.com: Nick Denis put the rest of the bantamweight division on notice with a devastating 22-second KO of The Night debut in his first UFC outing, while TUF 14's Johnny Bedford won a landslide victory in his last fight at the series finale. Now, these two have verbally agreed to clash at the UFC on FOX event May 5. In the featherweight division, TUF 14 finalist Dennis Bermudez has agreed to take on Pablo Garza, known for his dynamic fighting style that's seen Octagon finishes via flying knee and flying guillotine. The proud owner one of MMA's most unique nicknames ("The Ninja of Love") and more unusual fighting styles ("cuddle-jitsu"), Ontario's Nick Denis is nonetheless a very talented bantamweight fighter, and proved it in his UFC debut by knocking out Joseph Sandoval with vicious standing elbows, and that victory coming on the heels of a KO-by-suplex against Bellator vet, Nick Mamalis. Bedford was an early favorite to win his season of TUF, but his inability to deal with the speed of John Dodson led to a KO loss in the semifinal round. Bedford rebounded at the season finale with a one-sided beatdown of Louis Gaudinot, and now takes a big step up in competition against a fellow veteran. Bermudez, who will be fighting close to home as a resident of Long Island, made it all the way to the finale on TUF, before tapping to an armbar from Diego Brandao in a wild scrap that earned both men Fight of the Night honors. Now getting a chance to prove he deserves a roster spot in the rapidly growing UFC featherweight division, Bermudez will have to shore up his submission defense to avoid the lanky limbs and spidery guard of Garza. Garza competed on the 12th season of TUF, but a decision loss to eventual runner-up Michael Johnson in the opening round denied him entrance to the house. Instead, Garza worked his way up through the regional ranks and before finally getting a Zuffa contract (first in the WEC, and then in the UFC). Although his Zuffa record stands at 2-2 and he's wilted against stronger opponents,, "The Scarecrow" is rarely in a boring fight, and owns one of the most impressive highlight reels around, with a flying knee KO followed up by a flying triangle submission in his first two UFC fights. UFC on Fox 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, nick, tuf, bedford, garza

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

New era of The Ultimate Fighter seasons will start on March 9th with the brand new TUF 15 Live on FX, featuring the reigning UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and the future title challenger "The California Kid" Urijah Faber as coaches. TUF 15 will feature Lightweight and Welterweight fighters. Further Reading: Submit your picks for Tate vs.

Posted in: vs, tuf, urijah, welterweight fighters, fighter seasons

Read the full article at Low Kick

Greetings all. We are minutes away from the start of the very first UFC on FUEL TV. The preliminary action kicks off around 6:30 on the east coast and 3:30 on the west, with the main card starting around 8:00 on the east, 5:00 on the west. Here is the fight schedule: UNDERCARD Lightweight: Tim Means vs Bernardo MagalhaesLightweight: Justin Salas vs Anton KoivanenMiddleweight: Buddy Roberts vs Sean LoefflerFeatherweight: Jonathan Brookins vs Wagner Rocha MAIN CARD Bantamweight: T.J. Dillashaw vs Walel WatsonBantamweight: John Albert vs Ivan MenjivarHeavyweight: Stipe Miocic vs Philip De FriesMiddleweight: Ronny Markes vs Aaron SimpsonHeavyweight: Dave Herman vs Stefan StruveWelterweight: Jake Ellenberger vs Diego Sanchez A FEW QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND DURING THE EVENT: 1. How good are these new heavyweights?By now we know that Stefan Struve is pretty much a gatekeeper in the 265 lb division. He is still young, but he's been fighting for a few years now and it's safe to say that he isn't going to be contending for a title anytime soon. Dave Herman and Stipe Miocic were both victorious in their UFC debuts and both, especially Herman, have the athleticism to be major players in the next couple of years. If they can notch wins here, the excitement over the future of the division will go up a notch. 2. Who is better, John Albert of T.J. Dillashaw?Dillashaw got an easy path to the Ultimate Fighter final and was promptly smashed by John Dodson. Albert had the misfortune of facing Dodson in the first round but he fought well and took the eventual champion to a decision before making quick work of Dustin Pague at the finale. Dillashaw faces Walel Watson in a fight he should win, while Albert gets a tough veteran in Ivan Menjivar. I'd love to see both Dillashaw and Albert get wins so they can face each other and we can see just who was the second best bantamweight from last season. 3. Is Jonathan Brookins the weakest TUF champ ever? Brookins has suffered some injuries since winning season 12 as a lightweight. He's in a much shallower 145 pound division now and he opened his time there with a loss. He badly needs a win to legitamize himself as a worthy TUF champion. 4. Is Diego Sanchez still an elite fighter? I wrote about the possibility that Sanchez and his fellow TUF season 1 castmates could be in for a rough year in 2012. The fact is that he's been fighting in the UFC for a long time and on top of that, he's had notable personal issues outside the cage. He always shows up to fight and I'm sure he'll do that tonight but if he can't hang with Ellenberger and suffers his first legit TKO/KO loss, it'll be time to say goodnight to the Dream. Join us here at Head Kick Legend to find out the answers to those questions and to discuss the event as it happens.

Posted in: ufc, vs, tuf, he, albert

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Now that the UFC has taken care of the main event for their May 15th Fuel card and by booking Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung, they're getting around to booking the rest of the card. They recently announced the addition of three bouts on their website: Verbal agreements are in for a trio of bouts at the UFC event May 15 in Fairfax that feature TUF fan favorites coming in off the injured list. TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah will meet 11-2 Wanderlei Silva protege Jorge Lopez in a welterweight war. The matchup was originally slated to take place last weekend at UFC 143, but both fighters were injured during their training camps. Lightweight Aaron Riley will throw down in his hometown against TUF 12 submission specialist Cody McKenzie. Fans in Fairfax will also witness a middleweight matchup between 10-2 Dongi ‘The Ox’ Yang and 7-1 Brad Tavares. All six of the fighters are coming off losses in their last bouts. Riley is also coming off a broken jaw that was suffered in his bout with Anthony Ferguson at UFC 135. All three are expected to take place on the preliminary card, though the Sadollah fight could be placed on the main card, depending on what else gets booked. Here's how the card looks right now: Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung JungIgor Pokrajac vs. Thiago SilvaDonald Cerrone vs. Yves EdwardsTom Lawlor vs. Jason MacDonaldJorge Lopez vs. Amir SadollahCody McKenzie vs. Aaron RileyBrad Tavares vs. Dongi Yang SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel 3: Diamond vs. Zombie

Posted in: ufc, bout, vs, tuf, card

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Photo by Deb Blyth Name: Rafael de Freitas Nickname: Barata Age: < 30 Height: 5'6" Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) The Ultimate Fighting Championship's selection process for their flagship televsion series The Ultmate Fighter has long been a point of contention among mixed martial arts fans. It seems that for each TUF winner who goes on to big success in the UFC, there is an under-the-radar prospect who was incredulously left off the roster. The latest edition of TUF featured two outstanding tournament victors in Diego Brandao and John Dodson, but inquiring minds want to know why Albequerque-based, Brazilian-born black belt Rafael de Freitas (5-0) was omitted from the bantamweight field. De Freitas is a highly credentialed grappler with multiple podium finishes at traditional and No-gi World BJJ Championships plus a 2011 Pan-American title under his belt. He actually started his martial arts training with Capoeira lessons as young boy in Brasilia, eventually adding more striking arts like Karate, Boxing and Muay Thai to his repertoire. Rafael finally discovered Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 14 and it quickly became his focus. His speed and creativity came in handy as he progressed up the ranks; as a purple belt, he improvised a unique shoulder lock attack that was dubbed The Barataplata. The move has truly become his signature as he has proven capable of finishing high-level grappling matches and professional MMA fights alike with the unusual inverted omoplata variation. Far from a gimmicky submission catcher, De Freitas possesses the smooth, explosive all-around technique one would expect from a decorated Carlos Gracie Jr. Black Belt. In 2007, Rafael relocated from Brasilia to Albequerque, New Mexico, to teach Jiu-Jitsu at the local Gracie Barra affiliate. Since then he has fought exclusively on the New Mexico circuit, notching four wins in as many tries with three fights ending by submission. He submitted an audition tape for the fourteenth edition of TUF but failed to make an impression. With his advanced, well-rounded skillset, De Freitas is running out of quality opponents in Albequerque, so he will likely need to go on the road to find a big fight opportunity. If the UFC doesn't have room for Rafael among their flyweight ranks just yet, he may have to take a detour through Leemore, California's Tachi Palace Fights and their impressive 125lb. division first. Since the birth of the UFC's flyweight division creates a question of who we should consider as prospects, we've tweaked the criteria specifically for this weight class. Most notably, we drew a line, excluding the following well-known, established flyweights: Jussier ‘Formiga' da Silva, Ulysses Gomez, Ian McCall, Yasuhiro Urushitani, BJ Kojima, Rambaa Somdet, Mamoru Yamaguchi, Dustin Ortiz, Darrell Montague, Danny Martinez, and any flyweights outside of our original criteria. Footage of Rafael de Freitas after the fold... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 - Rafael de Freitas#5 - Alexandre Pantoja#6 - Hector Sandoval#7 - Jesse Riggleman#8 - Sean Santella#9 - Claudir Dutkevis#10 - Kevin Belingon #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - Magomed Malikov#2 - Magomed Abdurahimov#3 - Alexei Kudin#4 - Levan Razmadze#5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Rafael de Freitas vs. Eric Buck Rafael de Freitas vs. Joseph Salazar Rafael "BARATA" Freitas TUF 14

Posted in: belt, tuf, flyweight, rafael, freita

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

"We're outta booze?!" One of Bloody Elbow's intrepid journalists was in the "media scrum" with Dana White after the UFC 143 post-fight presser, and amongst the various topics (such as calling Ken Pavia "the biggest piece of shit on Earth") was this little tale: White told a story about how Bonnar was almost kicked off the first season of TUF after getting antsy during the longest filming schedule in show history: "Bonnar turned the shower on, climbed out the window and went to find a liquor store. Remember we took all the liquor out after that big fight? These idiots... we had been driving these guys around for six or seven weeks and the house is in the middle of nowhere. There was no liquor store near there. The guy was walking around for an hour and thirty minutes. So much crazy (expletive) happened that first season. Imagine if I had kicked off him off the show for going to a liquor store? Forrest (Griffin) and Stephan would have never happened." Fans with a good memory of all the seasons of TUF might say this is yet another example of Dana's disciplinary inconsistency, since Bonnar got away with climbing out the window to go hunt for booze, but Jeremy Jackson was kicked off TUF 4 for climbing over the fence to go hunt for poon.  Except Bonnar went on to save the UFC via the sheer magic of slobberknockery, while Jackson went on to take his poon-hunting to new and very inappropriate lows.  So in retrospect, yeah, that was probably for the best.

Posted in: tuf, liquor store, bonnar, liquor, jeremy jackson

Read the full article at Fightlinker

During his UFC 143 post-event "scrum" with various media members, UFC President Dana White gave some information about The Ultimate Fighter's debut in Brazil, the next country in which he expects TUF to debut and a decision he almost made that would have changed the course of UFC history forever. On TUF Brazil White is in Brazil this week to start filming the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil with Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as coaches. Filming began in Rio Monday with two days in Sao Paulo to follow. The shows will be aired on UFC.com and another outlet, so fans will get the opportunity to see them. They will be shot in the "old format" of filming an entire season and then re-airing them like Spike did throughout their 14 seasons of TUF. On Future International TUFs White said that several international TUFs are in the works and he expects India to be the next up. He still has a dream of doing a TUF World Cup and said between 4-to-6 winners would be needed to pull it off. The Near Exile Of Stephan Bonnar White told a story about how Bonnar was almost kicked off the first season of TUF after getting antsy during the longest filming schedule in show history: "Bonnar turned the shower on, climbed out the window and went to find a liquor store. Remember we took all the liquor out after that big fight? These idiots...we had been driving these guys around for six or seven weeks and the house is in the middle of nowhere. There was no liquor store near there. The guy was walking around for an hour and thirty minutes. So much crazy (expletive) happened that first season. Imagine if I had kicked off him off the show for going to a liquor store? Forrest (Griffin) and Stephan would have never happened."

Posted in: season, tuf, brazil, stephan bonnar, liquor store

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

submitted by RoosterBrains [link] [comment]

Posted in: tuf, roosterbrain, leak, footage, roosterbrains link

Read the full article at Reddit

In his never-ending question to provide as much access as possible for UFC fans, UFC President Dana White brought cameras along with him during a recent stop at the TUF Training Center in Las Vegas where production staff was preparing for the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter on FX. TUF 15 will feature teams of lightweights/welterweights vying for a six-figure contract and the right to be named as an Ultimate Fighter champion. One squad will be coached by UFC bantamweight title-holder Dominick Cruz with the other headed by popular top contender Urijah Faber. The season starts in early March and will be handled in a “real time” format with live fights every Friday night. Faber-Cruz named as Coaches for Re-Vamped Ultimate Fighter “Everybody thinks that on the f*ckin set of the Ultimate Fighter the doors are all phony so guys can break em,” White explains to an amused Faber. “No. Those are real doors you buy at the store but that God they’re f*ckin cheap or we’d have guys with broken f*ckin hands and everything!” In the video Faber and Cruz also offer up his picks for tonight’s UFC on FX event. Other things featured include a look at White dealing with Mark Munoz withdrawing from UFC on FOX 2, editing the Primetime special between UFC 143 opponents Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit, and capturing this evening’s headliners (Melvin Guillard-Jim Miller) joking around about Miller’s moustache. Check it out below: Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, fckin, production staff

Read the full article at Fighters.com

While much of the UFC’s focus may be on this weekend’s lineup at UFC 142, the organization is also looking ahead a few months to TUF Brasil where coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort will each lead a team composed of featherweights/middleweights hoping to become Brazil’s first Ultimate Fighter champion. At the end of the season Silva-Belfort will face off as well. However, according to the UFC, it appears their fight in addition to the two TUF finals will take place on PPV as part of a massive June card possibly headed to Sao Paolo. The show would also host Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II assuming things fall into line and Sonnen defeats Mark Munoz later this month at UFC on FOX 2. Word of the company’s plan surfaced earlier today at a pre-fight press conference pertaining to UFC 142 where MMAJunkie confirmed the full scoop. “It’s going to be a world event that will rival F1 (racing) in this country,” explained UFC director of international development Marshall Zelaznik of the proposed show. TUF Brasil is set to air in a few months with Fuel TV carrying a subtitled version for American audiences. It is the UFC’s first international version of the hit reality show. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, tuf, brasil, sao paolo, world event

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Fuel TV is fast becoming “UFC TV” as the sports network continues to fill up with programming related to the UFC and MMA in general. Already highlighted by UFC Tonight, live events, Best of PRIDE, and more, word has now surfaced indicating the channel will also host TUF Brasil as well when the show airs later this year. UFC President Dana White revealed the information while serving as a guest on ESPN Radio. Little other information was provided in terms of specific times/dates but regardless it means hardcore MMA fans will be tuning in weekly at some point in hopes of getting a glimpse at the next great Brazilian talent. TUF Brasil will feature teams of featherweights and middleweights competing in respective tournaments with the hope of winning a UFC contract and the honor of being the first TUF Brasil champion. Legendary middleweights Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort will serve as coaches and eventually face off after the season concludes. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, tuf, tv, brasil, tuf brasil

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Lightweights Mac Danzig and Efrain Escudero are both among the select group of individuals who know what it feels like to hoist an Ultimate Fighter trophy up above his head. They’re also both familiar with the uneasy feeling of being in a “must win” position despite any past success, each having lost his last outing and in general struggling to win consistently in the Octagon. Now, according to the UFC, the two 155ers will face off in Montreal on March 24 with the loser almost certainly on the chopping block as part of a UFC 145 lineup lacking a headliner thus far but full of intriguing undercard bouts. Escudero made his return to the infamous eight-sided cage last weekend at UFC 141 where he was outpointed by Jacob Volkmann. Prior to the bout he had done a six-fight stint in smaller organizations after originally being released in late 2010 due to performance/attitude issues. The 25-year old holds an overall record of 18-4 with twelve submissions to his credit as well as notable wins against Dan Lauzon and Cole Miller. A Closer Look at Escudero’s Loss to Volkmann Though Danzig has been part of the UFC roster since taking home the TUF 6 title in 2007 he’s only come away with his hand raised three times since while dropping four (technically five counting the referee’s errant decision to stop action in a fight against Matt Wiman). This will be the second time the 20-9-1 Danzig has fought a fellow TUF champ, knocking out Joe Stevenson in a scrap at UFC 124. In addition to Danzig-Escudero UFC 145 is also slated to feature Wiman vs. Mark Bocek, Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills, and Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, vs, tuf, danzig, escudero

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Looks like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may have picked up a handful of Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veterans for its upcoming UFC on FX 2 event on March 3, 2012, scheduled for the AllPhones Arena in Sydney, Australia. First up, TUF 11 contestant Kyle Noke (19-5-1) says he'll be locking horns with Jared Hamman (13-4) in a middleweight affair. "KO" is coming off a submission loss to Ed Herman back at UFC on Versus 5 while "The Messenger" was pasted by Constantinos Philippou at UFC 140 just last month. In featherweight action, TUF 5 standout Cole Miller (18-5) will be looking for revenge on Steven Siler (19-9), who bounced his brother Micah out of the TUF house in season 14, according to a report from The MMA Corner. "Magrinho" drops to 145-pounds after strangling T.J. O'Brien en route to a second round submission win last August while "Super" also brought home the "W" with a unanimous decision nod over Josh Clopton back on Dec. 3. Here's how the UFC on FX 2 fight card is taking shape: Main event: 170 lbs.: Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann Main card (FX): 125 lbs.: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani185 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou Preliminary card (FUEL): 145 lbs.: Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler205 lbs.: James Te Huna vs. Aaron Rosa185 lbs.: Jared Hamman vs. Kyle Noke170 lbs.: Jake Hecht vs. T.J. Waldburger265 lbs.: Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan UFC on FX 2 will feature a welterweight headliner between Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves as well as the opening round of the promotion's inaugural four-man flyweight tournament, featuring Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani. For all the latest and greatest news and notes on UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" click here.

Posted in: ufc, fx, vs, tuf, lb

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter started in 2005 on Spike TV. In 2012, the show will move to a live format on FX. That’s not the only change made to the program that put the UFC on the map as TUF will go international for the first time in the show’s history with TUF Brasil debuting in March on Globo. Serving as coaches on the show will be Brazilian and MMA legends Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, both of whom look to mentor the next crop of UFC talent before squaring off in June in a long awaited rematch. The first time the two met back in 1998, Belfort blitzed Silva with a flurry of punches and finished him in just 44 seconds. UFC cameras were with “The Axe Murderer” when the announcement of the show was made to capture his reaction, with Silva confessing his goal was not only to highlight the hungry talent in Brazil but also to inspire those in difficult situations, revealing, “We’ll also be showing out of the 300 fighters in the UFC…I don’t know how many came from a rich family. It’s not my case and it’s not the case of any of my friends, who like me came from humble beginnings. We prove that through hard work and dedication you can achieve things you would never imagine.” Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, show, silva, tuf, ufc …i

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

When the UFC recently revealed the coaches for the organization’s upcoming Ultimate Fighter season based in Brazil there were few better choices to represent the brand, country, and sport in general than Wanderlei Silva. A ferocious competitor inside the cage who possesses a heart of gold outside of it, “The Axe Murderer” is one of MMA’s true icons and a hero in his South American home. Silva provided a revealing look at the moments leading up to, during, and after the UFC’s historic announcement regarding TUF Brasil, by allowing cameras to follow them while capturing his thoughts on the entire process. Jose Aldo Hopes to Coach Future Season of TUF Brasil “I want to really show how we prepare for a fight,” said the hard-hitting Silva. “Good luck to all the fighters trying out. And to the chosen ones, grab this opportunity, because this is a unique opportunity.” The 35-year old also showed gratitude to his employers for the “unique opportunity” he’d been given to head one of the two teams, the other being coached by Vitor Belfort. “Thanks to the UFC for bringing TUF here to Brazil. This beautiful country. A great country with talented fighters. We have everything for it to be a success. I feel very honored being chosen to coach on the show. I hope to be able to do a great job.” As kind and humble a spirit as there is in Mixed Martial Arts. Silva also hopes to achieve a goal much more meaningful than having his team win more fights or even handing out a TUF trophy. “We’ll also be showing out of the 300 fighters in the UFC…I don’t know how many came from a rich family. It’s not my case and it’s not the case of any of my friends, who like me came from humble beginnings,” Silva revealed. “We prove that through hard work and dedication you can achieve things you would never imagine.” Check out the full video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fighter, silva, tuf, opportunity ”

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Posted in: silva, wanderlei, tuf, talk, brazil

Read the full article at MMA Convert

What is it that has everyone so excited for TUF Brasil? That's simple... experience and attitude.

Posted in: tuf, experience, attitude, tuf brasil, experience attitude

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Montreal's Ivan Menjivar will look to make it three wins in a row as he is scheduled to fight TUF 14 cast member John Albert on Feb. 15.

Posted in: tuf, feb, vet, member, menjivar

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Spike TV announced that it would air episodes from the past 14 episodes of The Ultimate Fighter on Fridays. The programming move runs opposite FX’s “The Ultimate Fighter” and Bellator on MTV2. Via Spike TV press release: Spike TV, the recognized home of mixed martial arts on television, has announced a new three-hour programming block debuting on Friday, March 2 (9:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT) featuring the greatest episodes from the 14 seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter.” From Rashad Evans to Matt Serra, from Forrest Griffin to Kimbo Slice, “The Ultimate Fighter Fridays” on Spike TV will showcase all the incredible knockouts, unbelievable submissions, and tense drama from the seven years of the hit Spike series. The network will air special-themed editions of “The Ultimate Fighter Fridays” with input from fans via Facebook and Twitter. Details will be announced in the upcoming weeks. I originally thought that Bellator moving to Friday night was a smart move because it could own Friday night. I was wrong as TUF will be on FX on Friday night and now Spike TV will air reruns of past TUFs. An interesting question posed by some is whether airing TUF on Friday would impact Bellator ratings. John Morgan of MMA Junkie tweeted that a Spike TV executive stated the network chose Friday night because, “Spike has to monetize the library the UFC prefers we keep and run.” An obvious jab at the UFC. Payout Perspective: Spike TV’s programming decision will definitely impact both Bellator and TUF. Although reruns, many people will want to see the early seasons which include Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin and Randy Couture.The move appears to be a direct counter to TUF on FX rather than Bellator on MTV2 in the continued bad breakup between the two.This spring will be full of MMA Fridays and it will be interesting to see who will win the ratings war.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, tv, spike, friday

Read the full article at MMA Payout

If the escalating battle between Spike TV and the UFC wasn’t already of the “No Holds Barred” variety it may be soon, as the longtime home of the world’s foremost MMA promotion has announced it will run a new show called Ultimate Fighter Fridays where highlights from the past fourteen seasons of TUF will run head-to-head against the reality show’s spring debut on FX. According to Spike TV each three-hour block (9:00 PM EST – 12:00 AM EST/PST) will feature the most memorable episodes/fights in Ultimate Fighter history. Fans will also be able to add their input via social media sites Twitter/Facebook. Ultimate Fighter Fridays is the latest move in a series by Spike TV to counterprogram against the UFC after Dana White and company packed up shop to head over to FOX’s greener pastures. Similarly to what was done with UFC on FOX 1 and Cain Velasquez/Junior dos Santos, the cable channel already has plans to broadcast a marathon of UFC Unleashed episodes featuring work from many of the fighters booked to compete in January at UFC on FOX 2. TUF 15 is set to air in early March with bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz heading one team and popular rival Urijah Faber the other. Each weekly offering will feature a new “real time” format where video will involve footage from the previous seven days and two contestants will fight live on FX to conclude each episode.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, spike tv, tv, fighter fridays

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 to its new home on the FX channel beginning March 9, 2012. Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will coach opposite his arch rival and number one contender to the 135-pound title, Urijah Faber, in the two-hour season premiere with subsequent episodes airing every Friday night for the following 13 weeks. The new format, promised to overhaul what many fans felt had gone stale after 14 seasons on Spike TV, will also feature LIVE fights on a weekly basis. In other words, shit just got real. As expected, Spike will take full advantage of its licensing rights to the UFC tape library and air weekly "Best of" compilations from TUF seasons past -- directly opposite TUF 15 in an attempt to lure away the casual fan who might not know any better. Here's what to expect. Spike TV, the recognized home of mixed martial arts on television, has announced a new three-hour programming block debuting on Friday, March 2 (9:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT) featuring the greatest episodes from the 14 seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter." From Rashad Evans to Matt Serra, from Forrest Griffin to Kimbo Slice, "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays" on Spike TV will showcase all the incredible knockouts, unbelievable submissions, and tense drama from the seven years of the hit Spike series. The network will air special-themed editions of "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays" with input from fans via Facebook and Twitter. Details will be announced in the upcoming weeks. The UFC is headed for greener pastures on the FOX network (including FX and FUEL TV) after Spike balked at Zuffa's increased licensing fees during contract negotiations earlier this year. With the end of the Spike TV "Prelims" specials and various other MMA-related programming, the network had a pretty sizable gap to fill in its efforts to retain the 18-34 demographic that tuned in for televised fisticuffs. Enter Bellator. While Bjorn Rebney and Co. won't be able to make their Spike TV debut until 2013, the network will try and keep fight fans satiated with a constant stream of UFC fights, which they still have at their disposal. Anyone think this will put a dent in the ratings for the debut of TUF 15?

Posted in: tuf, spike tv, tv, spike, friday

Read the full article at MMA Mania

We caught up with UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort to discuss his upcoming bout with Anthony Johnson, coaching TUF Brazil and more. Check out the exclusive video inside.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, vitor, belfort, brazil

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

UFC president Dana White deemed his recent trip to Brazil to launch UFC Rio 2 and TUF: Brasil a success. See what he had to say about MMA in Brasil.

Posted in: ufc, dana, tuf, brasil, tuf brasil

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

MMA Weekly reports that Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva have been picked as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. It will be the first international version of the series. Via MMA Weekly: The format for the show will run similar to the early seasons of TUF in the United States, with the fighters living and training in the house for six weeks before squaring off in a finale. TUF: Brazil will debut March 25th in Brazil with the finale in June. Although it is not known where it will be shown in the United States Fuel TV will be the likely landing spot. Payout Perspective: This will be an intriguing TUF considering the past between Belfort and Silva and the unknown of how different TUF Brazil may be. When the UFC first indicated it would take TUF international, Dana White stated that the Philippines would be the first stop. Certainly, the switch to Brazil makes sense considering the great success it had this summer with the UFC’s return as well as the buzz for UFC 142 in January. Which TUF are you more interested in seeing: Faber-Cruz or Belfort-Silva?

Posted in: ufc, wanderlei silva, tuf, brazil, fighter brazil

Read the full article at MMA Payout

When former 135-pound contender Demetrious Johnson was recently named as one of four men fighting for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight championship it left Eddie Wineland, whom he was scheduled to face at UFC on FOX 2, without an opponent. However, that problem has since been fixed with TUF 14 competitor Johnny Bedford stepping in to fill the vacancy left by Johnson’s departure from the bout. Bedford has won seven of his last eight fights including two in a row, one of course being his UFC debut earlier this month at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale where he stopped Louis Gaudinot with strikes a little less than midway through the third round of their rumble. He holds an overall record of 18-9-1 with fourteen finishes. Bedford Impresses at TUF 14 Finale A former WEC title-holder, the 18-8-1 Wineland has struggled since transitioning over to the UFC with a pair of losses against Urijah Faber and most recently Joseph Benavidez. Prior to the slide he had won four straight, as well as notched victories against a number of respected adversaries such as Antonio Banuelos and George Roop. UFC on FOX 2 is scheduled for January 28 and features a tripleheader at the top of the card with the bouts involving Demian Maia vs. Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz, and Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis. Bedford-Wineland is expected to be part of the evening’s preliminary card being shown on FX in the hours preceding the FOX broadcast. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fox, vs, tuf, bedford

Read the full article at Fighters.com

After speculation on names, not nationalities, UFC President Dana White announced the coaches for the UFC’s upcoming season of TUF in Brazil during a press conference related to UFC 142, naming fan-favorites Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva to the position. Also revealed was the UFC’s plan to have Belfort and Silva, who met at UFC 17.5 several years ago, square off this summer at the conclusion of the reality show. Belfort earned a 44-second knockout victory of Silva in their first meeting and the two have been looking to get back inside the Octagon against each other ever since. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I knew one day we would face each other again, and the time is here,” said Silva of his upcoming scrap. “This is one of the biggest rematches of all MMA and I’m very happy to give this to all of my fans.” TUF: Brasil will follow the same path as the American seasons of The Ultimate Fighter with fighters living/training together. The UFC is also looking at making the show available in the U.S., possibly on FUEL TV, while it will air on broadcasting giant Globo TV in Brazil. The season is set to premiere on March 25. Before facing “The Axe Murderer”, Belfort (20-9) will first meet Anthony Johnson in January at UFC 142 before taking on his coaching duties. Comparably, Silva (34-11-1) last competed in November, defeating Cung Le, and has nothing else scheduled before TUF starts up. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, season, silva, tuf, belfort

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

A rematch nearly fifteen years in the making will take center stage this spring when UFC middleweights Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort each take the reins of an Ultimate Fighter team as part of the recently announced TUF: Brasil, then face off against each other in June to settle the score stemming from their first in-ring encounter. The two immensely popular Brazilians fought in October 1998 at UFC 17.5 with “The Phenom” needing less than a minute to stop Silva with strikes. TUF: Brasil is set to start airing on March 25 and will feature featherweights/middleweights vying for a six-figure contract with the UFC and the right be called an Ultimate Fighter winner. UFC Aiming at Major Expansion in Brazil Come 2012 Belfort, who will still fight Anthony Johnson at UFC 142 as expected, explained he is still focused on picking up a win in January but is pumped to have been paired with Silva for the show. “It’s a great honor to fight Wanderlei again. I see it as a new fight and not as a rematch,” said the 34-year old striker. His excitement about the bout was shared by his opponent with Silva adding, “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I knew one day we would face each other again, and the time is here. This is one of the biggest rematches of all MMA and I’m very happy to give this to all of my fans.” Silva has picked up wins in two of his last three fights, beating Michael Bisping and most recently Cung Le, while Belfort has gone 1-0 since falling to 185-pound title-holder Anderson Silva, picking up a brutal knockout over Yoshihiro Akiyama in August at UFC 133. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, silva, tuf, belfort, tuf brasil

Read the full article at Fighters.com

All is right in the world when we can enjoy a weekly reality show that consists of watching Wanderlei Silva coaching other fighters to be baby Wanderlei Silvas. I spent fifteen minutes in Los Angeles traffic thinking about that opening line, so if it isn't on par with what you would expect, blame the infrastructure of Southern California. This morning Dana White made a few announcements regarding the future of the UFC, and one of those was the news of the first 'The Ultimate Fighter' to ever take place outside of the US. Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva were also announced as coaches of the reality series and both will fight in a rematch of their October 1998 bout when Belfort scrubbed Silva's consciousness is less than a minute. Don't worry, Vitor Belfort will still face Anthony Johnson on January 14th in Rio de Janeiro, and Belfort's appearance on TUF Brazil is not dependent on the outcome of his fight with Rumble. TUF Brazil will air in the US, most likely on Fuel TV. Expect the show to follow the format of the old TUF shows in which segments are filmed, edited and broadcast on a later date. Fortunately for America's next TUF, we will be presented with that wild 'live fight' format that Dana White announced a few moths ago. [Source]

Posted in: wanderlei, tuf, belfort, vitor belfort, tuf brazil

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Filed under: UFC, NewsEarly Tuesday at a press conference in Rio, UFC president Dana White announced Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches on the first-ever international edition of The Ultimate Fighter, which will take place in Brazil. In the past, White said that international editions of TUF would likely air on FUEL as part of their new wide-ranging deal with FOX-owned networks, but on a Tuesday afternoon teleconference, FUEL executive vice president and general manager George Greenberg said that as of right now, the two sides are still in negotiations to bring the new editions of TUF to air in the U.S. "Right now, any international edition of The Ultimate Fighter is something we are in discussions with the UFC," he said. "We have no firm deal for TUF Australia or TUF Brazil, or any other TUF show right now. "We'd love to do this," he added. "I don't think it's going to be an obstacle to get through negotiations." Greenberg said that he believed the channel, which is already planning 2,000 hours of UFC programming in 2012, still has room to add the international editions of TUF. Asked to describe the negotiations for the TV properties, he said that the relationship has made for easy communications between the two sides thus far, and that they speak four to five times a day. "For us, negotiations are sort of easy," he said. "Specifically we're in talks, but I can't tell you what stage. Everything we do with the UFC always will turn out with a healthy ending for both parties. If it's good for the sport, it will be good for the UFC, and it will be great for the FOX Sports media group. I can promise you that." FUEL will kick off its commitment to its new partner with 24 hours of UFC programming on Jan. 1. On Jan. 3, its weekly news show UFC Tonight premieres at 10 pm, hosted by former WEC announcer Todd Harris and featuring our own Ariel Helwani. Other UFC on FUEL programming notes: - Live weigh-in shows begin airing on FUEL on Jan. 13, with UFC 142. - Live event post-fight coverage will feature one-hour shows hosted by Jay Glazer, beginning on Jan. 14 with UFC 142 - FUEL begins televising UFC preliminary fights on Jan. 20, with the undercard of an FX event. - FUEL will have the right to air the U.S. editions of The Ultimate Fighter 24 hours after original episodes air on FX. - There will be quarterly "Champion's Roundtable" specials, with past and current titleholders discussing a wide range of MMA topics FUEL is currently available in about 38 million households, but Greenberg said the channel's goal is to house so much UFC programming that fans will demand and receive it from their cable and satellite providers. "I can guarantee you we're going to become the most wanted channel in the television landscape," he said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, tuf, edition, ufc programming, fuel

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The Ultimate Figher (TUF) 14 Finale, which took place at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 3, 2011, tallied a live gate of $452,700, according to official figures from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) released earlier today. The final paid attendance of 1,909 was the result of 1,348 tickets sold and 561 complimentary tickets, while 233 seats remained empty. TUF 14 Finale featured a main event between opposing coaches, Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who appeared on the most recent (and last) season of the mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series on Spike TV. "The Count" mauled a listless "Mayhem" for two rounds until the referee mercifully called of Bisping and awarded him a lopsided technical knockout victory. That's not all. Diego Brandao defeated Dennis Bermudez via first round submission (armbar) in a crazy classic to become TUF 14 featherweight winner, while John Dodson blasted T.J. Dillashaw, also in the opening frame, to emerge as TUF 14 bantamweight champion. To check out comprehensive TUF 4 Finale: "Bisping vs. Miller" results, commentary and updates click here and here.

Posted in: miller, tuf, bisping, ticket, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The final attendance numbers are in for the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale show: 1909 passed through the turnstiles for a $452,700 live gate and average paid ticket price of just over $335. Nevada State Athletic Commission head Keith Kizer emailed the numbers to Bloody Elbow today, also noting that 561 of the 1909 distributed tickets were comps with 233 unsold.The Saturday, December 3rd event was held at The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, and headlined by Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller with John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw and Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez in the bantamweight and featherweight finals, respectively. By comparison, the June TUF 13 event at the Palms headlined by Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis brought in 2053 and a live gate of $440,150. The event also did extremely well on TV, drawing an average of 2.5 million viewers, peaking at 3.4 million for Bisping vs. Miller. It is the UFC's final season of TUF on Spike as the show moves over to FX in March.

Posted in: ufc, gate, vs, event, tuf

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

There were 18 fighters drug tested at the TUF 14 Finale. The NSAC released the results on Monday.

Posted in: result, fighter, tuf, drug, finale

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale officially drew 1,909 attendees for a $452,700 live gate. Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer today emailed the figures to MMAjunkie.com. The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale took place Dec. 3 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Michael Bisping scored a third-round TKO victory over fellow "TUF 14" coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller in the evening's Spike TV-broadcast main event.

Posted in: gate, fighter, tuf, spike, finale

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale drug test results are in from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), who today confirmed that 18 fighters tested for illegal/banned substances after competing at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale: "Bisping vs. Miller" on Dec. 3 have all passed with flying colors. Main event participants Michael Bisping, Jason Miller, Diego Brandao, Dennis Bermudez, T.J. Dillashaw, John Dodson, Johnny Bedford, Tony Ferguson, Marcus Brimage, Stephen Bass, Dustin Pague, John Albert, Roland Delorme, Josh Ferguson, Steven Siler, Josh Clopton, Bryan Caraway and Dustin Neace were all screened for performance enhancers such as steroids and drugs of abuse like cocaine and marijuana, among others. Results from these battery of tests all returned negative. The fighters mentioned above were randomly selected. However, athletic commissions typically test the main event participants and fight night winners, as well as those who have failed drug tests in the past. "Bisping vs. Miller" featured former TUF season three winner Michael Bisping becoming a force in the middleweight division by pounding fellow TUF 14 coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller for nearly 15 minutes before it was halted. But that's not all. Diego Brandao and John Dodson became winners of The Ultimate Fighter season 14 by defeating Dennis Bermudez and T.J. Dillashaw by first round stoppage respectively. Also, TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson continued his stellar 2011 by squeaking by veteran lightweight Yves Edwards with a close decision. But don't take my word for it. Complete Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale: "Bisping vs. Miller" results, commentary and updates are all right here.

Posted in: fighter, miller, tuf, bisping, test

Read the full article at MMA Mania

All 18 fighters who underwent drug testing at this month's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale event tested clean for performance-enhancing drugs and recreational/drugs of abuse. Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer today e-mailed the drug-testing results to MMAjunkie.com. The TUF 14 Finale took place Dec. 3 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Bantamweight John Dodson and featherweight Diego Brandao were crowned the "TUF 14" champs.

Posted in: tuf, drug, drug testing, finale, drugtesting results

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

submitted by 2WAR [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, breakdown, tuf, war, mirnogueira

Read the full article at Reddit

Dana White reveals his plans on initiating a TUF World Cup, truly taking the UFC brand global.

Posted in: world, tuf, plan, cup, ufc brand

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The UFC announced on Tuesday that Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz would serve as coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 15 debuting on Friday, March 9, 2012 on the FX channel. TUF 15′s finale will culminate with the coaches squaring off for Cruz’s Bantamweight title sometime mid-2012. Via UFC Press release: “We’re producing ground-breaking television with The Ultimate Fighter LIVE and we can’t wait to kick this season off with FX in March,” UFC President Dana White said. “It’s going to be can’t-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other and I expect this to make for the best season yet.” “We believe that Dana and Lorenzo (Fertitta), along with Executive Producer Craig Piligian, have come up with exciting new changes to the format of The Ultimate Fighter that will expand and grow the series,” said Chuck Saftler, Executive Vice President, FX Networks. “The fact that the fights at the end of each episode will now be televised live is certain to create a sense of urgency for UFC fans.  Furthermore, the move of TUF to Friday nights will provide a great ratings boost to the network.” It appears that Faber and Cruz will be coaching welterweights and lightweights for TUF 15. Payout Perspective: This coach pairing was rumored earlier this year and we’ll finally be able to see it. TUF 15 should be aided by TUF 14′s featuring of bantamweight and featherweights plus Faber and Cruz have fought since coming into the UFC from the WEC so fans should be familiar with them and their rivalry. Faber has the marketability to carry a show and the rivalry with Cruz should foster the bad blood. The personality of the coaches seems to help with attracting viewers. TUF 14′s Bisping and Miller helped keep this past season entertaining. We should see more of the same this spring. It will be interesting to see what impact TUF’s move to Friday nights will have on its ratings. As noted earlier this week, Bellator will be moving to Fridays as well.

Posted in: ufc, coach, tuf, cruz, friday nights

Read the full article at MMA Payout

(We'll see if Master Tong is less pissed about the inevitable decision this time around) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have been bandied around as possibilities for the TUF coaching gig since the WEC was folded into the UFC, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that their time has finally come. They'll now be the first coaches under the new live FX format for the show. It all sets things up for Urijah Faber's fourth title shot in three years, so lets hope he jumps this Cruz hurdle so we don't have to sit through tries number 5, 6, and 7.Putting the fate of New TUF into the hands of bantamweight fighters is a bit of a ballsy move, even when you take into account North America's unwavering perma-boner for Urijah Faber. Thus far the lighter weight guys have been having some trouble moving the mainstream interest needle, and it's important for the sanity of us paranoid UFC fans that the ratings do well or it means the MMA sky is falling! But who knows, it could be great. Dancing with the Stars is hot right now, so maybe people will love Dominick Cruz. And Urijah could turn the dueling coaches format on it's head and instead blast us in the face with some chill California loving. "Hey, let's hang ten instead of arguing, bro. Wanna share an organic salad and work our feelings out?"Meanwhile, SB Nation talks to Spike about a coaching choice that sounded awesome when it was made but led to the worst TUF ratings in the history of the show: Jack Encarnacao spoke with Spike TV President Kevin Kay and asked him about the poor ratings of the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter -- the lowest rated in the six year run -- and Kay named one of the big causes: former UFC and WWE heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar. "Look, the Brock Lesnar season just wasn't that good. Let's be honest. It wasn't the Brock that the audience expected. The audience wanted Brock the bad guy, and Brock was more of a good guy, and I don't think it was that great a season," Kay said. In theory it was a great choice but it ended up being a guy who no speaka des englis across from someone who said nothing but CHICKEN SHIT CHICKEN SALAD CHICKEN SHIT CHICKEN SALAD for several weeks. Stop pretending you're a civilized human being, Brock. Throw some dudes across the TUF training center, tear all the doors off their hinges, and beat your chest like the silverback gorilla we all came to see!

Posted in: tuf, dominick cruz, urijah faber, brock, urijah

Read the full article at Fightlinker

MMA Junkie reports that TUF 14 Finale on Spike TV scored an average of 2.4 million viewers with a peak of 3.4 million during the TUF main event. It was the highest rated TUF Finale since the TUF 10 Finale in 2009. As you may recall, the TUF 10 Finale featured Kimbo Slice versus Houston Alexander. Also, TUF 10 featured Jon Jones’ last loss as he was disqualified in a match with Matt Hamill. In addition, Frankie Edgar fought on the card too. Via MMA Junkie: Overall, the event, which took at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, scored a 1.7 household rating, and it was highest-rated finale since the TUF 10 Finale in 2009. It also was the day’s No. 1 rated program on ad-supported cable among men 18-49 (2.4 rating) and men 18-34 (2.9 rating). MMA Junkie notes that the ratings are especially strong considering Spike TV and the UFC did not promote the show. Payout Perspective: Another good sign for the TUF franchise as this season went out on a high note. One can argue that it was Miller-Bisping that people tuned in for but the viewership could be in part due to the great action the bantamweights/featherweights had on the show. Hoping to capitalize on this, the UFC announced Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz as coaches for TUF 15.

Posted in: tuf, spike tv, rating, finale, mma junkie

Read the full article at MMA Payout

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show "The Ultimate Fighter 13" winner Tony Ferguson, who picked up a notable win over veteran Yves Edwards at this past weekend's TUF 14 Finale event. "TUF 8" champ Efrain Escudero also joins us to discuss his return to the UFC later this month at UFC 141. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Posted in: ufc, radio, tuf, video stream, mmajunkiecom

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse NEW TUF COACHES START TWITTER BEEFING "Pumped and honored 2 b in this position,big thnx 2 all my supporters/fans much love!" -Dominick Cruz "Pumped on TUF coachn job 1 time offer 4 @thedomin8r 2 give up now & b our water boy #chance4victory @PhilMrWonderful r cook" -Urijah Faber "Na @UrijahFaber but after I beat u again u can have a job doin up @PhilMrWonderful cornrows!" -Dominick Cruz "Master Thong is gonna b the Hidden Jewel of TUF15" -Urijah Faber There's also this who beef between Miesha Tate, Marloes Coenen, and Ronda Rousey going on... Or friends at Gals Guide to MMA have documented it well, so check it out here, and here. There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth RANDOM TWIDBITS "Damn. Got tired. Got beat. Thanks for watching. I'll be back stronger next time... I have to say I really appreciate the positive outpouring that came out of this negative event. I will fix my mistakes and build back up." -Jason Miller "Just watched the fight. I felt like I won a close one even after watching it. Ferguson was tough and I had a good time. FYI #judgescantjudge ... Btw no disrespect to Tony's win, I think it was close either way but 30-27 makes me want to move to another planet." -Yves Edwards, on losing that disputed decision on the TUF 14 Finale "Apparently my fight with demetrious Johnson was announced as official so...cats out of the bag, ready to let the dogs out like, who who whoo" -Eddie Wineland "Thx every1 4 the support and believing that I would be the #TUF14 CHAMP" -John Dodson "What do you call someone who sends too many emoticons? Overly emoticontional?" -Ronda Rousey "@titoortiz better follow me f*cker!" -War Machine "@joerogan who you got @jessejane or @Sn00ki ? I'm training Jess and @philbaroni is training Snooks. MMA PPV $69.99!" -War Machine TWICTURES "@forrestgriffin, @ stephanbonnar, @herbdeanmma and @philbaroni here at Boys Town in Las Vegas bringing Xmas cheer! ...@ufc fighters speaking to the kids at Boy Town about commitment, effort and the rewards!!!" -Reed Harris "Pretty cool @ufc made the #ufc142 poster green in honor of @chadmendes Money$ nickname. Must know something we don't!" -Urijah Faber "Arianny, Spider, Chael, Ronda & more backstage at last night's World MMA Awards" -UFC TWIDEOS "Here u go Bones Jones, Dodson looked Tuff, TJ will b back better. Same bet for a rematch #stronglikeAmerica" -Urijah Faber "Smoker fights at my gym Undisputed Purebred this weekend. 9mm M.M.A. Fight Night" -War Machine, I think those kids should be wearing head gear. MOAR TWICTURES! ""@LeahVsRob: Leah and her favorite fighter/new buddy @rondarousey"it was nice meeting you guys-loved the flapper dress!" -Ronda Rousey "Bjj Santa getting grabby at the otm fight shop" -Ronda Rousey "Fancy huh? Mma awards #boom" -Brittney Palmer "Love working #NFR events!! Rodeos and cowboys are always an epic good time! ;)" -Natasha Wicks WATCH NATASHA WICKS ARM WRESTLE WITH RACHELLE LEAH "Some fun footage from Saturdays Tailgating event in Anaheim (in-between takes breaks) ;)" -Natasha Wicks, Rachelle Leah tried to cheat!

Posted in: fight, mma, tuf, faber, ronda

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

This is a surprise. Last Saturday night's (Dec. 3, 2011) Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Finale drew an average of 2.5 million viewers for the live Spike TV broadcast from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to numbers released by the cable network today, the conclusion to the reality series garnered an overall household rating of 1.7 with a 2.4 among men 18-49 and a 2.9 among men 18-34. By comparison, TUF 13 Finale back in June drew an average of 1.8 million viewers and a 1.32 household rating, featuring Anthony Ferguson's crowning and Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis. The numbers come as a shock due to the fact that neither Spike TV nor the UFC did much of anything to promote the show. There wasn't even a pre-fight press conference and when UFC sent out information regarding the show, it simply told fans to "check your local listings." Intense rivalry is intense. But, this time, all parties got what they wanted without even trying. Can't beat that. TUF 14 Finale featured middleweight coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller squaring off to settle the differences they created in the TUF gym inside the cage. And that's what they did, as "The Count" brutalized an exhausted "Mayhem," stopping him via strikes in the third round. It was "most lopsided fight" UFC President Dana White has ever seen. In other action, John Dodson and Diego Brandao were crowned Ultimate Fighters in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, knocking out and submitting T.J. Dillashaw and Dennis Bermudez, respectively. For complete TUF 14 Finale results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, spike tv, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and number one contender Urijah Faber will usher in the new live TUF era on FX. The UFC announced tonight that Cruz and Faber will coach TUF 15 on FX. “We’re producing ground-breaking television with The Ultimate Fighter LIVE and we can’t wait to kick this season off with FX in March,” UFC President Dana White said. “It’s going to be can’t-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other and I expect this to make for the best season yet.” “We believe that Dana and Lorenzo (Fertitta), along with Executive Producer Craig Piligian, have come up with exciting new changes to the format of The Ultimate Fighter that will expand and grow the series,” said Chuck Saftler, Executive Vice President, FX Networks. “The fact that the fights at the end of each episode will now be televised live is certain to create a sense of urgency for UFC fans. Furthermore, the move of TUF to Friday nights will provide a great ratings boost to the network.” Both Cruz and Faber seem excited about the opportunity. “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts,” Cruz, who trains at Alliance MMA in San Diego, said. “This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach TUF and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of The Ultimate Fighter.” “I can’t wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter,” Faber, whose gym in Sacramento has helped produce UFC stars Benavidez, Chad Mendes and Danny Castillo, said. “I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn! Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect. I’m not too thrilled about being in each other’s space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other’s nerves. But I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.” TUF 15 will kick off on Friday, March 9, at 9pm ET/PT on FX with a two-hour season premiere. Subsequent one-hour episodes will air each Friday night at 10pm ET/PT on FX. The season will span 13 weeks and will feature live fights between the lightweight and welterweight participants at the end of each episode. What do you think of the coaching selection? Image via CombatLifestyle.com

Posted in: ufc, fx, tuf, cruz, faber

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 is officially in the books with the "Bisping vs. Miller" event this past Saturday night (Dec. 3, 2011), which means it's time to look forward to TUF 15, two new coaches and a gang full of UFC hopefuls. The UFC today announced that Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz will coach opposite his arch rival and number one contender to the 135-pound title, Urijah Faber. TUF 15 debuts on its new home on FX on March 9, 2012, with a two hour premiere. Subsequent episodes will run for one hour every Friday night for 13 weeks and, thanks to the new format, will feature live fights. Season 15 will feature lightweights and welterweights competing for the six-figure contract. More on this breaking news in just a bit.

Posted in: tuf, hour premiere, friday night, ufc today, ufc hopefuls

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale averaged 2.5 million viewers and peaked with a solid 3.5 million on Spike TV. Spike TV officials today emailed the ratings information to MMAjunkie.com. The Dec. 3 event, which crowned two new "TUF" champs, drew its peak audience for the headliner between "TUF 14" coaches Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller in the 10:30 p.m. slot.

Posted in: tuf, ratings information, peak audience, viewers peaks, tuf champs

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

UFC CENTRAL recaps the TUF 14 Finale and gets you set for UFC 140 in Toronto.

Posted in: ufc, toronto, tuf, edition, finale

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Filed under: UFCNot long after Michael Bisping was pulled off of Jason "Mayhem" Miller, signifying a TKO victory in the TUF 14 Finale main event, UFC president Dana White voiced his displeasure, calling it "the most one-sided fight I might have ever seen in the UFC." Given that Miller won the first round on the scorecards of many observers, that seems a bit harsh. This year alone, there have been plenty of other main events, let alone less significant matches, that were far more one-sided than Miller-Bisping. Less than one month ago, Junior dos Santos beat Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds. In the fall, Jake Ellenberger KO'd Jake Shields in just 53 seconds. In March, Jon Jones beat Mauricio "Shogun" Rua from the opening horn until the third-round finish. Yet Bisping-Miller is the fight he singled out. That can't be seen as a good sign for Miller, who gave the UFC an entertaining season of TUF, but now awaits word of his future. To date, no TUF coach has been cut from the UFC after losing in his first match after the show ended, although there are two asterisks worth noting. After TUF 9, Dan Henderson beat opposing coach Bisping, then left the promotion when the sides couldn't reach a deal to extend his expiring contract. And in his first fight after TUF 11, Chuck Liddell was knocked out by Rich Franklin and later retired. In my opinion, Miller deserves another opportunity. While his offense can be unorthodox, he is still a competitive fighter and brings entertainment value with his presence. The UFC insists they want game fighters who come to put on a show. Even though he lost, Miller did that. He didn't go quietly or surrender. He took a beating and fought on until the referee put common sense ahead of courage. Cutting Miller would send a conflicting message from what fighters have always been told. On to the future matchups... Michael Bisping Another strong performance from the Brit, who remains perpetually underrated and underappreciated despite few holes in his game. After his win, White alluded to the possibility of Bisping being added on to the UFC on FOX event. That would be a fast turnaround, but Bisping always seems to answer the UFC's call. The question is who would be worth his while. Right about now, a Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort fight would make good sense, but Belfort is locked into an evening with Anthony Johnson, and the UFC generally doesn't like to shuffle fighters around after they're already in the midst of preparing for something specific. So what's left? Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen have a date, Anderson Silva is on the shelf, and Brian Stann is coming off a loss. Barring anything unexpected, that leaves one choice. Prediction: He faces Demian Maia Jason Miller It would be a mistake to cut Miller. He's one of the few non-champions able to generate interest from mainstream media due to his TV stint as a host on "Bully Beatdown," and this recent loss aside, he's a credible fighter. For his return, I'd give him a name the fans know, and one who is also teetering on the brink of unemployment. Prediction: He fights CB Dollaway Diego Brandao Brandao received an extraordinary amount of praise for his promise and success throughout season 14, and he also showed poise under pressure in the finale, overcoming a rough start in the early moments of the first round of his featherweight final with Dennis Bermudez before rebounding with a highlight-reel armbar submission. For all the raves that have come his way, Brandao has much to work on. His striking can be too wild, he can be lured into wars, and he doesn't have great takedown defense. At just 24 years old, he has time to work on those shortcomings, and shouldn't be brought along too quickly. Prediction: Brandao faces a promotional newcomer in the spring Dennis Bermudez Bermudez looked excellent for nearly the entire first round until making a mistake on the ground and leaving himself open to the arm bar. Unfortunately, that seems to be a running theme for Bermudez, who has lost each of his last three pro bouts by first-round submission. He'll likely get another shot in the octagon but it's going to be sink or swim for him next time around. Prediction: Bermudez faces either Marcus Brimage or Steve Siler Tony Ferguson The standout fighter on season 13 of TUF, Ferguson moved his record to 3-0 in the octagon with a solid decision win over veteran Yves Edwards. Such a victory shouldn't be discounted. To defeat someone with a reservoir of experience on which to draw on is a feat worthy of our attention, particularly given the way Ferguson accomplished it in a workmanlike fashion. His combination of striking and wrestling ability will make Ferguson a tough out as his confidence grows and he continues on up the ladder. Prediction: Danny Castillo is coming off a strong win of his own. He sounds about right for Ferguson. John Dodson The littlest guy in the house might have been its baddest dude, as he KO'd three of his four opponents in the bantamweight bracket on the way to taking the TUF crown among 135ers. Dodson has flashed big power as well as the ability to dump opponents on their backs when necessary. Combine those attributes with his athleticism and speed, and you've got yourself a pretty intriguing fighter. Sure, he should probably be fighting at flyweight, but that long-rumored division doesn't seem much closer to happening now than it did 12 months ago, so he's going to have to roll with the bigger guys until then. Prediction: He faces Ken Stone TJ Dillashaw Dillashaw reminded me of Dollaway a bit, a hyped wrestler who fell short in the TUF finals to a smaller man, but regardless of the disappointing performance, he has some undeniable talent which leads me to believe he'll rebound and make himself a force in the division somewhere down the line. Though his roots are in wrestling, he does show a good striking game with the exception of keeping his hands so low. At his experience level, a loss isn't the worst thing in the world, as it will allow Dillashaw a chance to progress at a more deliberate pace. Prediction: He faces Alex Soto Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fighter, miller, tuf, prediction

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale payouts and salaries for those who competed at the "Bisping vs. Miller" Spike TV event this past Saturday night (Dec. 3, 2011) from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released to MMAmania.com earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Michael Bisping came into "Sin City" with a few extra pounds and will leave with a few extra thousand. The brash Brit will "Count" the $425,000 he made for beating the brakes off Jason Miller in the night's main event, one that only pocketed "Mayhem" $45,000 in defeat. TUF 14 champions John Dodson and Diego Brandao made the standard 8/8 post-show pocket change, raking in $16,000 apiece for their winning performances. That, coupled with the 40-grand they secured in post-fight bonuses and they'll have a lot to celebrate this holiday season. Fellow TUF champ Anthony Ferguson (season 13) came in at number three with $30,000 for convincing the judges he was a better fighter than Yves Edwards, who contributes to the Thugjitsu retirement fund with $16,000. Here is the complete list of TUF 14 Finale salaries and payouts: Michael Bisping: $425,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus)Jason Miller: $45,000 Diego Brandao: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Dennis Bermudez: $8,000 John Dodson: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)T.J. Dillashaw: $8,000 Tony Ferguson: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)Yves Edwards: $16,000 Johnny Bedford: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Louis Gaudinot: $8,000 Marcus Brimage: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Stephen Bass: $8,000 John Albert: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Dustin Pague: $8,000 Roland Delorme: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Josh Ferguson: $8,000 Steven Siler: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Josh Clopton: $8,000 Bryan Caraway: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Dustin Neace: $8,000 The total disclosed payroll for TUF 14 Finale was $708,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for TUF 14 Finale click here. For complete "Bisping vs. Miller" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: night, miller, tuf, bisping, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Michael Bisping led all earners at Saturday's TUF 14 Finale, bringing in $425,000 for his win over Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

Posted in: michael, tuf, bisping, michael bisping, finale

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Move over Chael Sonnen, your old buddy Dan Henderson is taking over in the Slam-Silva campaign. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, who made a successful return to the Octagon in his bloody war against Mauricio Rua at UFC 139 earlier this month, has also been pining for a middleweight rematch against Anderson Silva. One he felt he deserved after stiffening Michael Bisping at UFC 100 all the way back in 2009. While the win over "Shogun" has likely put him in line to face the winner of Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, he couldn't get another crack at "The Spider" even if he wanted to. Silva has shipped himself back to Brazil for the next six months to rehab an injured shoulder. One that would heal "real fast" if the UFC came calling with a title defense against Bisping, who "looked more like a TUF contestant than a TUF coach" in his Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale headliner opposite Jason Miller. Henderson Tweets: "Looked like one guy hadn't fought in a long time & the other guy cut too much weight. Kinda like the JV team. Not hating. Just not a great night for either guy--weren't there physically so they looked more like TUF cast than coaches. All the 'injuries' that keep Anderson from a rematch w/ me or Chael will heal real fast if they offer Bisping to him." Henderson and Silva first met at UFC 82 in March 2008, with "The Spider" roaring back after losing the first round to hurt and then submit the Olympic-level Greco Roman wrestler with just seconds left in round two. It's been more than three years since that showdown, but it still apparently leaves a sour taste in Henderson's mouth, especially since he's had to sit and watch Silva rack up eight more wins and lay claim to the best fighter, perhaps ever, in mixed martial arts. And it doesn't help that Silva's manager has already gone on record about what a "good opportunity" it would be to have Bisping get a crack at the crown. Anyone taking Henderson's side in this matter? Or does Silva have the right to do whatever he wants, considering he's already submitted both Hendo and Sonnen? What say you?

Posted in: ufc, silva, henderson, tuf, bisping

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The NSAC has released the fighter payouts for the TUF 14 Finale. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional undisclosed bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees. Michael Bisping far and away made the biggest payday at the TUF 14 Finale with a $425,000 purse after his win bonus. Bisping’s last two purses weren’t released since both those fights took place overseas, but it is a huge jump from the $190,000 he made at UFC 114 last year. His opponent, Mayhem Miller, only made a fraction of Bisping’s $275,000 show money with a $45,000 purse. All TUF 14 cast members on the card fought under a $8,000/$8,000 contract, however Diego Brandao brought home an additional $80,000 in Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonus money for what nearly became a six-figure payday. Dennis Bermudez and John Dodson also made out well with their $40,000 bonuses. Payouts Courtesy of MMA Junkie: Michael Bisping: $425,000 ($275k + $150k win bonus) Jason “Mayhem” Miller: $45,000 Diego Brandao: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Dennis Bermudez: $8,000 John Dodson: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) T.J. Dillashaw: $8,000 Tony Ferguson: $30,000 ($15k + $15k) Yves Edwards: $16,000 Johnny Bedford: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Louis Gaudinot: $8,000 Marcus Brimage: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Stephen Bass: $8,000 John Albert: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Dustin Pague: $8,000 Roland Delorme: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Josh Ferguson: $8,000 Steven Siler: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Josh Clopton: $8,000 Bryan Caraway: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Dustin Neace: $8,000 Bonuses $40,000 bonus to each fighter. Knockout of the Night – John Dodson Submission of the Night – Diego Brendao Fight of the Night – Diego Brendao vs. Dennis Bermudez Total Payout A disclosed total of $868,000, including all bonuses, was paid out to the fighters.

Posted in: night, fighter, tuf, bisping, bonus

Read the full article at MMA Convert

MMA Junkie reports the bonuses for The Ultimate Fighter Finale 14 which took place Saturday night at the Palms in Las Vegas. Ultimate Fighter cast members John Dodson, Diego Brandao and Dennis Bermudez each scored bonuses which were $40,000 each. Brandao actually received two bonuses for submission and his Fight of the Night with Dennis Bermudez. Dodson won for his knockout of TJ Dillashaw. In addition to the TUF Finale fight night bonuses, cast members Louis Gaudinot, Dustin Pague, Dodson and Bermudez won $25,000 each as a result of TUF 14’s fan voting for best KO, Sub and Fight on the show. Gaudinot and Pague won for Best Fight, Dodson for KO and Bermudez for Submission. The Bisping-Miller main event looked better during the show than in reality as Miller looked tired as Joe Rogan described the fatigue as an “adrenaline dump.” Although scheduled for five rounds, the fight was a one-sided beatdown which mercifully was stopped. It will be interesting to see where both fighters go in the middleweight division after this result. MMA Junkie also reported that UFC officials stated that attendance for The Pearl at the Palms was 1,649. No gate was reported as of yet. Earlier this year, TUF 13 at the same venue garnered 2,053. Payout Perspective: Despite the lackluster main event, the TUF 14 Finale had very good finals which displayed the reasons why fans should be excited about the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. The two runner ups will likely be in the UFC in the near future. The lower attendance figure (as compared to TUF 13 Finale in June)  is likely due to college football and the Cotto-Margarito fight. It is not known now whether the TUF bonuses will continue next season. The bonuses this season were a carrot for the fighters to take chances and put on exciting fights. The bonuses were an improvement by the UFC to help boost ratings. We will see if the UFC decides to continue this with Fox.

Posted in: fight, tuf, bonus, finale, dodson

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Besides Pride Fighting Championships, no dead fight promotion was more loved and has been missed more than World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). Bought by UFC parent company Zuffa in 2006, WEC marched along with four nearly flawless years. The talent was phenomenal, the matchmaking was on point and each event was definitely worth watching. It was a bittersweet moment when the promotion's merger with its bigger brother was announced. While the WEC would be gone, its fighters would earn more coin and get more exposure. The first was easily proven. Fight purses grew, sponsors became more plentiful. The second is less tangible and harder to point out. While the UFC is the king of the mixed martial arts (MMA) mountain and draws tons of eyeballs every single time it holds an event, a lot of the bantamweight and featherweight bouts in the past year have found homes on the prelims. Titles fights, of course, would headline or at least serve as co-main events but it wasn't until The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) doors were opened that a concrete promotional push could be seen. Last night's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale crowned the show's first bantamweight and featherweight champions. Twelve weeks ago 32 fighters -- 16 135- and 145-pounders a piece -- showed up at the TUF house to let the world know what the little guys could do inside the Octagon. And boy, did they. Thanks in part to the talent pool not being sucked nearly dry as all the other weight divisions in the UFC have been due to 13 previous seasons of the reality show, TUF 14 seemed both fresh and exciting. It was something that show hadn't been in quite a while. The last time I remember being genuinely excited about the cast was way back in the fifth season when lightweights got a similar introduction -- or reintroduction as it were -- to the TUF fanbase. There is an entire world of 135- and 145-pound prospects out there that remains untapped. A lot of fans doubt that there is anyone that can challenge featherweight champion Jose Aldo and he should vacate his title and move up in weight. True or not, that remains to be seen but the right challenger might not be fighting inside the Octagon right now. He may be someone most of us have never even heard of. That's a possibility that simply doesn't exist in the five other traditional weight classes. After a season of great fights, the two finals themselves kept up the trend and were displays of both unabashed brutality and razor-sharp technique. Stepping inside the Octagon on the bantamweight side was John Dodson and T.J. Dillashaw. Dodson had earned his way to the live Finale by knocking out Johnny Bedford in devastating fashion. Dillashaw dominated Dustin Pague over three rounds to punch his ticket to the finals. When they met inside the cage, it didn't take long for Dodson to find the same sweet spot he had against Bedford. Less than two minutes into the fight, a punch connected that put Dillashaw down. Replays showed that "The Magician's" entire forearm collided with his opponent's jaw leading up to his ear, causing the disruption in equilibrium. A little bit of ground and pound later and the referee was left with no other choice than to stop the fight. 10 pounds heavier, Diego Brandao and Dennis Bermudez took each other on to decide the featherweight champion. The Brazilian seemed to be getting the better of his opponent until a picture perfect counter from Bermudez stopped "Ceara" dead in his tracks. He collapsed to the mat but recovered quickly enough to not allow Bermudez to finish him off like Dodson had done to Dillashaw one fight earlier. The New York-native tempted fate a little too long while inside Brandao's guard and was soon getting his arm torqued and bent back thanks to a perfectly executed armbar with only seconds to spare in the opening stanza. It was MMA at its finest, proving that technique almost always trumps strength. Both men -- along with a handful of their TUF 14 castmates -- could certainly have bright futures in the UFC. Their bouts were exciting and even a few people on my Twitter feed were already calling for Brandao and Bermudez's back and forth to win "Round of the Year" honors. For the first time since the merger one year ago, the WEC seemed more alive and well than ever. The small guys inside the cage going at it and doing it better than their larger counterparts was something the defunct promotion was known for and that's exactly what fans got last night. Now that TUF 14 is in the books and the UFC's two newest weight classes have completed every rite of passage needed, it'd make sense to welcome the bantamweight and featherweight fighters already under contract to the company as well as any future fighters who will now get that once nonexistent chance. It's a fantastic opportunity for them and a boon for fans who get to see the fights. So welcome to the UFC, boys; everyone sure is glad you could make it.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, tuf, featherweight

Read the full article at MMA Mania

John Dodson capped off his bantamweight TUF title and TUF 14 Finale bonus with a Best Knockout fan-voted bonus.

Posted in: john, tuf, john dodson, bonus, dodson

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Former TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson discusses his close decision win over crafty veteran Yves Edwards.

Posted in: decision, ferguson, tuf, winner, yve

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

TUF bantamweight winner John "The Magician" Dodson discusses his first-round TKO win over the heavily-favored T.J. Dillashaw.

Posted in: john, tuf, dillashaw, dodson, magician dodson

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

In the weeks leading up to last night’s Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, featherweight finalist Diego Brandao revealed his main source of motivation in MMA was an overwhelming desire to provide for his family in Brazil who he hasn’t seen in three years. Now it appears the 24-year old will not only have a chance to build his mother a house back home as he planned to do but can even add a few extra amenities if he so desires. Brandao’s financial flexibility stems from having won a pair of bonuses at the event for his extremely exciting back-and-forth bout with opponent Dennis Bermudez with the distinctions including “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night”. For each honor he was awarded $40,000. Brandao Fighting for Family at TUF 14 Finale Meanwhile, “Knockout of the Night” (and the $40k) went to Brandao’s TUF 14 castmate John Dodson though certain folks might argue it actually should have been “Knockdown of the Night” since many felt action was prematurely stopped. The evening-ending sequence for TJ Dillashaw came when he walked into a perfectly timed punch from Dodson, got dropped, and received a few shots from the top before the referee stepped in to call for the bell. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: night, tuf, brandao, night ”, finale

Read the full article at Fighters.com

John Dodson and Dennis Bermudez each earned $40,000 bonuses and Diego Brandao scored $80,000 for their performances at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Brandao and Bermudez won “Fight of the Night” honors for their TUF 14 featherweight final, which finished in the first round with Brandao’s “Submission of the Night” armbar, while Dodson scored the “Knockout of the Night” over TJ Dillashaw in the TUF 14 bantamweight final. The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale main event saw Michael Bisping dominate rival coach Jason “Mayhem” Miller en route to a third-round TKO. Pictured: Diego Brandao (via UFC.com)

Posted in: night, tuf, tj dillashaw, brandao, diego brandao

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

In like a lion, out like a lamb. If the ageless battle between Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) was the gold standard for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series on Spike TV, then its final nondescript, sloppy main event on the network between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller last night (Dec. 3, 2011) ranks significantly lower on the all-time memorable fights list. In fact, the clash between the middleweight coaches at TUF 14 Finale at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was scheduled for five rounds, was a straight up let down. And it's all because "Mayhem" came prepared to fight for five minutes or less. Miller started off well, taking down "The Count" in the first round and looking to impose his will on the ground, where his biggest winning advantage existed, even though Bisping has never been submitted in his 24-fight professional career. However, that was the lone bright spot for the "Bully Beatdown" host, who completely ran out of gas the moment Bisping rose to his feet. From the point forward, Bisping was able to stuff Miller's repeated takedown attempts and punish him for his efforts, all the while easily avoiding the telegraphed, wild looping strikes from his spent counterpart. Miller began to quickly show the effects of Bisping's accuracy, bleeding from his eye and developing a nice mouse underneath it. As the third round began, it seemed as though Bisping was just getting going, while Miller appeared to require a respirator. He could barely keep his hands up, much less mount any sort of effective offensive attack. Bisping capitalized, nailing him with combinations, while Miller literally just ate them with a shit-eaten grin on his face. Fortunately, the referee finally saw (not) enough from Miller and waived off Bisping in the third round when his hapless, "hit me with everything you got because I can't get up turtle position" just wasn't meeting the definition of intelligent defense. In the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White called it "one of the most lopsided fights he'd ever seen" and simply "didn't know" if Miller would be invited back to compete inside the Octagon in the future. Meanwhile, Bisping continues to roll, registering his fourth consecutive win and falling right in line behind the winner of Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz in the number one 185-pound division contender picture. Is 2012 finally the year Bisping gets the title shot he's been yapping about all these years? The good news is that there were several other fights featured on the main card, including the finals of the 135- and 145-pound elimination tournament bouts that took place on the show. And both bouts captured the spirit of Bonnar-Griffin 1, leaving us with just a little bit of nostalgia before the promotion takes its TUF show on the road next year and beyond on FOX-run networks. Brazilian firebrand Diego Brandao, who smashed through the competition like a bull in a china shop to punch his ticket to the Finale, collided with Dennis Bermudez. He promised to come out crazy and leave everything he had inside the Octagon, which was an awesome strategy from a fan's perspective, but one that nearly cost him dearly. Bermudez met him in the center of the cage, refusing to be bulled and let Brandao set the furious pace. He latched onto a standing guillotine choke alongside the fence early in the fight that, in hindsight, was its most placid moment. Shortly after the break, all hell broke loose with both fighters exchanging and scrambling at a dizzying clip. Brandao at this point was clearly the agressor, but it was Bermudez who was landing the better shots. In fact, on two occasions, Bermudez dropped the Greg Jackson-trained fighter, but as promised, he simply would not be denied the opportunity of a lifetime. After getting dropped with a short right, Brandao went into survival mode as Bermudez swarmed for a potential finish. In the chaotic scramble, Brandao isolated the left arm of Bermudez, rolled and locked in an arm-snapping (literally), fight-ending armbar. It was fast. It was furious. It was ferocious. In the 135-pound final, T.J. Dillashaw vowed to shut up the outspoken John Dodson. The soft-spoken (by comparison) Team Alpha Male-trained fighter planned to use his superior wrestling and ground-and-pound to nullify Dodson's unpredictable striking game. Mission failed. "The Magician" pulled a few tricks out of his hat, including a big left hand that landed early. However, it was another, much bigger left hand that would ultimately do-in Dillashaw. Dodson connected with a looping forearm to the face, which dropped Dillashaw to the floor 90 seconds into the match. It was ALL OVER seconds later. Dodson followed up with a brutal barrage of strikes that appeared to have Dillashaw dazed. He was clearly in trouble, and with Dodson pouring it on thick, the referee moved in before things got ugly. Dillashaw seemed disappointed with the stoppage, while Dodson (back) flipped out, literally, from pillar to post across the cage in celebration. Great finish -- Dodson talked the talk and walked the walk. TUF 13 winner Anthony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards was another lightweight scrap between one of the most up-and-coming prospects in the division, "El Cucuy," and one of the sport's most experienced veterans, "Thugjitsu Master." It was a very close fight, one in which both fighters had their share of success, but in the end the judges sided with Ferguson (read the FightMetric report here). Ferguson had Edwards hurt on several occasions early in the fight, however, he was able to weather the storm and find a home for his head kick, as well as his array of dynamic strikes, in response. Ferguson's tough chin appeared to be the difference maker, absorbing shots and not even flinching. That's now two consecutive wins for Ferguson over fighters with more than 100 wins combined between them (Aaron Riley is the other), which is quite the accomplishment for a TUF guy who has just 15 pro fights thus far on his resume. That's enough from us -- now it's your turn to discuss TUF 14 Finale in the comments section below. Sound off, Maniacs. Let's hear what you have to say. For complete TUF 14 Finale results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

Posted in: fight, miller, tuf, bisping, dodson

Read the full article at MMA Mania

John Dodson shares his thoughts on his TUF 14 win at the post-fight presser.

Posted in: john, tuf, presser, stoppage, dodson

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Hear what Michael Bisping had to tell MMAWeekly.com's Erik Fontanez about his TUF 14 Finale win.

Posted in: michael, tuf, bisping, michael bisping, finale

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

MMAWeekly.com catches up with TUF 14 victor Tony Ferguson.

Posted in: ufc, ferguson, tuf, mmaweeklycom, process mmaweeklycom

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

(pic via Esther Lin's TUF 14 Finale gallery at MMA Fighting) Things were looking pretty decent for Jason 'Mayhem' Miller in his fight with Michael Bisping right up until he ran out of gas. Extra unfortunate for Jason: this happened after just one round. From there Bisping abused Miller like a secret basement sex daughter until the ref mercifully stepped in and stopped things near the end of the third. It was a huge disappointment for Mayhem fans and fans of seeing Michael Bisping get his.While the coach's fight was a pretty straight forward ass whupping, there was some controversy in other fights. John Dodson's TKO of TJ Dillashaw looked pretty brutal in full speed when it happened but upon video review showed Dillashaw scrambling for a leg as soon as he hit the ground. It's the kind of thing 9 refs out of 10 would have stopped, but that doesn't mean it wasn't still an early stoppage. Not to say I'm not content with John Dodson as the bantamweight TUF winner or anything.I'm also pleased with Diego Brandao winning the 145 bracket. Anyone that wants to sacrifice their mental faculties and bodily health so they can emulate Wanderlei Silva is aight by me. Also, I've got a fever and the only cure is more Sandstorm being used in fighter walk-ins. Brandao and Dennis Bermudez let er rip in a back and forth fight that ended with Diego escaping a bad spot off his back and locking up a armbar that borked up his opponent's arm. Does this mean he can finally go home to Brazil and buy his momma that house?Tony Ferguson vs Yves Edwards was looking like it was gonna be a standup war and did it ever live up to expectations. Round 1 of that fight was one of the best rounds of the year. Every time it looked like Ferguson was about to put Edwards away, Edwards would come back with a headkick or three. Round 2 and 3 were close enough to cause Edwards fans to rageface when he lost 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28, but I think the right guy probably won. Don't hold me to that until I rewatch it without beer goggles. They fuck up my quantitative abilities and lower my standards to the point where I start liking douchebags like Tony Ferguson.As usual, there's some guys on TUF who are competing above their best weight. You'll probably see some of the wheat that was separated from tonight's chaff drop down to a more natural class. Good for the featherweights, but what about those poor bantamweights with nowhere to go? John Dodson is someone who should be at flyweight, ditto with Louis Gaudinot. I feel extra bad for Louis because he just got ragdolled as a result. Johnny4Jesus Bedford hit him with everything but the kitchen sink, eventually convincing the ref to stop things with some brutal knees and soccer kicks to the body. In that way the first fight and the third had some deja-vu like similarities. As a small finishing side note, anyone else notice how the refs seemed a lot more underfoot than usual? No, it wasn't because the lighter weight classes were so much faster (although that probably didn't help either). The cage used for fights at the Palms is smaller than the PPV cage, which gives you that nice intimate feeling when you've got two people and an overweight government official bouncing around the inside.

Posted in: fight, round, tuf, edward, ref

Read the full article at Fightlinker

LAS VEGAS - John Dodson fed off the hate, and he had a feast. In the live finals of "The Ultimate Fighter 14" bantamweight tournament, Dodson silenced a hostile crowd by blasting T.J. Dillashaw with a first-round knockout to win a "TUF" crown. The fight was part of the main card of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, which aired on Spike TV following prelims on Facebook.

Posted in: tuf, spike tv, tj dillashaw, dodson, tuf crown

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Posted in: tuf, chat, finale

Read the full article at Fightlinker

The final Ultimate Fighter season on Spike TV went out in style with tonight’s TUF 14 Finale lineup, a bill featuring a roster of fighters including a number of contestants from the latest run of episodes as well as coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller facing off in the main event. Also set for the card were the standard showdowns between TUF finalists with featherweights Diego Brandao/Dennis Bermudez facing off in one bout and bantamweights TJ Dillashaw/John Dodson in the other. “Mayhem” Ready to Beat Down Bully Bisping Both TUF 14 finals featured finishes with Dodson stopping Dillashaw with strikes after landing a perfectly timed shot and Brandao pulling out an uncharacteristic submission after getting rocked in the opening round. In the headliner, Bisping outclassed “Mayhem” while standing and picked up the TKO win after pummeling Miller to the point of exhaustion. Read below for a full rundown of TUF 14 Finale results: Bryan Caraway def. Dustin Neace via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Steven Siler def. Josh Clopton via Unanimous Decision Roland Delorme def. Josh Ferguson via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke) John Albert def. Dustin Pague via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Marcus Brimage def. Stephen Bass via Unanimous Decision Johnny Bedford def. Louis Gaudinot via TKO Round 3 (Strikes) Tony Ferguson def. Yves Edwards via Unanimous Decision John Dodson def. T.J. Dillashaw via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Diego Brandao def. Dennis Bermudez via Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Michael Bisping def. Jason Miller via TKO Round 3 (Strikes) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: round, tko, tuf, jason miller, strike

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- This is the TUF 14 live blog for John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw, a bantamweight bout on tonight's UFC on Spike TV event at the Pearl at the Palms. Dodson faces Dillashaw to determine the season 14 bantamweight tournament winner. Dodson (11-5) is a flashy fighter out of Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. Dillashaw (4-0) is the less experienced fighter, but holds a strong wrestling background. The live blog is below. More Coverage: TUF 14 Finale Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-140994% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: round, tuf, blog, dillashaw, dodson

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- This is the TUF 14 live blog for Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson, a lightweight bout on tonight's UFC on Spike TV event at the Pearl at the Palms. Edwards (41-17-1) won in October with a head kick followed by punches against Rafaello Oliveira. Ferguson (12-2) won the season 13 title in June and went on to beat Aaron Riley at UFC 135. The live blog is below. More Coverage: TUF 14 Finale Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-140994% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: round, tuf, aaron riley, ufclas vegas, ferguson updates

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- This is the TUF 14 live blog for Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford, a bantamweight bout on tonight's UFC on Spike TV event at the Pearl at the Palms. Gaudinot (5-1) fought on Team Bisping and lost in the quarterfinals to Dustin Pague. Bedford (17-9-1) made it to the semifnals but was knocked out by John Dodson. The live blog is below. More Coverage: TUF 14 Finale Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-140994% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: round, tuf, blog, gaudinot, bedford

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The TUF 14 Finale takes place later tonight at the The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event airs on Spike TV at 8pm ET. The prelims will stream live on Facebook at 5:15pm ET. In the main event, Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller meet in the TUF 14 coaches battle. Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao face off for the TUF 14 featherweight crown. John Dodson and TJ Dillashaw meet in the TUF bantamweight final. Yves Edwards takes on TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson in a lightweight bout. TUF 14 cast members Louis Gaudinot and Johnny Bedford meet in a bantamweight match-up. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford Stephen Bass vs. Marcus Brimage John Albert vs. Dustin Pague Josh Ferguson vs. Roland Delorme Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler Dustin Neace vs. Bryan Caraway Recap & Thoughts Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford: Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson: John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw: Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao: Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

Posted in: vs, ferguson, john, tuf, event airs

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Move over Steven Seagal, a certain Hollywood star known for donning UPS Browns is serving up advice to UFC fighters to help them deliver inside the Octagon. According to Jason Miller’s camp, actor Kevin James will be in the middleweight’s corner tonight at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale when he faces fellow TUF 14 coach Michael Bisping in the main event on Spike TV. James has been an avid supporter of MMA for years and can often be found ringside at UFC events. News of Miller’s secret weapon was first reported by MMAFighting. The story also reveals the source of the relationship between “Mayhem” and James, saying Miller played a significant role in producing a project James has been working on set with MMA as the backdrop. See whether or not James’ skills on a Segway translate into solid ring-based recommendations when the finale’s broadcast airs at 8:00 PM EST with the UFC also crowning their inaugural bantamweight and featherweight TUF champions in the form of TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson and Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez respectively. PHOTO CREDIT – XTREME COUTURE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, miller, tuf, jame, kevin james

Read the full article at Fighters.com

It just about saved the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) UFC and its president, Dana White, didn't even want to do it. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) premiered on Spike TV in Jan. 2005, lighting a fire underneath the keister of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the United States. Thanks to the reality show, MMA went from being on life support to one of the fastest growing sports in the entire world. After seven years and 14 seasons, TUF bids farewell to the cable network that helped start it all, Spike TV, having signed a landmark television deal with FOX Sports a few months ago, under which all future seasons of a renewed TUF will air on FX. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale airs tonight (Dec. 3, 2011) with Michael Bisping and Jason Miller facing off in the final fight on the TUF/Spike era, a bittersweet moment for just about any fan. It's fantastic that the UFC is moving onto bigger and better things, but one also can't forget where you came from. Going through each season, I listed what I thought were the best and worst moments or aspects along with any lasting effect that was felt. It's been a crazy ride, hasn't it? Let's take a nostalgic look back at the show that started it all for the UFC on Spike TV: The Ultimate Fighter 1: Team Liddell vs. Team Couture -- The one that started it all. I can't tell you how excited I was to see MMA on basic cable and now you can barely flip the channel without seeing someone getting knocked out or tapped out. The show ended with the first Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar fight, a 15-minute war that every MMA fan should have seen by now. Best: Um, everything? It was the snowball that rolled into the avalanche that brought the sport to where it is today. Worst: It would definitely have to be Bobby Southworth hitting below the belt in a verbal bout with Chris Leben, infamously calling him a "fatherless bastard." Although it did end with the best outcome ever: whenever two people had beef on your basic reality show, they would have a dumb, boring house meeting or something. Leben and Josh Koscheck had beef so they fought to settle it! Lasting effect: Look around you! You probably wouldn't be reading this without the first season of TUF. The Ultimate Fighter 2: Team Hughes vs. Team Franklin -- Some intrigue that existed in the first season was taken out since the two coaches weren't slated to fight each other at the end of the season. The UFC wouldn't make that choice again since it removes a lot of the drama. Best: In the 10th episode, Luke Cummo and Sammy Morgan collided in the semi-finals to determine who would move onto the finals. Cummo delivered a brutal knee that knocked Morgan out cold and I know for a fact the knockout converted at last one lukewarm person into a hardcore fan. Worst: Before this season, Matt Hughes was seen as an all-American good ole' boy who dominated the 170-pound weight division. Afterward, he became the jerk of the UFC, smug and somewhat of a bully. Lasting effect: Two words: Rashad Evans. Unlike fellow former champ Forrest Griffin, Evans has stayed near the top of the light heavyweight mountain after losing the title with wins over Quinton Jackson and Tito Ortiz. A bout with Phil Davis will likely determine the next contender. The Ultimate Fighter 3: Team Ortiz vs. Team Shamrock -- Oh, man, what a change of scenery. As opposed to the previous season where Hughes and Rich Franklin were all chummy since they wouldn't have to fight when filming ending, Ortiz and Ken Shamrock absolutely hated each other. And it made for fun television. Best: Ortiz's awesome coaching abilities came to light. Well, maybe they just seemed great compared to Shamrock's. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" didn't bring in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) coach, but instead brought on a dietician. Shamrock was also almost always on the verge of completely losing his mind, which was hilarious. Worst: But, it was also a shame for the guys who were on his team. Those poor guys missed out on some quality training because of Shamrock's shenanigans. And what was up with Noah Inhofer leaving because his girlfriend thought he cheated on her? Look, I love my special lady too, but if I've got a chance to fulfill my biggest dream, she can go ahead and think I strayed. I'll handle that business when filming ends. Lasting effect: The UFC realized that grudges equal ratings. If the two coaches hate each other or even don't particularly like each other, Dana White won't think twice about booking them on the show. The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback -- An awesome concept that I wish would come back at least one more time. The UFC brought back fighters that had already fought inside the Octagon before but ended up losing and getting cut. The two winners got a title shot in their respective weight classes. Best: When Matt Serra and Shonie Carter took each other on at UFC 31, Serra was on his way to winning a decision when a spinning backfist from "Mr. International" ended his night early. Their rematch -- won by Serra -- was long overdue. Another great moment was Edwin DeWees' first bout that saw him getting busted open like a horror movie victim but still coming back to win the fight. And who didn't have their heartstrings pulled when Jorge Rivera got to see footage of his daughter being born? Worst: Yeah, Travis Lutter? You're going to win a title shot and then come in overweight? Tsk tsk. Lasting effect: Matt Serra, Houston, UFC 69. The little "Terror" that could ended up beating -- no, SMASHING -- the odds and knocked out Georges St. Pierre and became the welterweight champion. The man Serra beat in the finals -- Chris Lytle -- wouldn't reach the same heights but experienced as fantastic a second wind as any UFC fighter would ever have. The Ultimate Fighter 5 -- LIGHTWEIGHTS! Enough said. Best: Did I mention lightweights? Fans also got to see B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver -- the two coaches -- collide in the rematch of their UFC 35 classic for free! And who can forget Karo Parisyan showing up to give some tips to his cousin Manvel Gamburyan and then proceeding to get into a verbal confrontation with Nate Diaz. Oh, those Diaz boys will mouth off to anyone. You know who he is?!?!? Worst: Gabe Ruediger showing up overweight causing him to come in heavy when he was slated to fight was a complete and utter disgrace. What a slap in the face! Lasting effect: It formally reintroduced fans to the 155-pound division and kickstarted the Penn era of dominance. I'd say those are some pretty good credentials to hang your hat on. The Ultimate Fighter 6: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra -- A feud that started on TUF 4, Serra and Hughes were booked as rival coaches after "Terror" won the title from "Rush." And once again, Hughes came off looking kind of like a jerk while Serra endeared himself to fans week in and week out. Best: This is the season that introduced the MMA world to War Machine! Known as Jon Koppenhaver at the time, the loose cannon ended up getting released from the UFC, starring in porn, going to jail and most recently knocking out Roger Huerta. Also, long-time regional veteran Mac Danzig -- the winner of this season -- finally got his day in the sun. Worst: Joe Scarola -- one of Serra's main dudes back home -- decided, "WELP! This ain't for me" and deuced out. So not only did he miss out on getting a shot at fighting for the UFC, Serra handed him a pink slip for when he got back to New York. Lasting effect: Besides Danzig, only George Sotiropoulos remains in the UFC from the TUF 6 cast. After the amazing cast from the previous season, it became obvious that the talent pool was beginning to shrink. The Ultimate Fighter 7: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest -- Season seven was the first instance that a TUF original got to coach. Sure, Serra had coached the season prior but he had also already fought in the UFC before while Griffin was an Octagon virgin before TUF 1. He would go on to best "Rampage" over five rounds and became the first TUF winner to hold UFC gold. Best: The best part of this season? The knockouts, baby! In particular the ones handed out by Matt Riddle and Matt Brown. Those two boys put their opponents to sleep in amazingly brutal fashion. Worst: The finals was supposed to be Amir Sadollah taking on Jesse Taylor, but the square-jawed wrestler went on a drunken rampage and was removed from the fight. And while Shamrock takes the award for "Worst TUF Coach Ever," Quinton Jackson takes a close second. Making someone who hates to train the person who is supposed to be in charge of a bunch of other people's training was not the best choice. Lasting effect: This was the first season that introduced the "fight to get in" concept. Before, the UFC would bring in 16 fighters and let them sort it out over three months. This season, they flew in 32 and made each fighter win a bout to get into the house. Genius! The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir -- Heavyweight coaches take the stage for the first time this season. Both were excellent coaches and while many thought the American would be in over his head when he stepped inside the cage against "Big Nog," the former UFC heavyweight champ proved each and every doubter wrong. Best: Maybe I'm just a Pride Fighting Championships fanboy, but the best part of the season for me was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira coaching. Too bad he ended up getting stopped by Frank Mir when they stepped inside the Octagon. Worst: There was a lot of bad going in this season. First off, there was "Leben 2.0" Junie Browning but like all sequels, part two failed to live up to the original. Secondly, Clay Guida's big brother Jason came in overweight just like Ruediger did and was cut before even getting to fight. And finally, there was enough bodily fluid mixed into food items that anyone would be an absolute moron to eat anything that came from the fridge inside that house. Lasting effect: Aside from Travis Lutter who won "The Comeback" season, TUF 8 lightweight winner Efrain Escudero was the first to be released. Kendall Grove and Joe Stevenson followed but Escudero's firing proved that even TUF golden boys weren't immune from getting the axe. The Ultimate Fighter 9: United States vs. United Kingdom -- The first and only country based feud that TUF has used. White has gone on record as saying this theme -- also used with UFC 58: "USA vs. Canada" -- isn't a favorite of his so don't expect to see this bad boy again. Best: Seeing the U.K. team band together and work as a team was awesome. WIth their "all for one and one for all" outlook on training, they ensured that three of the four finalists were Englishmen. Worst: Where was "The Count?" While it was great to see the U.K. fighters really work together as a team, it was mostly out of necessity because of their coach being missing in action for a majority of the time. Lasting effect: A foreign country hasn't been the focus of TUF since this season but that may change. Word is that TUF 16 will go south of the equator to highlight Brazilian talent. And Bisping getting absolutely murdered at UFC 100 was pretty sweetl The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights -- Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson didn't like each other. If it wasn't for them jawing back and forth, this season would have been just about unwatchable because of the poor conditioning of the fighters. Best: Anyone who thinks the trash talk about Evans and Jackson wasn't the best part of this season is wrong, just flat out wrong. Worst: Cardio. Or rather, the lack of it. Lasting legacy: This will forever be known as the "Kimbo Slice season," by countless casual fans. The Ultimate Fighter 11: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz/Franklin -- The biggest rivalry in UFC history took center stage as "The Iceman" squared off against "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy." What started so promisingly ended with a whimper rather than a bang. Ortiz dropped out due to injury and Liddell would end up retiring after suffering a loss to replacement coach Rich Franklin. Best: Call me a dork but my favorite moment of the season was when Liddell -- who was on Dancing with the Stars at the time of filming -- came waltzing into the UFC training facility much to the delight of everyone there. Who would have thought Liddell would be light on his toes? Worst: Bait and switch numero uno as I call it. Ortiz had to bow out near the end of the season due to a back injury so he was replaced -- on the show and in the traditional coach fight as well -- by Rich Franklin. Lasting effect: This was the first season to introduce the wild card system. Two fighters that were eliminated in the first round were given the chance to continue if they were deemed worthy by both coaches and Dana White. The wild card stuck around for a few years after but isn't featured in the current season. It remains to be seen if this option will make the transition to FX. The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck -- The second biggest UFC draw finally gets the chance to coach TUF. He was opposite TUF 1 alumni Koscheck who may have been the most railed against coach since Shamrock. Best: Holy crap, did "GSP" bring in awesome training partners for his team. From Gia Sissaouri to Mike Tyson, being a part of the welterweight champ's squad definitely has its perks. Worst: Koscheck came off looking like an absolute tool through the 12 week season. From making fun of "murses" to getting physical with members of St. Pierre's camp, the fuzzy-haired loudmouth did nothing to win over any fans that had already written him off as a jerk. Lasting effect: It is still too early to tell but finalists Jonathan Brookins -- who won -- and Michael Johnson are both excellent prospects with tons of potential. Regional veteran Nam Phan is a good grab, as well as Alex Caceres, who looked fantastic in his last bout. The Ultimate Fighter 13: Team Lesnar vs. Team Dos Santos -- With "GSP" down, the UFC needed only Brock Lesnar to coach a season of TUF to perfectly marry the show with pay-per-view (PPV) buyrates. Unfortunately, the best laid plans of mice and men go often awry. Best: We got to see more of current heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. While before he was a Brazilian wrecking machine who spent more time in the bathroom after lunch at Chipotle than he did inside the Octagon knocking his opponents out, a season of TUF let his personality be known to fans. Worst: Bait and switch, numero dos. Lesnar nearly retired after a bout with diverticulitis and a second flare up after the season began to air led to the former champ dropping out and Shane Carwin stepping in against dos Santos. I don't blame Lesnar for getting sick -- that'd be dumb -- but the rivalry between him and the Brazilian was rendered moot after he was replaced. Lasting effect: Without getting too negative, I think this season will be truly remembered as when the format officially jumped the shark. Bantamweights and featherweights would inject one last shot of life into the next season but the announcement that fights would be live going forward with TUF 15 was one that definitely needed to be made. The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller -- Miller made his return to the UFC and Bisping made his return to the coach's role earning him the honor of being the first TUF alumni to return twice as a coach. Best: While most coach rivalries were bred from actual dislike -- or in Ortiz and Shamrock's case, flat out hatred -- Bisping and Miller went through the season with a simple, competitive spirit. Neither man likes losing so while there may not be any bad blood there, it was definitely fun to see the two go at it. Worst: This one may be a bit personal but Johnny Bedford's knockout in the penultimate episode was devastating and a bit scary. He's a hometown boy and I've had the pleasure of interviewing him before. Seeing anyone get put to sleep like that is bad enough but it's worse when it's someone you have history with. Lasting effect: A formal introduction to the newest and lightest weight classes the UFC employs, TUF presented a fantastic vehicle to get fans more familiar with the little guys inside the Octagon. Seven years and 14 seasons, Maniacs. What are your favorite memories from the TUF era on Spike TV?

Posted in: ufc, fighter, season, team, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

When Anthony Ferguson walks into the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, tonight (Sat., Dec. 3, 2011) for his Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale main card bout, he'll be returning to the scene of the crime. It was in this very same building just six months ago, you see, where he knocked out Ramsey Nijem to win the glass TUF trophy, a six-figure contract and his place in the annals of Ultimate Fighter lore. He even won "Knockout of the Night." It got even better when he decided to move down to 155-pounds, a far more fitting weight class for the talented but undersized "El Cucuy." At UFC 135 in Denver, Ferguson broke Aaron Riley's jaw inside the first round. Two fights inside the Octagon, two stoppage wins within the first five minutes. Impressive? You bet. But with that level of success comes an even greater level of competition. That means a match-up against savvy veteran Yves Edwards. Edwards is in the midst of an attempted career revival. Not that it was ever on its deathbed or anything, but he's certainly less than pleased with his marks while fighting under the Zuffa banner. He's been coming and going since way back in 2001, starting at UFC 33. His record inside the Octagon? 8-5, which looks good on the surface but most of that success came when the sport was nowhere near as popular as it is now. In fact, the last time Edwards was on a big stage, at the UFC 131: "Dos Santos vs. Carwin" event on against Sam Stout on the Spike TV broadcasted portion of preliminary card, he was viciously knocked out in the first round. With only one punch. It's been a long time since Edwards made Josh Thomson famous with a highlight reel knockout. If he wants to reinvent himself one more time at the age of 35, posterizing a former TUF winner on free TV would be the way to do it. Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, ferguson, tuf, card, edward

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Tonight's TUF 14 Finale will be headlined by a Middleweight showdown between opposing coaches Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller, set to do batter at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also featured will be the TUF 14 Tournament Finals, which pits knockout artist Diego Brandao against Dennis Bermudez at Featherweight, and Team Alpha Male's T.J. Dillashaw against John Dodson at Bantamweight. Each of this season's "Ultimate Fighter" winners will be awarded a six-figure UFC contract.

Posted in: tuf, john dodson, middleweight showdown, dennis bermudez, fighter winners

Read the full article at Low Kick

TUF 14 coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller finally meet in the Octagon tonight at the TUF 14 Finale.

Posted in: miller, michael, tuf, bisping, finale

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale. "Prelims" results from the live Facebook video stream will begin to flow around 5 p.m. ET today (Dec. 3, 2011) and LIVE play-by-play, round-by-round coverage of the main card action on Spike TV is set for 8 p.m. ET! If you're going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main TUF 14 Finale results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off. Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

Posted in: result, tuf, coverage, finale, uptotheminute results

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: Courtesy of FightNerd.com - The Ultimate Fighter History in Review: Stats, Facts and Figures (MMA Fighting) “As a superstar production unit, the show has had mixed results. It began with a splash in 2005, launching the careers of Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck and others, but in time, competition for talent from other organizations made it more difficult to land prime talent. That’s led to criticism from some who believe it no longer serves a real purpose as a feeder. … That debate is worth an exploration, though it’s ultimately moot as the franchise will continue in a newly revamped style on its new cable home on FX in 2012. But for now, let’s take a look at the first 13 seasons of TUF in stats, facts and figures (season 14 is excluded because its competitors have yet to officially fight in the octagon).” - Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? (Fight Opinion) ““I read all the blog sites and everybody’s all caught up, is it a performance enhancer? It’s a banned substance, it’s not a performance-enhancing substance list, it’s a banned substance list. And this is a place where sports in general and MMA in specific are trying to look out for the well being of the fighters because getting on this type of medication, as anybody will tell you, is very, very, very hard to get off. I don’t call these types of medications, the opiates, the narcotics, the Dilaudids, performance enhancers. I call them performance enablers.” … He’s exactly right. Semi-retired wrestler Lance Storm talks about how dangerous taking painkillers can be because when you are injured and feeling the pain, you’re body is telling you to stop and you’re popping a pill to basically continue on without feeling the natural pain you’re supposed to. The end result is more physical damage to your body, including your organs should you take one too many pills.” - Interview with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson (MMA Mania) “When I fought Aaron Riley, he shook my hand in the back, you might have saw it but we were in the back, his jaw was broken and he shook my hand and he looked at me and I finally got it. It was a passing of the torch, you know? It was like, “Okay, you beat me, now do something with it,” and that’s what I want to do.” - Pic: BJ Penn Was Mobbed For Autographs In The Philippines Today (MMA Convert) “For quite awhile the UFC had targeted the Philippines for their first international TUF season until they found out first hand just how hot the Brazil market was. And it’s not hard to see why considering the massive turnouts for public appearances by Chuck Liddell, Brandon Vera, Georges St. Pierre and now BJ Penn.” - Ryan Jimmo Interview: The sequel to the worst movie ever made and his move to the UFC (MiddleEasy) “Did it take you longer than you expected to get to the UFC?  Yes…and no. I think I would be able to hold my own and compete there a while ago even if that’s an untested theory. My manager and I had a plan. We didn’t want to go in too school. We wanted to make sure my skills were in place, my wrestling was in place. Now my wrestling is fantastic, I’m out wrestling wrestlers. I wanted to make sure my stand up was correct and my confidence was good enough. I wanted to make sure my life was in the right place and financially I was OK. We wanted to take all of these steps and make sure all of our ducks are in a row so we don’t go up there like some guys that have no wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, that are so happy to be in the UFC, but make a quick exit. That’s not what I envision for myself. I’m a complete fighter and I’m going to make my mark there.” - Video: Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s Fight Journal Part 2 (FightLine) “MMAFighting’s E. Casey Leydon spent some time with Mayhem as he gears up to face Bisping this weekend, producing a Fight Journal video to get an inside look at Mayhem’s life leading up to the fight. … We posted the first part of the video earlier this week, you can check out both parts below.” - CagePotato Tribute: The Failure to Intimidate (Cage Potato) “Hoping to gain the mental edge, Tito channeled his inner high school bully and made a lunge toward Liddell. While such tactics work wonders on members of the glee club, the mere suggestion of physical contact hardy registers a blink from dudes who get punched in the face on the regular. The Iceman was sick of Tito’s tough guy routine and primed to dole out the beating he’d dodged for so many years. He’d leave Ortiz crumpled in the fetal position in just over one round the following evening. Undaunted by his failure to intimidate, Ortiz continued to employ the same psyche-out strategy throughout his career with mixed results. Mental giant Ken Shamrock took the bait with hilarious results, while Ryan Bader could barely muster up a grin in response.” - Grappling with Issues – 12/2/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) “Would you have cut Chris Leben after his latest run-in with drug/alcohol abuse? … Conlan: … The reality is the UFC has some culpability in the situation because they’ve created an environment where things that would result in most folks being fired don’t have long-term repercussions. They need to be cognizant of the perception it creates, the responsibility they have as his employer, and understand the company/sport could suffer a major blow to their reputation if Leben slips up again to the point someone’s life is dramatically affected whether his own, a friend/family member, or even an innocent victim.” - 2011 World MMA Award Winners (5thRound) “Fighters Only’s 2011 World MMA Awards took place Wednesday night at The Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The who’s who of the mixed martial arts world, except yours truly, attended the fancy black-tie ceremony.” - TUF 14: Bisping vs. Miller Weigh-In Video and Results (LowKick) “The event is co -headlined by the TUF 14 Featherweight Finale bout between Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao, while T.J. Dillashaw takes on John Dodson in the TUF 14 Bantamweight Finale bout. The main card will be completed with Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards, and Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot.” - Bellator FC 59 Results & Exclusive Photo Gallery (TheFightNerd) “Bellator Fighting Championships returned to Atlantic City, N.J. to end its historic fifth season LIVE on MTV2 and in HD on EPIX from Caesars Atlantic City. While two tournament finals were scheduled for Bellator 59, only one Tournament Championship was decided as Eduardo Dantas collected an impressive win over Alexis Vila in the Bantamweight Finals. The Heavyweight Finals was declared a no contest, as Thiago Santos delivered what was ruled an accidental illegal blow to the groin of Eric Prindle, which eventually halted the fight and was declared a no contest.” - Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, TUF 14 Finale: Who Has the Most To Lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Bisping is one of the UFC’s most marketable fighters thanks to his international appeal. He is also one of the company’s most hated fighters because of his antics both in and out of the Octagon. … Many fighters in MMA talk trash. But Bisping has gone beyond that, being disrespectful to fans and fighters alike. … It’s easy for Bisping to talk trash. But if he really wants to shut up his doubters, he will have to get wins over big-name opponents. … If he loses against Miller, it will show that he may never be a top contender.  “

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, tuf, bisping

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Highlights of the TUF 14 weigh-ins in Las Vegas, including Michael Bisping's expletive-laced tirade towards the audience in attendance.

Posted in: tuf, bisping, las vegas, weighin, tirade

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

The twenty men set to take to the Octagon tomorrow night on Spike TV at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale all stepped on the scale earlier this afternoon in hopes of making weight and all succeeded with the exception of coach Michael Bisping who barely missed the 185-pound division’s cut off before shedding the extra weight in an allotted time period. Bisping weighed 186.25 pounds, a quarter-pound heavy, for his headlining bout against Jason Miller. “Mayhem” Ready to Put a Beating on Bisping The quartet of TUF 14 finalists fared far better than the colorful Brit with TJ Dillashaw coming in slightly bigger than opponent John Dodson on the bantamweight side of things with the same being true in the featherweight pairing with Dennis Bermudez a pound heavier than explosive Brazilian Diego Brandao. Here is the complete list of TUF 14 Finale weigh-in results: Dustin Neace (145.5 lbs) vs. Bryan Caraway (145 lbs) Josh Clopton (144 lbs) vs. Steven Siler (146 lbs) Josh Ferguson (134 lbs) vs. Roland Delorme (136 lbs) John Albert (136 lbs) vs. Dustin Pague (136 lbs) Stephen Bass (145 lbs) vs. Marcus Brimage (143 lbs) Johnny Bedford (136 lbs) vs. Louis Gaudinot (136 lbs) Tony Ferguson (155.5 lbs) vs. Yves Edwards (155 lbs) TJ Dillashaw (135.5 lbs) vs. John Dodson (134 lbs) Dennis Bermudez (146 lbs) vs. Diego Brandao (145 lbs) Jason Miller (185.5 lbs) vs. Michael Bisping (186.25 lbs) Tweet

Posted in: vs, tuf, spike tv, lb, bisping

Read the full article at Fighters.com

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Over the course of the past several weeks Michael Bisping and Mayhem Miller have been pulling pranks and talking tons of smack leading up to this weekend’s collision inside the cage during the TUF 14 Finale. But before we watch the coaches wage all-out war on one another inside the Octagon, it’s time to first take a closer look at both TUF 14 walkout shirts. Who reigns supreme in this fight’s walkout shirt battle? Let’s check out both fighter tees, including Bisping’s signature series T-shirt by Affliction, as well as Jason Miller’s “Mayhem Monkeys” tee by HeadRush. After wearing Xtreme Couture for his past two fights, Bisping’s newest signature tee from Affliction once again honors the United Kingdom with a Union Jack design, printed on a premium lava washed cotton shirt. Check out the Walkout Shirts...

Posted in: tuf, shirt, walkout, middleeasy networkdiv, fighter tees

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Ben Fowlkes and I preview all the subplots heading into Saturday's TUF 14 Finale and say goodbye to TUF on Spike TV.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: tuf, preview, ben fowlkes, ufc mma, i preview

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Filed under: UFC, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- TUF 14 weigh-ins took place Friday afternoon at The Palms in Las Vegas, and they were highlighted by Michael Bisping flipping off the crowd at the end. Full results here. Watch the highlights below.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: tuf, las vegas, michael bisping, vega, weighin

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The TUF 14 bantamweight finalist discusses being a "spy" and his upcoming fight with TJ Dillashaw.

Posted in: fight, tuf, spy, prefight, dillashaw

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

The 10th and final episode of TUF 14 garnered the highest rating for the season with an average viewership of 1.7 million viewers. The ratings results were sent out via an email by Spike TV officials. Via MMA Junkie: Wednesday’s episode, which concluded the season’s quarterfinal round, scored a 1.7 rating among men ages 18-49 and a 1.91 among men 18-34 The 14th season of TUF averaged 1.5 million viewers for the season. The average is up from season 13 but the 12th season garnered a 1.7 million average. The last episode featured two nice knockouts by John Dodson and Diego Brandao. One observation. On Dodson’s KO, during the fight someone was yelling out for a 4 (right uppercut). But Dodson used a 5 or 3 (left uppercut/left hook) for his KO. Another interesting mention is that Miller/Bisping will be the first time coaches will be fighting in 9 seasons. Payout Perspective: Was this season’s TUF a success? It did bounce back from TUF 13’s disappointing ratings. It also did what it planned to do: showcase the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. We saw great pace and action in most fights on the show which was the intent of featuring the divisions on TUF. For that, I think viewers will pay more attention to these divisions. Unfortunately for the finale, TUF 14 seems like a lame duck on Spike TV. With the buzz and excitement of Zuffa’s move to Fox, little has been done to promote this Saturday’s TUF Finale. On a broader scale, how much does TUF help the careers of those that get on the show. ESPN’s Josh Gross commented: TUF is a ratings grabber, and as such a valued television property. That’s fine. But it’s hard to get past the fact that absent TUF’s early seasons, as a vehicle for new stars carrying a lasting impact inside the Octagon, the show is as meaningful to the UFC as Golf Channel’s “The Big Break” has been to the PGA Tour. I don’t think we’ll see a Matt Serra-type scenario ever again which was an initial allure of the show. The fact that anyone can come out of nowhere and win a championship made for good television. As Gross points out in his article, competition for talent is fierce and most up and coming talented fighters would not need a show to get into the UFC. So, we’ll see how the UFC and Fox handle TUF from here on out. It will definitely need to stress the personal stories of its fighters as well as rely on interesting coaches to keep viewers interested.

Posted in: show, season, tuf, rating, viewer

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The TUF 14 Finale weigh-ins will stream live in the video player above at 7pm ET. The weigh-in results will follow on a separate post.

Posted in: tuf, video player, finale, weighin, weighin results

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Out after the second episode of his TUF season, Melvin Guillard wasn't supposed to make it. But 15 UFC fights later, he looks back.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, melvin guillard, guillard, melvin

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) concludes tomorrow night (Dec. 3, 2011) with its live finale set to air at 8 p.m. ET on Spike TV from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of TUF 14 Finale, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 3. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card "Prelims" action that will stream live online via Facebook much earlier on fight night. Historically, the TUF Finales have been all about the finalists and while that's true in this season as well, the main event will also feature a showdown between opposing coaches, Michael Bisping and Jason Miller. The winner is likely to be one fight away from a 185-pound title shot. Joining them will be John Dodson and T.J. Dillashaw, who duke it out for bantamweight bragging rights while Diego Brandao and Dennis Bermudez go to war in the 145-pound division to see who earns the "six-figure contract." TUF 13 champ Anthony Ferguson is also in action taking on the venerable Yves Edwards. So who wins on Saturday night and who goes home? Here's my best guess. 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller Bisping takes a lot of crap from fans and fellow fighters for having fluffy fists of non-fury, but that doesn't mean his hands are garbage. And when he's not landing illegal knees or spitting directly in your face, he's actually a talented striker who's difficult to handle. He was formidable at light heavyweight and at 185-pounds, while he sacrifices some power, is still big enough and strong enough to thwart most takedown attempts. That's bad news for "Mayhem," who isn't going to out-box "The Count." Miller has serviceable hands but he loses the stand-up battle here and if he can't get it south, expect a five round snoozer in favor of Great Britain. Michael Bisping def. Jason Miller via unanimous decision 135 lbs.: John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw This is a difficult test for both fighters because Dodson has great hands (and great submissions) and Dillashaw has superior wrestling. Doddy might think he's not going south for the winter but I think realistically when you face a great wrestler you have to expect to spend some portion of the fight on your back. It also doesn't help that "The Magician" should be fighting at 125-pounds, but his trip north leaves him powerful -- just ask Johnny Bedford. This is going to be a close, close fight. Dills will get him to the ground but he won't keep him there and I think Doddy does enough damage on the feet (punches in bunches!) to squeak by with a split -- unless he finally decides to showcase that ground game of his. John Dodson def. T.J. Dillashaw via split decision 145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez I know the world is suddenly in love with Diego Brandao, but I'm not hopping on the hype train just yet. True, his Wompa-like fury in the televised exhibition fights were impressive, but let's also take them at face value and consider his opposition. He's also 15-7, with a couple of knockout losses, so beneath that leathery exterior there is some vulnerability. Empty barrels make the most noise and my pick is Bermudez, because he has the Noggish ability to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment and come back to win convincingly. It wouldn't surprise me to see Diego burn himself out trying to smash his way into TUF infamy, only to get mounted and finished in the second stanza. Dennis Bermudez def. Diego Brandao via technical knockout 155 lbs.: Anthony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards Anthony Ferguson damaged his brand in the final days of TUF 13 when he went on a drunken tirade and attacked Charlie Rader's family. That's part of the reason why he's one of the "forgotten TUF champs" of yesteryear. It's also unfortunate because he's a very talented fighter with technical boxing and deadly accuracy. I'd tell you to ask Aaron Riley, but he won't be able to give you an answer seeing as how his jaw was wired shut courtesy of "The Boogeyman." While I think he wins this fight, it's going to be a dangerous one, as Edwards is slick enough on the ground to make Ferguson pay for a mistake. I don't know if he'll get that chance; however, as my prediction for this bout is a first round stoppgage. Every fight begins on the feet and Edwards will be staring at the lights before he even realized he spent too much time dicking around in the stand-up trying to "feel him out." Anthony Ferguson def. Yves Edwards via knockout 135 lbs.: Dustin Pague vs. John Albert Both fighters are pretty evenly matched but I like Albert in this contest. Aside from the fact that he gave John Dodson a very tough fight, he also steamrolled Orville Smith to get into the house. Pague was not only mauled by T.J. Dillashaw, he also struggled against Tateki Matsuda to get a majority decision on episode one. He handled Louis Gaudinot but comparing both bodies of work, I'm leaning towards the "Prince." Another close battle that should take place mostly on the feet, with Albert getting a unanimous decision win. John Albert def. Dustin Pague via unanimous decision 135 lbs.: Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford It's hard to pick a fighter who may not be that well known when your last memory of them is a geographical fail. That being said, I'm still picking Bedford in this fight because I think the knockout loss to Dodson was the exception, not the rule. He finished Chase Beebe in the elimination fight and had his way with Josh Ferguson in episode three. Gaudinot was also dominant in the eliminators but taken apart by Dustin Pague in his next fight. "Brutal" Bedford has double the experience and I like his reach against "Goodnight" Gaudinot. Johnny puts him in a body bag. Johnny Bedford def. Louis Gaudinot via submission 145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage vs. Stephen Bass At 3-1, Brimage doesn't have an extensive body of work, so his TUF fights carry a bit more weight than with some of the other contestants. He had a nice hulk-smash win to get into the house, but showed a weakness on the ground in his loss to Bryan Caraway. Bass came in undefeated and looked like an early favorite with his elimination win over Karsten Lenjoint -- until he was absolutely destroyed by Dennis Bermudez on episode four. You can say he had a bad night but watching his inability to work from guard doesn't bode well against the "Brim," who will likely finish this in the first round -- so long as he doesn't gas himself out in the process. Marcus Brimage def. Stephen Bass via technical knockout 145 lbs.: Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler I was glad to see Clopton get a call-back and to be honest, I kind of wish he was rematched against Dustin Neace. If you missed episode one, they battled for a spot in the house and everyone from Dana White to the coaches to the other fighters thought Clopton had it in the bag. Unfortunately the judges disagreed and gave it to Neace. Siler is more experienced and had a great win over Micah Miller to earn a spot on the roster and the drubbing he received by Diego Brandao did little to shake my confidence in picking him. Clopton has zero wins by (T)KO and I think he gets subbed following a reckless exchange. Josh Clopton def. Steven Siler via submission 145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace Like I said for the Eric Clopton fight, by my scorecards Neace shouldn't have even made it into the TUF house and his two-round loss to Akira Corassani did little to change that perception. That being said, how the heck can you have any confidence in Bryan Caraway after his well-documented anxiety issues? He's got the tools, all he needs is the confidence and above all, the killer instinct. I'm not sure that's something you can learn, you kinda either have it or you don't. I'm still picking him in this fight because he's dating Miesha Tate, so there's got to be some kind of mojo in this kid. Let's hope we see it tomorrow night. Bryan Caraway def. Dustin Neace via split decision 135 lbs.: Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson Delorme's submission win over B.J. Ferguson to get into the TUF house had more to do with a sloppy and reckless gameplan by Fergie than it did a superior skill set by Roland. He was easily disposed of in his second fight against eventual finalist T.J. Dillashaw but the Canadian does have a pretty solid resume prior to entering the land of reality television. I think he matches up well against the other Ferguson and I like his size advantage, but something about about a brother from Kentucky looking for revenge for his kin has me thinking "intangibles" and I give it to the older Fergie by way of first round stoppage. Don't go messin' with a country boy. Josh Ferguson def. Roland Delorme via technical knockout Well folks, there you have it. Now it's time for you to weigh in with all your picks for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 live finale in the comments section below. Who ya' got?

Posted in: fight, vs, ferguson, tuf, lb

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Call him colorful, call him crazy, but Jason "Mayhem" Miller embraced his role as coach on TUF 14 and calls it the best experience of his life.

Posted in: miller, life, tuf, mayhem, experience

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Filed under: UFCPrior to the 14th and final season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike, 210 men had flown to Las Vegas and lived in a phone-free, television-free, internet-free environment for all or parts of six weeks with the hope of winning a tournament and earning a UFC contract. During that time, the idea of being selected for TUF and having your face plastered on television for a few months has come to be considered one of the fastest ways to gain instant fame and credibility as a fighter in the eyes of a mass audience. For the UFC, TUF has come to be the equivalent of a major league farm team, a way to evaluate talent, bolster depth and hopefully develop a superstar or two along the way. As a superstar production unit, the show has had mixed results. It began with a splash in 2005, launching the careers of Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck and others, but in time, competition for talent from other organizations made it more difficult to land prime talent. That's led to criticism from some who believe it no longer serves a real purpose as a feeder. That debate is worth an exploration, though it's ultimately moot as the franchise will continue in a newly revamped style on its new cable home on FX in 2012. But for now, let's take a look at the first 13 seasons of TUF in stats, facts and figures (season 14 is excluded because its competitors have yet to officially fight in the octagon). 3 Fighters who captured a UFC title after appearing on TUF. The first to do it was Matt Serra, who beat Georges St-Pierre in an upset for the ages at UFC 69. Forrest Griffin was next, beating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 86, and Rashad Evans was the last do do so at UFC 92, wresting the belt from Griffin. 10 Fighters who competed for a UFC title after appearing on TUF. Aside from Serra, Griffin and Evans, the others were Nate Quarry, Florian, Diego Sanchez, Koscheck, Joe Stevenson, Patrick Cote and Gray Maynard. Travis Lutter won a title shot against Anderson Silva but missed weight, costing himself a chance at the gold. .642 The winning percentage of the season 1 cast in the UFC, by far the best mark of any of the 13 casts with official octagon experience. The next best mark comes from the season five cast. Highlighted by Gray Maynard, Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon, that group has a collective .604 win percentage. .333 The winning percentage of the season 12 cast in the UFC, the worst mark of any group. To be fair, though, that group has only had 18 combined matches, so it is a small sample size. Six of the 13 casts have losing records in the octagon. 425-391-2, 1 no contest The combined record of every TUF fighter in official UFC fights. 8 The most fighters from one cast never to get an official UFC fight. This happened in season nine, when Santino DeFranco, Richie Whitson, Jason Pierce, Mark Miller, Jeff Lawson, Martin Stapleton, Dean Amasinger and David Faulkner all failed to ever see the octagon in a non-exhibition bout. Season-by-season cast records in UFC matches Season 1: 86-48 Season 2: 60-56-1 Season 3: 38-36 Season 4: 54-69 Season 5: 49-33-1, 1 NC Season 6: 19-24 Season 7: 27-23 Season 8: 31-33 Season 9: 15-19 Season 10: 18-17 Season 11: 15-11 Season 12: 6-12 Season 13: 7-10 Most successful alumni by season 1: Forrest Griffin, 9-5, former UFC light-heavyweight champion; Josh Koscheck 14-5 2: Rashad Evans, 11-1-1, former UFC light-heavyweight champion 3: Michael Bisping, 11-3 4: Matt Serra, 9-7, former UFC welterweight champion, Chris Lytle 10-10 5: Gray Maynard, 8-1-1 6: George Sotiropoulos, 7-2 7: Amir Sadollah, 5-3; Matt Riddle, 5-3 8: Ryan Bader, 6-2; Krystzof Soszynski, 6-2 9: Ross Pearson, 4-2 10: Matt Mitrione, 5-1 11: Court McGee, 3-0 12: Jonathan Brookins, 1-1; Kyle Watson, 1-1 13: Tony Ferguson, 2-0 Most UFC Wins by TUF Alumni 14 - Josh Koscheck 12 - Kenny Florian 12 - Chris Leben 12 - Diego Sanchez 11 - Rashad Evans 11 - Michael Bisping Most UFC Losses by TUF Alumni 10 - Chris Lytle 8 - Joe Stevenson 7 - Chris Leben 7 - Keith Jardine 7 - Jorge Rivera 7 - Matt Serra 7 - Patrick Cote TUF Notes Jason Thacker is one of few fighters to have his one and only pro fight in the UFC. He participated in season one, lost to Chris Leben in the finals, and never fought again. Rashad Evans had the best start to a UFC career of any TUF alumni, going unbeaten in his first nine fights (8-0-1) before Lyoto Machida finally defeated him. That remains the only loss in his career. Season two's Jason Von Flue may be little remembered for his UFC run, but he did find a way to make his name memorable when he tapped out Alex Karalexis with a shoulder choke from side control at The Ultimate Fighter 3 finale, a submission that had never before been seen in the UFC. The move was immediately christened "The Von Flue Choke" in his honor. Season 6 alumni George Sotoripoulos won seven fights in a row without a loss or draw after appearing on TUF, the longest such stretch. Interestingly, Sotiropoulos hadn't even won his season, losing in the semifinals. Season 1 alumni Kenny Florian is the only fighter in UFC history to compete in four different weight classes, starting his career at middleweight and working his way downward to welterweight, lightweight and eventually featherweight. Season 6 alum Jared Rollins fought a war with Jon Koppenhaver in the finale, a bout that won Fight of the Night, but he was still cut after the loss. He never fought again. Season 7's Matt Riddle and Amir Sadollah both have the distinction of having their entire careers in the UFC. Ironically, they're both 5-3. Season 10's Jon Madsen might have the most legitimate gripe about being prematurely released. The heavyweight won his first four bouts in the octagon, then got let go after his first loss dropped him to 4-1. Season 7's Gerald Harris also had a similar fate, getting released following his first loss after a 3-0 start. Post-UFC lives of some memorable characters Sam Hoger Accused of stealing items from his fellow cast members on season 1, Hoger went on to a 2-3 record in the UFC before being cut, although two of his losses were to decisions to eventual champions Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. Hoger went 4-1 in his post-UFC career and now runs his own gym in Houston. Corey Hill A contestant on season five, Hill was an intriguing talent with a 6-foot-4 body somehow cutting down to lightweight. He famously (and grotesquely) broke his leg on a kick against Dale Hartt back in December 2008, and never fought in the UFC again. After over a year away from the sport, Hill returned. He's gone 2-2 since and is facing another former TUF veteran, Charlie Rader, in Florida on Friday night. Tommy Speer Speer, from season 6, showed great promise during the show, beating Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver, Ben Saunders and George Sotirpoulos. But he lost to Mac Danzig in the finals, then was KO'd in spectacular fashion by Anthony Johnson. That marked the end of his UFC run, and he quietly retired soon after. But that retirement didn't last long, and Speer, who is still just 27 years old, has won six of his last seven during his comeback. Junie Browning Browning might win TUF's most hated castmate in a poll, nearly getting kicked off the show multiple times, but he predicted great things for himself during season 8. Browning went just 1-1 in the UFC before being released, and since then, he's gone just 1-4. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fighter, season, loss, tuf

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The official weigh-in event for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale is set to go down later today (Fri., Dec. 2, 2011), inside the Key West Ballroom at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide the latest coverage of the TUF 14 Finale weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. TUF 13 winner Anthony Ferguson will return to where he won it all when he collides with MMA veteran Yves Edwards in other main card action. And of course, the top two finalists from the Spike TV-produced show in the 135 and 145 tournaments will square off for a chance at a "six-figure contract" and TUF bragging rights. Complete TUF 14 Finale weigh in results, after the jump. Main Event: 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping ( ) vs. Jason Miller ( ) Main Card (Spike TV): 135 lbs.: John Dodson ( ) vs. T.J. Dillashaw ( ) 145 lbs.: Diego Brandao ( ) vs. Dennis Bermudez ( ) 155 lbs.: Anthony Ferguson ( ) vs. Yves Edwards ( )135 lbs.: Louis Gaudinot ( ) vs. Johnny Bedford ( ) Preliminary Card (Facebook): 135 lbs.: Dustin Pague ( ) vs. John Albert ( ) 145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage ( ) vs. Stephen Bass ( ) 145 lbs.: Josh Clopton ( ) vs. Steven Siler ( ) 145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway ( ) vs. Dustin Neace ( ) 135 lbs.: Roland Delorme ( ) vs. Josh Ferguson ( ) Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the TUF 14 Finale, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 8 p.m. ET on Sat., Dec. 3, 2011. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier on fight night. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight TUF 14 Finale coverage you can handle.

Posted in: vs, ferguson, tuf, lb, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jason Miller and Katsuyori Shibata pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, MMAFighting sits down with Jason "Mayhem" Miller for 20+ minutes, Five Ounces of Pain hands out it's own Ultimate Fighter awards and Bleacher Report speaks with Miesha Tate about her recent feud with Ronda Rousey. The full list of links is after the jump. - Bisping will be looking to KO Miller from the start (LowKick) - The failure to intimidate (Cage Potato) "Hoping to gain the mental edge, Tito channeled his inner high school bully and made a lunge toward Liddell. While such tactics work wonders on members of the glee club, the mere suggestion of physical contact hardy registers a blink from dudes who get punched in the face on the regular. The Iceman was sick of Tito's tough guy routine and primed to dole out the beating he'd dodged for so many years. He'd leave Ortiz crumpled in the fetal position in just over one round the following evening. Undaunted by his failure to intimidate, Ortiz continued to employ the same psyche-out strategy throughout his career with mixed results. Mental giant Ken Shamrock took the bait with hilarious results, while Ryan Bader could barely muster up a grin in response." - The Ultimate Fighter awards - Spike TV edition (Five Ounces of Pain) Most Useless Coach - Ken Shamrock Shamrock's coaching highlights consisted of calling opposing coach Tito Ortiz a "bitch monkey," bringing in a nutritionist as one of his assistant coaches, and holding a training session that included his fighters watching highlight of, you guessed it, Ken Shamrock. He'll forever go down as the worst coach in TUF history. - Mayhem Miller reflects on long road back to the UFC (MMA Fighting) Ariel Helwani sat down with Jason 'Mayhem' Miller on Wednesday to discuss his long road back to the UFC, the promotion for his fight against Michael Bisping on Saturday, his coaching stint on TUF, whether he ever thought about leaving MMA during his time away from the UFC and much more. - Junior dos Santos breaks down Alistair Overeem vs Brock Lesnar (5thRound) When it comes to top-tier heavyweight action, not many expect for the fights to go the distance. If you were to ask UFC champion Junior dos Santos, the shorter Brock Lesnar can make his top contender scrap against Alistair Overeem, the better chance Lesnar has at advancing to a title bout. - 11 Questions with Reggie Warren (featuring Pat Miletich) (MiddleEasy) "I think MMA guys need to spar two times a week based on the fact, most have to catch up in the striking aspect of fighting. Boxers do a lot of sparring when they are younger and know how to box. They simply need to get in shape and get sharp again for fights. From the looks of it, a lot of MMA guys aren't sparring enough. Lots of sloppy striking in MMA." - Kurt Pellegrino's retirement speech at Bellator 59 (video) (TheFightNerd) At the post-fight press conference for Bellator 59, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said that he would do his best to bring Kurt back into the octagon to fight again. Kurt Pellegrino gave his farewell speech afterwards, stating, "This isn't the way I wanted it to end," Pellegrino said in the post-fight press conference. "You know, walking up the stairs I wanted to honestly tell you that you guys would never ever ever see me fight again unless you're watching old tapes. It's just getting a little hard. I missed my daughter's first words, which were ‘dad,' preparing for this fight." - Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? (Fight Opinion) In the fight game, heavy usage of pain killers, PEDs, sleeping pills, and alcohol (both separate and in concert with each other) is the norm, not the exception. Anyone who is connected to a sport like the NFL or an industry like pro-wrestling can tell you the damage inflicted by heavy usage of painkillers. It's not just the sports world, either, it's American society at large. Addiction to prescription drugs is a terrible problem. - Survey: UFC has growth potential but some still skeptical (MMA Payout) The Sports Business Journal released its results from its annual reader's survey. While the UFC received some praise, the most telling result was whether sponsors should align its brand with the UFC. - Miesha Tate says Ronda Rousey is biting off more than she can chew (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I think it's stupid. i think that either she's not being herself and she's completely trying to hype the fight or she's an idiot. There are plenty of women who can give her a challenge on the ground, one of them being myself. I don't appreciate her arrogance to be honest. If she wants to challenge me and she wants to make it a ground battle, I'll be happy to give it to her and she's not gonna like it." - The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale preview (MMA Convert) As TUF finales go, what's in store for us on Saturday night isn't half bad. A TUF winner-turned-reviled coach is taking on a happy-go-lucky former "Bully Beatdown" host, a quartet of promising bantamweights and featherweights are vying for the coveted brass ring of "The Ultimate Fighter" status (which guarantees them a few somewhat easy fights as they're eased into the Octagon proper), a TUF winner from last season gets to take on someone who was once the uncrowned UFC lightweight champ, and the baddest dude with green hair you'll ever know gets another crack at glory. - The Ultimate Fighter finals predictions (Fightline) In his first and last fights on the show, Bermudez was dropped multiple times early on before coming back and winning with the use of his grappling. In this fight, I don't think he'll make it to the second part of that equation. Brandao hits too hard and is too unforgiving for Bermudez to last for long. Brandao via first-round TKO

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

In Saturday's battle between the TUF 14 coaches, TUF 3 winner Michael Bisping believes he has all the edges.

Posted in: tuf, bisping, michael bisping, areas ’, saturdays battle

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode 10 of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.7 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.91 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.7 million viewers, a season high and up from the 1.4 million viewers episode nine garnered. Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up throughout the season: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 millionEpisode six: 1.6 millionEpisode seven: 1.5 millionEpisode eight: 1.4 millionEpisode nine: 1.4 millionEpisode 10: 1.7 million TUF 14 episode 10 featured the usual shenanigans associated with the reality show along with both John Dodson and Diego Brandao advancing to the live Finale with knockout victories over Johnny Bedford and Bryan Caraway, respectively. To check out a complete detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode 10 click here.

Posted in: reality show, tuf, episode, john dodson, millionepisode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

As TUF finales go, what’s in store for us on Saturday night isn’t half bad.  A TUF winner-turned-reviled coach is taking on a happy-go-lucky former “Bully Beatdown” host, a quartet of promising bantamweights and featherweights are vying for the coveted brass ring of “The Ultimate Fighter” status (which guarantees them a few somewhat easy fights as they’re eased into the Octagon proper), a TUF winner from last season gets to take on someone who was once the uncrowned UFC lightweight champ, and the baddest dude with green hair you’ll ever know gets another crack at glory.  It’s sort of fitting that we have a TUF 14 Finale that promises so much combative fun, as it will mark the end of a reality TV show that gave rise to a sport that – when it first aired in 2005 – was struggling to find itself.  And find itself it did!  Our baby is all grown up and huge!  So on Saturday night, kick back on the couch with a bowl of raw almonds and a freshly-opened can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, and take in the last TUF finale on SpikeTV.  It should be a good one, and dammit, we’ve earned it.  Preview time! -Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller – If there were lessons about douchey-ness that needed to be learned after his first stint as TUF coach, Bisping absolutely did not heed them.  He’s still one of the most unlikeable persons on the planet when the cameras are rolling.  Which isn’t such a bad thing in this instance, as the heat between him and opposing coach Miller hovered around nil all season yet people will still tune in to watch the cocky, self-centered Brit get his ass kicked by the goofy, always-smiling guy standing on the other side of the cage.  In terms of skills, everyone knows how well-rounded Bisping is when fists and takedowns start flying.  Mayhem is well-rounded too, although his jiu-jitsu is top notch – and that, coupled with his aggressive style, gives him the edge over the Brit.  This one is ending via rear naked choke, and it sure ain’t gonna be Michael Bisping who’ll be cinching in that choke. -Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez – Supposedly, featherweight Brazilian jungle beast Brandao knows a move or two in jiu-jitsu.  But you’d never know that, because throughout the entire TUF 14 season he was swinging for the rafters and knocking cats out.  Bermudez, on the other hand, proved to have the kind of resilience that makes you wonder if he’s human or really just organic matter covering a robotic endoskeleton.  Either way, this should be a fantastic fight, with Brandao favored early – when the power in his fists is greatest – and Bermudez favored later.  I’m picking the American to get the Brazilian down and grind him into oblivion, but with Brandao’s firepower, you never know. -TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson – Dillashaw is going into this bout with a distinct size advantage (Dodson could, and maybe should, compete at flyweight) plus he’ll have that Team Alpha Male propensity for blending wrestling with face-punching with the unpredictability of a methamphetamine addict.  Dodson moves like Speedy Gonzales and usually lands about eight strikes to an opponent’s one.  Where does that leave us?  Probably with one fighter somewhat successful at getting the other down and holding him there, but with interludes on the feet where the smaller guy blasts the bigger guy in the grill.  I see Dillashaw earning the decision, but it won’t be easy for him. -Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards – The TUF Winner World Tour continues for Ferguson, who will follow up his jaw-breaking performance over Aaron Riley with a clash against the once-great Edwards.  How great was Edwards?  In 2004 the UFC didn’t have a lightweight belt, but the general consensus was that if they did, it would’ve belonged to him.  Unfortunately, Father Time has taken his toll on Edward’s speed and ability to absorb punishment, so what we’ll likely get on Saturday night is Ferguson using his pinpoint-accurate boxing to great effect against someone who would’ve killed him seven years ago.  *Sigh*  Ferguson takes this one via TKO. -Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford – Like Dodson, Gaudinot is totally going to kill it once the UFC opens up the 125-pound weight class.  Until then, however, he’s going to have to employ his lightning-like striking, capable grappling and unending tenacity against dudes with longer reaches and heads way up in the sky (comparatively).  When it comes to Bedford – who didn’t really show much on TUF 14 other than toughness – Gaudinot shouldn’t have a problem getting around the size difference.  He’s going to be too fast to get a bead on, and too dangerous when Bedford gets his hands on him.  Watch for the Green-Haired One to snag the “W” via TKO.

Posted in: ’t, vs, tuf, brandao, dodson

Read the full article at MMA Convert

TUF 14 wildman Diego Brandao says he's better than Dennis Bermudez and that he's going to KO him in the first round in this exclusive interview.

Posted in: interview, tuf, diego, brandao, dennis bermudez

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

TUF 14 bantamweight finalist T.J. Dillashaw discusses his upcoming fight with John Dodson, the good stuff you didn't see on the show and much more.

Posted in: john, tuf, john dodson, dillashaw, tj

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

It's TUF 14 radio today as MMAWeekly radio welcomes the four finalists from this weekend's finale, plus regular correspondents as well.

Posted in: mmaweekly radio, radio, tuf, mmaweekly, weekends finale

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

With season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter coming to a close last night, the UFC has revealed the full fight card for the TUF 14 Finale this weekend. Considering only two fights were announced previously — Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson — it’s no surprise that the card is chock full of TUF 14 cast members. Check it out: Michael Bisping vs. Jason “Mayhem” Miller FW Final: Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao BW Final: John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford Stephen Bass vs. Marcus Brimage John Albert vs. Dustin Pague Josh Ferguson vs. Roland Delorme Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler Dustin Neace vs. Bryan Caraway The TUF 14 Finale will air Saturday night on Spike TV at 8pm ET. The prelims will stream live on Facebook before the broadcast. Also, for the first time the UFC is giving out $25,000 bonuses for the best fight, knockout and submission from the season. The winners will be determined by fan voting. You can submit yours at Spike’s Facebook page.

Posted in: fight, vs, ferguson, tuf, card

Read the full article at MMA Convert

With the last two finalists now in place, the complete TUF 14 Finale line-up has been revealed. For the first time since The Ultimate Fighter 5, this season's opposing coaches, Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller, will headline the Finale card, set to take place this Saturday night from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also featured will be the TUF 14 Tournament Finals, which pits knockout artist Diego Brandao against Dennis Bermudez at Featherweight, and Team Alpha Male's T.J. Dillashaw

Posted in: saturday night, tuf, finale, dennis bermudez, finale card

Read the full article at Low Kick

With the season wrapping after last night’s episode the UFC has revealed the complete card for Saturday night’s Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale and, as expected, it is extremely heavy in terms of featuring talent from the show. The only bout involving cast-members currently scheduled for the televised broadcast on Spike, other than of course in the TUF championship bouts, will pit semifinalists Johnny Bedford and Louis Gaudinot against each other. Other notable match-ups include Bryan Caraway clashing with Dustin Neace and Fighters.com blogger Marcus Brimage battling Stephen Bass, an opponent he criticized for his lack of conditioning during the season whose biggest claim to fame was blaming coach Michael Bisping for wearing him out a few days prior to his quarterfinal bout. Brimage Takes Bass to Task Over TUF 14 Behavior The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale is headlined by a tussle between team-heads Bisping and Jason Miller, as well as Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez (featherweight) and TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson (bantamweight) locking up in hopes of emerging as TUF 14 king. Read below for the complete TUF 14 Finale lineup: Stephen Bass vs. Marcus Brimage John Albert vs. Dustin Pague Josh Ferguson vs. Roland Delorme Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler Dustin Neace vs. Bryan Caraway Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller Tweet

Posted in: vs, tuf, bisping, finale, teamheads bisping

Read the full article at Fighters.com

If you look close enough, you might see Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 semifinalist Johnny Bedford. "That's what happens when you get knocked out," according to fellow contestant Akira Corassani. See the rest of his thoughts on Wednesday night's episode here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, johnny, bedford, semifinalist

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing another round of "Prelims" to its official Facebook page, this time for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 3, 2011. You know the drill by now: "Like" the UFC on Facebook, watch free fights. It's really is that simple. And if you've been watching this season of TUF, then you'll certainly recognize the 12 fighters who have been tapped to compete for the first time ever inside the Octagon with the hopes of earning invitations to continue their professional mixed martial arts (MMA) careers with the sport's biggest promotion. Check out what's in store for Facebook "friends" at around 5:30 p.m. ET this Saturday night. Hope you enjoy bantamweight and featherweight action because that's all there is: 135 lbs.: Dustin Pague vs. John Albert 135 lbs.: Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford 135 lbs.: Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage vs. Stephen Bass 145 lbs.: Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler 145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight main event between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. In addition, the four finalists who reached the 135- and 145-pound tournament finals, John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw and Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez, respectively, will battle it out to become TUF 14 champions and earn "six figure" UFC contracts. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of TUF 14 Finale, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 8 p.m. ET this Saturday night (Dec. 3, 2011). In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card "Prelims" action that will stream live online via Facebook at around 5:30 p.m. ET on fight night. For all the latest news and notes on TUF 14 Finale be sure to hit up or comprehensive event archive right here.

Posted in: vs, facebook, tuf, lb, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) just put the finishing touches on its upcoming Spike TV fight card for The Ultimate Figher (TUF) 14 Finale, which is set to pop off from The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Dec. 3, 2011. TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. Of course, the four finalists who reached the 135 and 145-pound tournament finals, John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw and Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez, respectively, will also battle it out to become TUF 14 champions and earn "six figure" UFC contracts. That's not all. Check out the current TUF 14 Finale fight card and line up: Main Event: 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller Main Card (Spike TV): 135 lbs.: TUF 14 bantamweight finalists John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw 145 lbs.: TUF 14 featherweight finalists Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez 155 lbs.: Anthony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards Preliminary Card (Facebook): 135 lbs.: Dustin Pague vs. John Albert 135 lbs.: Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford 145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage vs. Stephen Bass 145 lbs.: Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler 145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace 135 lbs.: Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of TUF 14 Finale, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 3. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card "Prelims" action that will stream live online via Facebook much earlier on fight night. We're still a few days away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Bisping vs. Miller" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event. To get up to speed on all the news and notes for TUF 14 Finale check out our extensive event archive right here.

Posted in: vs, tuf, lb, card, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The final three fights have been announced for the 'Ultimate Fighter' season 14 finale.

Posted in: fight, fighter, season, tuf, finale

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The Ultimate Fighter 14 coaches Michael "The Count" Bispin and Jason "Mayhem" Miller will step on the scales at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the official weigh-in ceremony ahead of this Saturday's fight card. The event is co -headlined by the TUF 14 Featherweight Finale bout between Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao, while T.J. Dillashaw takes on John Dodson in the TUF 14 Bantamweight Finale bout. The main card will be completed with Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards, and Johnny

Posted in: tuf, john dodson, tj dillashaw, dennis bermudez, count bispin

Read the full article at Low Kick

Breaking news: Jason Miller thinks he's better at fighting than his upcoming opponent this Sat. night (Dec. 3, 2011) at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale, Michael Bisping. Which is why he's happy that people are counting him out. He explains: "I think the one big point that everybody is trying to make is that Michael Bisping's kickboxing is so good. It's okay. But it's more of a jab and jog style. Strike and bike. He just runs in a circle and punches to not engage in the fight. Well, my style of striking is come forward, come forward, come forward. He's going to be backing up, I'm coming forward twice as fast. I feel like, as far as the stand up goes, he's going to have a lot of trouble keeping me off for one round, let alone five rounds. And then as far as the grappling goes, my takedowns are better than his takedown defense and my grappling is better than his jiu-jitsu. I really feel like... it's great that people are counting me out. I really like it. I really like to be in this position. Really like it. I can't wait to show my skills on Saturday night." So Bisping will be jabbing and jogging, striking and biking, while "Mayhem" will be pushing forward, taking him down and beating him up. Got it. We're just days away from the conclusion of the latest TUF coaching rivalry, Maniacs. Will Miller make a successful reentry into the UFC fold? Or is Bisping on his way to a middleweight title shot and nothing's going to stop him? Opinions, please.

Posted in: michael, tuf, bisping, takedown defense, he

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A season long battle has come down to this – two showdowns for two UFC contracts Saturday night at the Pearl at The Palms, as The Ultimate Fighter 14 finale hits Las Vegas.In the main event, scheduled for five rounds, TUF 14 coaches Michael “The Count” Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller meet in an important middleweight matchup. But before Bisping and Miller collide, two season-ending TUF14 matchups will determine who walks away with the title of Ultimate Fighter in the 145 and 135-pound weight classes.In the TUF14 featherweight final, Diego Brandao meets Dennis Bermudez, and in the TUF 14 bantamweight final, John Dodson takes on TJ Dillashaw.Rounding out Saturday’s main card will be a battle between TUF13 winner Tony Ferguson and veteran Yves Edwards, and a bantamweight scrap pitting Johnny Bedford against Louis Gaudinot.In preliminary bouts…Stephen Bass vs Marcus BrimageJohn Albert vs Dustin PagueJosh Ferguson vs Roland DelormeJosh Clopton vs Steven SilerDustin Neace vs Bryan Caraway

Posted in: vs, tuf, dennis bermudez, tj dillashawrounding, miller collide

Read the full article at UFC

Tony Ferguson’s last visit to The Palms in Las Vegas was only six months ago, but it might as well be forever, considering the change in circumstances since he was preparing to fight Ramsey Nijem for the Ultimate Fighter season 13 title in June.Back then, he was like all other TUF finalists from throughout the years, hoping to earn a UFC contract and secure his situation as a professional fighter. Now, he’s two wins into his career in the Octagon and hoping to make it three in a row when he faces veteran Yves Edwards this Saturday on the TUF14 finale card. Quite a change in fortunes.“It’s awesome to know that all I have to worry about is fighting,” said the 27-year old, who knocked out Nijem for the TUF 13 crown and then stopped Aaron Riley in September. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that. And that’s every fighter’s thing because not everybody has the opportunity to be able to train all day every day.” So if anyone on Saturday’s card can relate to what the TUF 14 fighters are going through right now, wondering if they’ll be UFC fighters or back to the local circuit on Sunday morning, it’s Ferguson.“It was intense,” he said of the fight week anticipation. “It’s like a rollercoaster ride. The shorter that the line goes, the more the intense that the feeling is gonna get. (Coach) Marty Morgan was there to help me alleviate a lot of that by my intense workouts, being in a structured environment, and just being able to make sure that I was under control.”He also took emotion out of it, a key for him not only on that night, but moving forward.“I went into that one (against Nijem) with no anger,” said Ferguson. “I went in there strictly technical and I had nothing against anybody. We were talking to people and they were like, is there any animosity between us, and there wasn’t. And once I have that, that nervousness is gonna turn into fear.”Calm, cool, and collected on fight night, Ferguson took just 3:54 to halt his fellow prospect, then in September he dropped to 155 pounds and stopped Riley, a seasoned vet who taught Ferguson plenty in the five minutes they spent together in the Octagon.“That’s the whole purpose of all this,” he said. “Regardless of the money and everything else, the one thing you need to be able to take away from all this is the experience you gain from the opponent that you’re facing. My dad used to tell me ‘don’t go up to the wrestling chart. It’s not gonna matter what name or what record is in front of you; you have to worry about what you’re gonna do.’ And that’s what I took to Aaron Riley. I did my research and my homework on him afterwards.” That’s not the case this time around though, as he prepares for one of Riley’s old rivals from back in the Hook ‘n Shoot days – Yves Edwards.“I’ve done my homework on Yves, but he’s all over the place,” said Ferguson of a fighter who has won 15 fights by knockout and 17 by submission. “I’ve asked some Muay Thai guys and they said that he’s a little bit older and might not want to stand up with me. Then you get mixed feelings from everybody else, but you’ve got your own intuition as well, so that’s why I make sure all my T’s are crossed and my I’s are dotted. I’m not just looking at one thing. I have to learn from every single fight. I’ve done that since my first amateur fight, and this is a new game.”Not for Edwards it isn’t, so when the bell rings, the creator of “Thug-Jitsu” will not only have his talent to work with, but over 14 years of pro experience on his side. Ferguson remains steely in his conviction that his time has come though.“I see that I’m Yves ten years ago,” he said. “I’m exactly how he was – hungry. We’re in a new spot and in a new evolution of mixed martial arts and the possibilities are endless now. With Yves, he’s coming back, but he’s not gonna beat me. The way I see it, I’m the new generation. It’s the transition between the guys that started this stuff and the guys that are coming up now. If anything, Ferguson, 13-2, has earned the right to be confident heading into his third UFC bout, yet while he is convinced that he has the skill set to do big things in the sport, he knows that Edwards is a huge test in front of him and one he has to respect. So he does.“Nothing is ever after your opponent,” said the Oxnard, California native. “I’m not a UFC lightweight champ, I’m not anything else. I won the 170-pound Ultimate Fighter and that basically got my foot in the door. Now I have to take it to another level. If I preach this evolution of a fighter and I’m not doing anything, it’s just a lot of jibber-jabber.”So when you ask him for some words of wisdom to give to the fighters now standing where he stood just six months ago, it’s all about the work.“My best advice for those guys would be to go out there and work your ass off,” he said. “There’s not much you can do now. It’s what (TUF13 coach) Brock (Lesnar) told me – the hay’s in the barn.”

Posted in: fight, fighter, ferguson, tuf, ’m

Read the full article at UFC

And so it ends, the run of the Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV, a run that gave rise to a culture of “dudes who train UFC” and a run that made the sport of mixed martial arts… well, if not a household name, at least something spoken of in violence-stricken alleyways and testosterone-heavy bars.  From here on out, TUF is something we’ll have to tune in to the FX Network to watch, twisted into some semi-live incarnation that will likely lack the elements of pillow-urine and fruit platter-ejaculate marriage we’ve come to expect and associate with the reality television series.  So let’s savor this last moment of purity, shall we?  For this dance we’ve collectively shared, this romance of ill-advised product placement, canned drama and genuine combat, will never be the same again.  It is truly the end. Okay, savoring over. There are two semifinal matchups left to get through, with Johnny Grunge and John Dodson rounding out the bantamweight selection and Bryan Caraway Seed and Diego Marlon Brando finishing out the featherweights.  First up: Grunge and Dodson! Having shared the same team for the season, the two young warriors have put their sensei – Jason “More often than not, referred to as just Mayhem” Miller – in the awkward position of not being able to coach either one of them for this semifinal bout.  So Mayhem doesn’t, he just sits back and watches while Grunge spars with his greasy hair barely kept in place by a ragged bandana, and while Dodson hops around, leaping over flaming barrels rolled at him by some of his teammates and dodging high-velocity beanbag rounds shot from shotguns held by others. Lame, shallow predictions and statements are made.  “I’m going to punch him, and then when I don’t want to punch him anymore, I’m going to take him down and finish him,” says Grunge.  “I’m going to fight him and then win,” says Dodson.  “I have to calm myself down,” says Johnny Grunge whilst taking a late-night swim in the placid waters of the TUF House pool, a gesture that indicates his fighting isn’t necessarily fueled by emotion.  “I’m awesome and you’re not,” Dodson says to the camera, pretending to convey the message to his opponent. And then they’re fighting.  Like Green-Haired Gaudinot versus the good Reverend Dustin Pague, there’s a heck of a size difference between the two, and the smaller Dodson’s ratatatat punching doesn’t seem to faze the longer, lankier Grunge.  As such, the first round of their bout is pretty much contested solely on the feet, and it’s even.  But then comes Round 2, where Dodson finds Grunge’s chin with a well-timed left hand and sends him falling to the canvas.  The little sparkplug follows him down with a rapid-fire stream of hammerfists that leave Grunge snoozing, and convinced he’s in Ohio when he regains consciousness.  Seriously.  Ohio. Dodson is understandably elated, as his ticket is now punched for facing TJ Dillawhack at Saturday’s live finale.  Conversely, Johnny Grunge is sad.  “I didn’t think he had the power to knock me out, and I was wrong,” he says amidst sobs.  “Also, why are all you guys here in Ohio?  I thought TUF was filmed in Las Vegas…” Onward!  Bryan Caraway Seed is pretty darned scared about having to face the Brazilian 145-pound human killer Diego Marlon Brando, and we’re clear on this emotional baggage after watching the American tremble his way through a conversation in the TUF House hot tub.  Is his fear unfounded?  Well, Diego Marlon Brando did eat the souls of his two prior opponents earlier in the season, and while Caraway Seed is languishing in the hot tub, the camera pans over to Brando, who at that very moment is sharpening a cleaver on a patio stone as a prelude to chopping up raw steak to cook for dinner.  “I’d be scared of the guy but he’s only the size of my leg,” says Bisping of his diminutive ward back at the TUF training center, and we’re led to believe this is some sort of compliment. Bryan Caraway Seed trains but his sheer and utter terror is noticeable by all.  Coach Mayhem gives him a pep talk of sorts, describing how three weeks before his fights he wishes he worked at McDonalds or Starbucks in lieu of getting in a cage for a living.  Caraway Seed is somehow not heartened by this. At the weigh-ins the coaches trade back and forth banter, with Bisping asking Mayhem who will win and Mayhem not committing to a real answer.  The charming Brit offers up a one-hundred dollar wager.  That, Mayhem accepts. It’s the last night in the TUF House, so of course it’s time to party.  To kick off the festivities, Mayhem rides through the house on a BMX bike in just his underwear.  He follows that up with bike jumps in the pool (the younglings follow suit with said bike).  Then there’s beer pong.  Meanwhile, in IHaveToFightTomorrowVille, Diego is telling Siler about God letting him know he’s going to help families in Brazil for Christmas and his brain is strong and some other garbled nonsense – his English so bad even the subtitles make no sense.  Caraway Seed just shivers in a corner, overtaken by anxiety. And then they’re fighting, and Caraway Seed’s wrestling strength is met with brick wall after brick wall of sprawled hips and knees and short punches off the tie-up.  Also, just about every kick the Brazilian throws to the American’s lead leg lands with such force, Caraway Seed is spun completely around.  It’s almost like watching a trained Muay Thai fighter take on a karate point-fighter, Diego Marlon Brando playing the role of the guy who knows how to fight for real and Caraway Seed playing the role of the man doomed. That doom comes eventually, later in the first round, as Diego Marlon Brando stuns him with a punch, blasts him with a kick, knees him, punches the bejeezus out of him, and sends him alternately stumbling, falling to his back, and wobbling all over the place.  Caraway Seed absorbs it all while on autopilot, and in return his body goes through the zombie-like motions of trying to get his assailant to the ground.  But then comes a big punch while Caraway Seed is on the mat attempting to get some sort of guard, and the American is flattened.  Diego Marlon Brando will face Dennis Bermudez at the finale. With that, the fourteenth season of TUF comes to a close.  What did you think?

Posted in: tuf, seed, grunge, dodson, brando

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The final featherweight fight is in the books as Diego Brandao moves on to The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 live finale to face off against Dennis Bermudez on Dec. 3 from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brandao smashed his way into the TUF house with a technical knockout victory over Jesse Newell. He would earn a trip to the semifinals on episode six by beating the brakes off Steven Siler in just 30 seconds. That set up a showdown against Bryan Caraway on the tenth and final episode, which once again would end in favor of the hot-headed Brazilian bomber. Now the only thing that stands between him and TUF immortality is the iron chin of Dennis Bermudez. Bermudez survived a blitzkrieg of punches from Jimmie Rivera in the qualifying round, only to come back and win by way of technical knockout. He would replicate that performance in episode four by pounding out Stephen Bass in the second stanza. That set up a semifinal tilt opposite Akira Corassani, which Bermudez won via first round submission (guillotine choke). TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. TUF 13 winner Anthony Ferguson will return to where he won it all when he collides with MMA veteran Yves Edwards in other main card action. For the updated TUF 14 fight card and line-up click here.

Posted in: tuf, episode, bermudez, middleweight showdown, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The bantamweight final between John Dodson and T.J. Dillashaw is now set for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 live finale on Dec. 3 from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dodson (11-5), murked Brandon Merkt on episode one of the Spike TV reality show to earn his way into the TUF house. From there, he was able to dethrone "Prince" Albert via unanimous decision in his first elimination fight. That set up Wednesday night's semifinal showdown opposite Johnny Bedford, which "The Magician" won after making Bedford's consciousness disappear. Will he pull a six-figure contract out of his hat on Saturday night? Not if Dillashaw has anything to say about it. The former collegiate wrestling standout stopped Matt Jaggers with a first round technical knockout to earn his spot on the roster. In his first elimination fight, he choked out Rolande Delorme to advance to the semis. Once there, Dustin Pague would provide little resistance and Dillashaw cruised to an easy unanimous decision win and right into a spot on the Dec. 3 network-televised event. TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. TUF 13 winner Anthony Ferguson will return to where he won it all when he collides with MMA veteran Yves Edwards in other main card action. For the updated TUF 14 fight card and line-up click here.

Posted in: fight, tuf, dillashaw, dodson, elimination fight

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The TUF 14 bantamweight final is set after the final show aired Wednesday.

Posted in: show, wednesday, bantamweight, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Now that TUF 14 is over, check out who made it to the featherweight finals to compete on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Posted in: saturday night, tuf, featherweight, featherweight finals, featherweight finalists

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Jason "Mayhem" Miller talks to HeavyMMA about his upcoming bout with Michael Bisping, his walkout for the TUF 14 Finale, the talent in the house this season and much more.

Posted in: miller, tuf, bisping, michael bisping, mayhem

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 "It's about to go down," featuring middleweight coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, gets underway a little later this evening at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV. Tonight's final episode will feature the following semifinal fights: 135 lbs.: Johnny Bedford vs. John Dodson145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Diego Brandao Who will join Dennis Bermudez and T.J. Dillashaw in Saturday night's live finale? Find out tonight! Be sure to stay tuned immediately following the show for our complete recap. In the meantime, go ahead and sound off in the comments section on all things TUF!

Posted in: vs, tuf, episode, jason miller, tj dillashaw

Read the full article at MMA Mania

T.J. Dillashaw entered The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 with very high expectations. What can you expect when you train at Team Alpha Male alongside the likes of former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion Urijah Faber, former number one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 145-pound contender Joseph Benavidez and current top featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes every single day? However, perhaps living and training with an elite team of fighters left Dillashaw unprepared for life in TUF house during the six-week filming session in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's because he had some pretty rough things to say about being cooped up there during a recent guest appearance on Pro MMA Radio, even going as far as to say that perhaps prisoners would be better off than he and his fellow cast mates. Read all about the unbearable conditions after the jump: "[Prisoners] almost have it even better. They get to watch TV, they don't have to make weight, they get to listen to music, they don't have cameras following them around everywhere they go in the house. It was crazy, man. You're hanging out with people you could possibly be fighting with shortly. You don't know who or what's going on, you've got people getting in cliques together, talking crap about each other, hearing the same stories that guys are telling over and over and over because they're running out of crap to talk about. Some of the guys are out of the tournament so they're getting drunk and being ridiculous. It's crazy when you have that much testosterone in one house." Dillashaw was a member of Team Bisping and if you watched this season, you noticed that coach Michael Bisping wasn't exactly the easiest guy to get along with. In fact, "The Count" went out of his way to be as disrespectful as possible at times. While he also had some nice things to say about his coach, Dillashaw relayed some of the worst parts of being a member of the team: "The worst thing, he gets involved in competitions, any type of competition that there is. The competition was pranking each other and being jerks to the other team and he exceeded that level and kinda pushed it to the extreme, he wanted to be the best at what we were doing so I think he was being a bit of a hypocrite at some points and kinda got out of hand in terms of antagonizing the other team." Dillashaw got into the sport because Mark Munoz was one of his wrestling coaches when he was attending Cal State Fullerton. And through him, he actually had an opportunity to train with opposing TUF coach, Jason Miller, before casting for the show ever began. Thus, with his unique experience rolling with "Mayhem," as well as spending six weeks being coached by Bisping, he was able to offer a little more insight into their upcoming fight than the average Joe: "It all depends where it goes. If it stays on the feet, Bisping's got good takedown defense and it seemed like he was working on that a lot while we were there, I think Bisping's gonna win the fight if it stays on the feet. If it goes to the ground, I just feel like Miller's experience in jiu-jitsu will take over and he'll win the fight on the ground so it all depends on where this fight ends up going." Dillashaw will battle the winner of Johnny Bedford versus John Dodson this Saturday night (Dec. 3, 2011) at TUF 14 Finale, which is set to take place at The Palms in Las Vegas. The winner of the fight will win the 145-pound tournament-style competition and earn a "six-figure" UFC contract. Will the painstaking six-week prison-like experience ultimately payoff for Dillashaw this weekend or was he better off serving his time in solitary confinement? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, team, tuf, bisping, dillashaw

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The finale for the fourteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter is set to grace our television sets on Saturday night, and with that grand SpikeTV exit (no more TUF on SpikeTV!) comes a marquee matchup between TUF 14 coaches extraordinaire Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.  Now, everyone in the TUF Generation knows “The Count” – he won TUF 3, coached a season of the reality TV show opposite Dan Henderson, and is so beloved outside the cage that fans pelt him with rocks and garbage whenever they see him in public.  But Mayhem… what did he do again?  Ha, fear not, my uninformed friend, because here’s a nice little primer on “Mr. Wacky-Zany Character Guy” (as Bisping called him in this season’s sixth episode).  You might be surprised to learn that before his stint as Chief Riot Starter in Strikeforce and host of MTV’s “Bully Beatdown”, he ruled the Hawaiian circuit with an iron fist, and once fought Georges St. Pierre when the Canadian was still a young doe-eyed kid coming up in the Octagon.  Or maybe you won’t be surprised.  I don’t know.  Just read on. -Mixing aggressive jiu-jitsu (he has a black belt) with Muay Thai, Mayhem is one of those “go for it” kinds of fighters who doesn’t wait for openings as much as he tries to create them.  This, plus the fact that he’s not afraid to pause while in a dominant position and mug for the crowd, has endeared him to fans since about when his career began ten years ago.  (The whole mugging thing has also ended up creating more than a few instances of post-fight turmoil, but hey, that’s Hawaii for you.) -In 2004, Mayhem schooled Hawaiian fighter Ron Jhun so deftly on the ground in a Superbrawl championship bout that Joe Silva invited him to the UFC.  There, Miller took on St. Pierre, who was considered an up-and-comer in the welterweight division at the time.  The fight went the distance and Mayhem got his ass kicked throughout, but even when he was beaten and bloody he was still grinning at the crowd. -After that venture into the Octagon, Miller returned to the minor leagues and pretty much submitted everyone (including Robbie Lawler) for the next year and a half – a feat that earned him an Icon Sport championship title.  Frank Trigg out-struck him when they clashed, though, and when Miller fell stunned to the canvas, Trigg absconded with the middleweight belt and that was that. -Mayhem’s next loss was about a year and a half later, and it came via decision at the hands of Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at a DREAM event in Japan.  They eventually rematched, although that one ended with a “no contest” after Miller inadvertently punted the Brazilian in the dome and Souza couldn’t continue. -For racking up wins over the likes of Denis Kang, Egan Inoue, Falaniko Vitale, Robbie Lawler and Tim Kennedy, the big question mark that’s always hung over Miller’s head was something along of the lines of “Why isn’t this badass fighter in the UFC?” and that talk persisted even after his loss to St. Pierre.  But the always-grinning, always-wise-cracking Georgia native has done well for himself outside of the Octagon, and when Jake Shields needed an opponent for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight strap back in 2009, few objected when Mayhem got the slot.  And sure, Shields pretty much controlled him on the ground, but there was the briefest moments in Round 3 of their five-rounder when Miller very nearly had Shields tapping to a rear naked choke.  Bottom line: the dude’s got skills.

Posted in: fighter, ’t, miller, tuf, mayhem

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The official weigh-in event for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale is set to go down on Fri., Dec. 2, 2011, inside the Key West Ballroom at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide the latest coverage of the TUF 14 Finale weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. TUF 14 Finale will feature a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, who coached opposite each other on this season of the promotion's mixed martial arts (MMA) reality series. TUF 13 winner Anthony Ferguson will return to where he won it all when he collides with MMA veteran Yves Edwards in other main card action. And of course, the top two finalists from the Spike TV-produced show in the 135 and 145 tournaments will square off for a chance at a "six-figure contract" and TUF bragging rights. Here is the current TUF 14 Finale fight card: Main Event: 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller Main Card (Spike TV): 135 lbs.: Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2* 145 lbs.: Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2* 155 lbs.: Anthony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards Preliminary Card (Streamed on Facebook): TBA Finalists and additional preliminary match ups expected to be announced at the conclusion of episode 10 on Weds., Nov. 30, 2011. Stay tuned. For those fortunate enough to be in "Sin City" for the promotion's return to "The Palms," remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 6 p.m. ET for the general public. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend an exclusive Q&A session with UFC light heavyweight and TUF veteran Stephan Bonnar on that same day at 5 p.m. ET (check-in starts at 4:30 p.m.). Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the TUF 14 Finale, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 9 p.m. ET on Sat., Dec. 3, 2011. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier on fight night. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight TUF 14 Finale coverage you can handle.

Posted in: vs, pm, tuf, finalist, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The middleweight match-up between Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller is all set for this weekend (Dec. 3, 2011) at "The Pearl" from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. As per usual, Bisping and Miller, after verbally bashing each other throughout the season, will now meet inside the Octagon to physically bash each on Saturday night. But, unlike most seasons, when the two meet inside the cage it won't be on pay-per-view. Instead, for just the second time in the show's history, the coach vs. coach match-up will go down at the live Finale. And now it's going to be a five-rounder. Bisping, a TUF veteran in every sense of the word (won TUF 3 and coached TUF 9), is currently the -200 favorite for this "Sin City" showdown. Miller is no noob to this reality show thing. "Mayhem" has been the host of MTV's "Bully Beatdown" for three seasons dating back to March 2009. All the ingredients are there. Controversial? Check. Gimmicky? Check. Can't stop talking? Check. Oh, and he's a pretty good fighter, too. Despite coming in as a +160 underdog, he's proven in both stateside and International competition he's got the tools to beat anyone in the 185-pound division. TUF 14 Finale will also feature, for the very first time in the long history of the show, finalists from the bantamweight (135-pound) and featherweight (145-pound) divisions. Any Maniacs have an early pick to win it all? And who takes the battle of coaches? Who's plunking down some coin on this weekend's fight card?

Posted in: season, coach, miller, tuf, bisping

Read the full article at MMA Mania

That's according to this new video from Ranger Up, who not surprisingly, will be cheering for Jason Miller when he battles opposing TUF coach Michael Bisping at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale this Saturday night (Dec. 3) in Las Vegas. Ranger up sponsors Jorge Rivera, who was involved in the "Spitsbing" incident at UFC 127 earlier this year, as well as Tim Kennedy, who just flat-out can't stand "The Count." Anyone else rooting for "Mayhem" to crack the cocky Brit right in the kisser? For more on the TUF 14 Finale click here.

Posted in: tuf, jason miller, finale, spitsbing incident, count anyone

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Michael Bisping fail .gif from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14, episode nine. "The Count" won an air hockey match over his opponent and rival coach, Jason "Mayhem" Miller and celebrated in style, but falling on his keister, like he was Mark Coleman in Pride. Just a way to lighten our Sunday, Maniacs. If you missed the latest episode of TUF 14, click here for a complete recap and rundown.

Posted in: tuf, episode, michael bisping, air hockey, sunday maniacs

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Event: The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 FinaleDate: Sat., Dec. 3, 2011, at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TVLocation: Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada Main Event: 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller Main Card (Spike TV): 135 lbs.: Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2*145 lbs.: Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2*155 lbs.: Anthony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards Preliminary Card (May not be televised): TBA *Finalists and additional preliminary match-ups expected to be announced at the conclusion of episode 10 on Wednesday, November 30. For more on the TUF 14 live finale click here.

Posted in: vs, tuf, lb, finalist, tba finalists

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The TUF Finale goes down 9PM next Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada at The Pearl. This is a perfect setting for one of Jason “Mayhem” Millers world famous entrances. In his last fight, at a Dream event in Japan, he came in lip singing to an electro rap song and wore a silver jump suit. [...]

Posted in: miller, tuf, dream event, finale, tuf finale

Read the full article at Fighthub TV

Calling all (Brazilian) TUF guys! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently announced an open casting call for yet another installment of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise on Dec. 14, 2011, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lightweight (155-pounds) and middleweight (185-pounds) hopefuls are required to be over the age of 21 and have a professional fight record with a minimum of three fights (two of which must be wins). Dress code would be that of a normal sparring session and candidates are expected to bring the appropriate gear and equipment. TUF Brazil, filmed entirely in Portuguese and airing via Globo, will follow TUF 15 on FX, which will have its own tryouts on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada, following the TUF 14 weekend finale. No coaches have been named for either season; however, expect TUF Brazil to (duh) feature a pair of the promotion's more popular Brazilian fighters. If you live in Brazil and think you've got some skill, apply for the upcoming season of TUF Brazil by clicking here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, dec, brazil, tuf brazil

Read the full article at MMA Mania

After an impressive victory last night over Brian Bowles at UFC 139 it appears Urijah Faber will rematch UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. The fight will be the rubber match between Cruz and Faber. The two heated rivals most recently faced off at UFC 132, a fight which Cruz won a hard-fought decision over Faber. UFC President Dana White did not name when the two will face each other but did rule out January UFC on Fox 2. Cruz had surgery to repair an injured finger sustained against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 and is not expected to be ready until the spring. At the UFC 139 post-fight press conference, Faber lobbied White to make Cruz and Faber coaches on the upcoming TUF 15. While White did not confirm or deny the idea, he intimated it was possible. Faber and Cruz were nearly coaches on the current season of TUF before being scrapped for Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, and finally Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Bisping.  

Posted in: ufc, tuf, michael bisping, cruz, faber

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode nine of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.44 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.71 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.4 million viewers, exactly the same as episode eight last week.  Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 millionEpisode six: 1.6 millionEpisode seven: 1.5 millionEpisode eight: 1.4 millionEpisode nine: 1.4 million Nine episodes down, three more to go. TUF 14 episode nine featured the usual shenanigans associated with the reality show along with T.J. Dillashaw advancing to the bantamweight finals with a unanimous decision victory over Dustin Pague. To check out a complete detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode nine click here. 

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, decision victory, millionepisode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

HeavyMMA's resident Ultimate Fighter blogger - and new TUF 14 Finalist – discusses his semi-final bout with Dustin Pague.

Posted in: tuf, pague, fighter blogger, semifinal bout, resident

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

It's a battle of two generations of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) this Saturday night (Nov. 19, 2011) as rising TUF season eight alumni Kyle Kingsbury takes on TUF season one legend Stephan Bonnar in the opening bout of the UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" main card from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. For an in-depth preview of their light heavyweight match-up click here.

Posted in: tuf, tuf season, kyle kingsbury, opening bout, fighter tuf

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Episode nine of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14, featuring middleweight coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, gets underway a little later this evening at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV. Tonight, the long-awaited coaches challenge (air hockey!), some bug eating and a bantamweight semifinal fight between Dustin Pague and T.J. Dillashaw. Good times! Be sure to stay tuned immediately following the show for our complete recap. In the meantime, go ahead and sound off in the comments section on all things TUF!

Posted in: tuf, spike tv, jason miller, tj dillashaw, comments section

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode eight of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.37 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.81 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.4 million viewers, down slightly from the 1.5 million viewers episode seven garnered.  Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 millionEpisode six: 1.6 millionEpisode seven: 1.5 millionEpisode eight: 1.4 million Eight episodes down, four more to go. TUF 14 episode eight featured the usual shenanigans associated with the reality show along with Dennis Bermudez advancing to the featherweight finals with a second round guillotine submission win over Akira Corassani. To see what they are and for a complete detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode eight click here.

Posted in: fighter, reality show, tuf, episode, millionepisode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: Team Evans vs. Team Jones? Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who not only won season two of the Spike TV reality show as a heavyweight, but also returned as a coach opposite Quinton Jackson for season 10, "loved" the experience and would "do it again" if the opportunity presented itself. But as he tells Mirror.co.uk, he's not digging the new live format: "I loved it. One of the best experiences I had was being a coach on (TUF). If I got the chance to be a coach on the show again, I'd do it. But the difference now is that it's live, which means I'd have to be in training camp too, so I don't know it it would be as fun. I like to have my things when I'm training, the comfort of my home and be able to do the things I like to do. It's kinda hard when you gotta be away for training camp. I don't think I'd wanna do it like that." The TUF franchise is getting a complete overhaul for next season when it leaves Spike TV for the FX channel as part of the promotion's $100 million network deal with FOX. Here's what to expect: 13 live episodes airing on the "FX" channel. Live, two-hour season premier will feature 32 fighters facing off in "all-or-nothing" fights to earn their place on the show.After coaches pick their teams, they will choose who is eligible for each bout. Viewers can also vote on and influence prospective match-ups. Each weekly show will be a "countdown" to that week's fight, which will air live at the end of each episode. Cameras will follow both winners and losers into the locker room following the fights.The season culminates in an all-live finale to crown the next TUF champion. Evans would be open to returning, but would you be open to having him? How pumped would you be for a season that paired him off against Jon Jones? Or the winner of Hendo vs. Shogun? It would have to be a fight that could be shown on network television -- and that makes a "Suga" vs. "Bones" season unlikely. Then again, never say never. Anyone have coaches in mind for next season?

Posted in: season, coach, tuf, evan, id

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Does your tie put you in a submission hold every time you get dressed for a wedding? Have you broken your hand trying to shadow box? Do you lose your breath while strapping your Velcro your shoes? Have you been knocked unconscious by a strong gust of wind? If you answered “yes” to any (even worse, all) of these questions then you may not be the Ultimate Fighter. However, if none of those situations applies to you, and you weigh between 155 and 170 pounds, then the UFC is looking for you! The UFC is now accepting applications for TUF 15 featuring lightweight and welterweight fighters. Of course you’ll also have to have at least a three fight professional MMA winning record and be 21 years old or older. The show that has had some great, and not so great, fighters work through it’s paces has yet to announce the two fighters that will assemble their teams. But if it’s one things you can count on is top notch coaches leading a young core of combatants such as Brock Lesnar, Rashad Evans, Chuck Lidell, Georges St. Pierre, Tito Ortiz, and the always entertaining Quentin Jackson. So bring your gloves, bring your skills, and your nude dancing talent (if that’s your thing), and apply to be on the next TUF when it airs on FX in 2012. Check Out the Latest Blog from TUF 14′s Marcus Brimage Click this UFC link for more details on how to apply. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, shadow box, welterweight fighters

Read the full article at Fighters.com

TUF is holding steady. Wednesday's episode of The Ultimate Fighter 14 drew a little less than the last two weeks, but still fairly well, with an average of 1.5 million viewers. The event scored a 1.1 household rating, a 1.48 rating among males 18-49, and a 1.68 among males 18-34.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, rating, wednesdays episode

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode seven of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.48 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.68 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.5 million viewers, down slightly from the 1.6 million viewers episode six garnered.  Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 millionEpisode six: 1.6 millionEpisode seven: 1.5 million Seven episodes down, five more to go. TUF 14 episode seven featured the usual shenanigans associated with the reality show along with T.J. Dillashaw choking out Roland Delorme to advance to the semifinals. Speaking of which, all the match-ups were announced for said semifinals, which begin next week. To see what they are and for a complete detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode seven click here.

Posted in: fighter, reality show, tuf, episode, millionepisode

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by drewleathers [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: tuf, btw, drewleather

Read the full article at Reddit

TUF 13 fighter Myles Jury never even got the chance to prove he belonged with the best of the best on the show, so now after recovering from knee surgery, he's gunning for the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, myle, myles jury, jury

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The Ultimate Fighter 15 will feature lightweights and welterweights when it debuts on its new home on FX with a new format next year. Tryouts for TUF 15 will take place on December 5 in Las Vegas, two days after The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale takes place in “Sin City.” Welterweights have been featured five times, most-recently for TUF 13 earlier this year, while lightweights were featured for the fourth time on TUF 12 last year. The Ultimate Fighter 15 fights will air live on FX on Fridays likely starting in March leading up to The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale, with the coaches fighting one week later. For the latest UFC news and The Ultimate Fighter 15 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: UFC Preisdent Dana White

Posted in: fighter, year, tuf, lightweight, year tryouts

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Calling all TUF guys! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently announced an open casting call for the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise at Texas Station in North Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. Lightweight (155-pounds) and welterweight (170-pounds) hopefuls should arrive at the Dallas Ballroom between 8 and 9 a.m. local time. Registration will take place as soon as the doors open and tryouts are set to begin promptly at 10 a.m.-- don't be late! No debut or possible coaching candidates for season 15, which will make its debut on the FX channel in 2012, are known at this time. Applicants must be over the age of 21 and have a professional fight record with a minimum of three fights. Dress code would be that of a normal sparring session and candidates are expected to bring the appropriate gear and equipment. To download a copy of the TUF 15 application click here.

Posted in: tuf, championship ufc, texas station, tuf guys, dallas ballroom

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The first details for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter are starting to trickle in. The UFC announced today that TUF 15 will feature lightweights and welterweights and open tryouts have been scheduled for Dec. 5 at Texas Station in Las Vegas, NV. Applicants can also apply online at UFC.com. To be considered, you must be 21 years of age and have a winning record with at least 3 professional fights. TUF 15 will serve as the first season of The Ultimate Fighter to air on FX in the new live fight format.

Posted in: fight, tuf, lightweight, texas station, feature lightweights

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The Ultimate Fighting Championship made a historic deal with FOX networks earlier this year. One of the biggest stories to come out of that deal is the new Ultimate Fighter format. Each year will feature two seasons of TUF, which each weekly fight airing live on FX. The Friday night show will feature a wrap up of the previous week, leading into the live fight, followed by what has been deemed the aftermath portion. This means that for 26 Fridays next year, there will be a live fight on FX. The finales will also air live on FX. Today the UFC announced that TUF 15 will feature lightweight (155 lb) and welterweight (170 lb) fighters. The coaches have yet to be named. Interested in trying out? Take a look at the application after the jump. TUF 15 features 155lb and 170lb Fighters TUF Application THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® 15 (on FX) TRYOUTS The Ultimate Fighter® season 15 is open to Lightweights (155lb) and Welterweights (170lb) fighters. REQUIRMENTS: 1. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age. 2. All applicants must have a winning record of at least 3 PROFESSIONAL MMA fights. All records will be verified on sherdog.com and mixedmartialarts.com. If we cannot verify your record on either of these sites you will NOT be considered. 3. All applicants must complete and sign the application. THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO APPLY 1. Attend the Open Call in Las Vegas NV, on Monday, December 5, 2011 Texas Station 2101 Texas Star Lane North Las Vegas, NV 89032 Tryouts will be held in the Dallas Ballroom For room reservations please call 1-800-654-8888 All applicants must arrive between 8AM – 9AM for registration. Fighters will be required to grapple and hit pads, so please dress appropriately and bring all necessary gear. (Mouth guard, cup, hand wraps & gloves)

Posted in: fight, fighter, year, tuf, lb

Read the full article at Octagon Mania

Apparently Helwani got an email in Portuguese that might have said Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva would coach the brazilian TUF. Thoughts? submitted by egonzalez811 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma hour, anderson silva, tuf, vitor belfort, tuf rumor

Read the full article at Reddit

Filed under: UFC, NewsJust last week, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Brazil would be the first country to produce an international edition of The Ultimate Fighter. According to a new report, the show will bring with a pair of top-level coaches, including the man that many believe to the best fighter in history. Extra Globo, a major news outlet in Brazil, is reporting that Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort will coach the two teams in the series, which is set to begin in March 2012. The newspaper is part of the massive Globo Organization. Its television arm recently struck a deal with the UFC to broadcast the promotion's events and is also the future home of TUF in Brazil. The upcoming edition of TUF: Brazil is likely to air in the US on FUEL under the terms of the UFC's new deal with FOX-owned networks. Meanwhile, the UFC is trying to finalize a next opponent for Silva. He had been expected to face Chael Sonnen on Super Bowl weekend, but with a welterweight title fight between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz now penciled into that event, Silva-Sonnen may be moved to a different date on the calendar. White had been scheduled to meet with Silva's representatives over the weekend, but he did not respond to a Monday morning MMA Fighting inquiry about whether that meeting had actually occurred. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, silva, tuf, edition, brazil

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

I'm getting a little bit sick of the international game of musical chairs going on regarding foreign TUFs. Every week it seems like there's a new country getting it's own TUF, and a new schedule for when they're going to happen. Whatever. I'm just 'reporting' this crap. Now it sounds like the first people getting an exotic Ultimate Fighter season will be ... Brazil! The UFC has finally, officially signed a deal to produce its first international edition of The Ultimate Fighter.And despite UFC president Dana White's past statements that it would probably take place in either Canada or The Philippines, it will instead take place in Brazil."It's a done deal," White said on Thursday afternoon.White said the UFC had signed a deal to produce and air the series in Brazil, though he did not yet know exactly where it would take place. But the series is also likely to air in the U.S. Under the promotion's new FOX deal, White said there are ongoing discussions, and that the show is likely to air on FUEL."Let me tell you what, if you're a UFC fan, you want FUEL," he said. "FUEL's going to be loaded with all kinds of UFC programming including live fights, and live fights from other countries." Translation: FUEL will be the dumping ground for all the strange UFC odds and ends. Not that I'm complaining. I look forward to 3pm showings of UK fight nights and the subtitled shenanigans of foreign TUFs. The great thing about FUEL is no one gives a shit about the Jay Mohr debating show or surfing garbage they have on there right now so everything from foreign events to press conferences are a major step up.I'm not all that surprised that Brazil seems to be ending up first in line for their own TUF. After the media bonanza and amazing response to UFC RIO, you'd have to be more brain damaged than your average TV exec to turn down an opportunity to broadcast a UFC reality series. Now we can go ahead and start speculating about who's gonna coach the teams. I vote for Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. The fight would probably be a slaughter, but I think Wand's life is a small price to pay for a solid first season of EL LUTADOR ULTIMO!!!!!

Posted in: ufc, deal, tuf, brazil, fuel

Read the full article at Fightlinker

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode six of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.5 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.7 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.6 million viewers, exactly the same average as last week's show. Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 millionEpisode six: 1.6 million Six episodes down, six more to go. TUF 14 episode six featured the usual TUF house shenanigans capped off by a pair of bouts that saw Diego Brandao knock out Steven Siler and John Dodson earn a unanimous decision win over John Albert. For a complete detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode six click here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, john dodson, steven siler

Read the full article at MMA Mania

LAS VEGAS -- It was only two years ago that Matt Mitrione was a green rookie on The Ultimate Fighter. During that season, he was picked 13th out of 16 fighters, yet despite being the newest to the game, he's now on the verge of being the most high profile of the bunch. At Saturday's UFC 137, Mitrione will make a big leap in opponent level, facing the veteran Cheick Kongo. Mitrione has always been prized for his promise and athleticism, but given his late start in MMA (he was already over 30 when he started his pro career), there have always been questions if he can pull everything together in time to make himself a factor in the UFC's heavyweight division. With a win over Kongo, he will have accomplished that, even though it's not something he's not focused on. "I haven't really thought too much about it because I'm not paid to think about it," he said. "I'm paid to go out and try to put on the best performance I can. And if I do well and go out and beast him, that's a conversation to have. And if I go out there and get my ass kicked, then that's a conversation not to be had. But I don't really have to worry about either one of those until the press conference afterwards." Describing Kongo as "the upper-end measuring stick," Mitrione acknowledged that this fight will provide information on just where he stands in his career. The 33-year-old has been brought along in a measured process until now, winning all five of his fights, with four coming by way of KO or TKO. It's been a strong run in his second pro sport. After playing collegiate football at Purdue Mitrione made it to the NFL, spending time with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. But after being cut in week six of the 2005 season, he transitioned from athletics to corporate America, where he designed and sold benefits packages for corporations. While he made a good living, it didn't quite scratch his competitive itch, and the sports door opened back up when his friend, Washington Nationals' baseball player Jayson Werth decided to produce an MMA event and asked Mitrione to take part in it. Mitrione, who had begun training ended up getting hurt and didn't fight, but by that time, he had developed friendships with Chris Lytle and Jake O'Brien, and he stuck with MMA. Six months later, he was on TUF. Wednesday's fighter workouts took place at the TUF gym, providing Mitirone with some flashbacks from his early days. "I was kind of struggling day by day," Mitrione said of his time on the show. "I was d------ around too much. I kind of lost a lot of my wide-angle focus. I got tunnel vision pretty well on just fighting Scott Junk and making things happen that way. It's nice I'm on a little bit of winning streak. It's nice to come in here and have a little bit of something under my belt. But yeah, I was here, it sucked, but it was the best worst thing of my life." Mitrione said that the 20-something version of himself would not have been able to handle this rise, saying "I probably would have been a flash in the pan, if I was even a flash." "It's something that I'm mature enough to be able to handle this career now," he said. "When I was younger, I was a dumbass. I was drunk and partied way too hard so I probably would have f----- it up somehow." Mitrione has shored up his training, flying in grappling coach Neil Melanson to work with him, spending hours on the road to improve his wrestling with coach Ryan Root, and even traveling to Florida to train with his former TUF coach Rashad Evans. So Mitrione is embracing his TUF roots in order to achieve his future goals. He knows full well about Kongo. The French fighter is dangerous, with powerful, accurate strikes, and Mitrione is aware that his usual aggression could play into Kongo's hands. Yet he believes that everything has led him to this moment. His early immaturity, his time on TUF, his late-blooming MMA career, it has all led him to the brink of breaking into contender status. "I see it as the right opponent at the right time," he said. "It's definitely a step up from the caliber of competition I've faced already. I'm excited for it. It's something I've wanted." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: time, kongo, mitrione, tuf, im

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

If you haven’t seen the sixth episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. The sixth episode of TUF now in the bag, we are slowly getting closer to the December 3rd finale going down in Las Vegas. Michael Bisping last night showed once again why he is one of the most hated men in Mixed Martial Arts, Diego Brandao instills fear into the feathers in the house, and John Dodson showcases

Posted in: tuf, episode, fighter website, art, haven ’t

Read the full article at Low Kick

Filed under: UFC, NewsFor young fighters trying to make their names through the UFC's "Ultimate Fighter" series, it doesn't get more pressure-filled than the TUF finals. Ramsey Nijem experienced the pressure first-hand in June at the TUF 13 Finale against Tony Ferguson. But it wasn't the pressure that led to his loss. Nijem told host Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour" that it was his pride that got in the way, and that, along with a Ferguson left, saw his dream of being a TUF champion go out the window. "It wasn't nerves as much as my pride got to me a little bit," Nijem said of his knockout loss to Ferguson. "Tony's a really good striker, hits hard and has good head movement. People said, 'You'll get knocked out if you stand with him,' and the critics were right on that. I just learned from that to play to my strengths and not play to their strengths." Nijem (4-2, 0-1 UFC), who trains at The Pit Elevated camp in Utah along with TUF 11 champ Court McGee, made his reputation in the TUF house as a fun-loving competitor who would go to just about any length for a laugh - including disrobing, leading to his "Stripper Ramsey" nickname catching on. He said bringing a relaxed attitude to his fight game should help him get back in the win column - but if it doesn't, he can live with it. "I'm a much better fighter when I'm just out there having fun," Nijem said. "As long as I'm just out there for the right reasons, I'll be successful and won't have any regrets after the fight. If I execute my game plan and still lose and have fun, that's all I can expect out of myself." Nijem fought at welterweight on Season 13 of TUF, but for his UFC 137 fight Saturday against Danny Downes (8-2, 0-1 UFC), he drops back to lightweight. It's a weight he believes will be beneficial to him because of his size. The Palestinian-American fighter, who wrestled collegiately at Utah Valley University, said 155 will be a tough cut for him, but one he thinks will pay off. He fought at lightweight once before moving to welterweight for a shot at the UFC in the spring during his TUF season. "I was fighting at '55 before I went on the show, kind of bouncing around between (lightweight and welterweight)," Nijem said. "I just feel my size can make up for my lack of experience in the ring. '55's a pretty big cut for me. If I was on the show at '55 the season before, I don't think I would've performed as well. '70 was a good opportunity for the show, and be able to drop back down to '55 after." Against Downes, Nijem faces an opponent also in search of his first UFC win. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter lost a unanimous decision to Jeremy Stephens at the TUF 13 Finale in June after going 1-1 in the WEC before the merger. Nijem said he knew from seeing Downes' fight against Stephens that he might be hard to finish, but believes his skill set can top Downes'. "Danny is a tough opponent - he's the kind of person you can never count out," Nijem said "He's in shape, he hits hard and he's there to fight. He's not easy to finish. But I feel I'm a better fighter, more explosive, more athletic and I'll be bigger the day of the fight. I'm obviously the better wrestler and grappler. This is a winnable fight for me, but Danny's tough and I'm ... getting ready for a three-round grind." Nijem and Downes fight on the preliminary card of UFC 137 on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Their lightweight fight will be one of four prelims that will stream live on the UFC's Facebook fan page. UFC 137 is headlined by a welterweight contenders bout between former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. That fight became the main event when welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre had to pull out of his title fight against Carlos Condit with an injury last week. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, welterweight, tuf, nijem

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The UFC has announced that last season’s Ultimate Fighter winner, Tony Ferguson, will compete alongside the four finalists from TUF 14 on December 3 when he takes to the cage against Yves Edwards as part of the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 Finale. The 27-year old Ferguson will be going for his sixth straight stoppage when he faces the vastly more-experienced Edwards including a pair of TKOs in his two post-show appearances. “El Cucuy” was last seen breaking Aaron Riley’s jaw in September at UFC 135 and subsequently forcing the ringside physician to call for the bout’s ending based on Riley’s inability to continue. Edwards, who has 59 professional bouts in comparison to Ferguson’s fourteen, found success earlier this month by picking up a second stanza TKO over Rafaello Oliveira at UFC Live 6. The victory was his fourth in five fights and ninth inside the Octagon. In addition to determining the season’s bantamweight and featherweight champions, TUF 14’s live conclusion will also feature a showdown between coaches Jason Miller and Michael Bisping. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, season, ferguson, tuf, edward

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Ultimate Fighter 13 winner Tony Ferguson has drawn another accomplished veteran for his next in-ring test after disposing of Aaron Riley in prompt fashion last month at UFC 135. According to an official announcement from the UFC, Ferguson has agreed to face Yves Edwards on December 3 at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale as part of a lineup featuring the crowning of bantamweight/featherweight winners as well as a battle between coaches Jason Miller and Michael Bisping. Ferguson is 2-0 inside the Octagon including his season-winning performance against Ramsey Nijem and stoppage of Riley, a loss brought on after “El Cucuy” broke his jaw rendering Riley unable to compete beyond the bout’s opening round. The 27-year old Ferguson holds an overall record of 12-2 including eleven finishes. Ferguson is TUF 13 Finale’s Top Performer In Edwards he will be facing an opponent with more than 4X his experience who is 3-1 in his last four UFC fights. The “Thugjitsu Master” was last seen stopping Rafaello Oliveira earlier this month at UFC Live 6. The victory marked the 41st of his career with Oliveira joining the likes of Riley, Hermes Franca, Luis Palamino, Rich Clementi, and Josh Thomson in terms of foes Edwards has felled. No other match-ups have been announced for the card though it is likely a number of the pairings will involve competitors on the current season of TUF. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, ferguson, tuf, riley, edward

Read the full article at Fighters.com

A lightweight matchup between veteran Yves Edwards and TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson has been booked for The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale on December 3 in Las Vegas, the UFC announced Friday. Edwards (41-17-1) bounced back from a knockout loss to Sam Stout with a TKO of his own on Rafaello Oliveira earlier this month at UFC on Versus 6 for his third win in four fights since returning to the UFC. After winning TUF 13 over Ramsey Nijem in June, Ferguson (12-2) dropped down to 155-pounds to stop Aaron Riley with a broken jaw after the opening round at UFC 135 in September. The TUF 14 Finale is headlined by a five-round middleweight fight between TUF 14 coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller as well as the finals of the season’s featherweight and bantamweight tournaments. For complete coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 and TUF 14 Finale stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Yves Edwards

Posted in: ufc, tuf, edward, yve, finale

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Drama was promised for this week's TUF episode, and it delivered.  But two things that are pretty consistent on TUF are: a) Bisping will act like a dick, and b) when two dudes repeatedly get in each other's faces and jaw about how they're going to knock each other's blocks off, the fight usually doesn't live up to the hype.  And often it's the guys who just aren't very good who make the most noise and drama, which I diagnose as an attempt to overcome their own insecurities, because I dig pop-psychology.  Dustin Neace versus Hamid "Akira" Corassani was no different. They had already gone back and forth with pranking and then barking each other, and thanks to a missing stupid-looking cowboy hat (confiscated by legit redneck Josh Ferguson for the crime of swagger-jackery) which Neace wrongly assumes was Akira's work, it escalates to a shouting match at the gym.  Akira challenges him to a bareknuckle fight in the garden at 7PM sharp, which I guess is the TUF equivalent of the bike racks after school.  Akira doesn't know it yet, but he won't have to wait long. read more

Posted in: tuf, akira, others blocks, akiras work, taps drama

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Jamie Yager is preparing to headline a show on Oct. 21. The main event stands as part of the former TUF competitor's journey down to welterweight from middleweight.

Posted in: event, welterweight, tuf, jamie, yager

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

MMA Weekly reports that TUF 14 episode 5 received a strong 1.6 million viewers to average 1.5 million viewers thus far in the season. The ratings equated to a 1.0 household rating. According to Television By Numbers, it tied with Psych (USA) and Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family) for top spot for cable programming Wednesday night in the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic. Episode 1: 1.5 million Episode 2: 1.6 million Episode 3: 1.3 million Episode 4: 1.5 million Episode 5: 1.5 million Episode 6: 1.6 million Payout Perspective: The ratings are a positive sign that the TUF franchise still has a viewership base despite going up against the World Series. Last night’s episode included a controversial fight between Akira Corassani and Dustin Neace in which it appeared Corassani tapped to a submission. The sparks between the two included a face off brawl prior to the fight which included Miller and Bisping in a confrontation. While some of the stirrings seem produced (e.g., Mayhem’s car getting towed), it still is producing interest and a returning base of viewers.

Posted in: tuf, episode, viewer, payout perspective, psych usa

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode five of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.86 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.9 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.6 million viewers, up slightly from the previous week's 1.5 million. Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 millionEpisode five: 1.6 million Five episodes down, seven to go. TUF 14 episode five featured the still ongoing controversy surrounding SB Nation blogger Akira Corassani and whether or not he actually tapped to a heel hook from Dustin Neace. He maintains he did not, most feel that he did and he eventually went on to win a majority decision. The whole thing was nuts so go check out the detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode five right here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, rating, majority decision

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by deyterkyerjerb [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: tuf, deyterkyerjerb

Read the full article at Reddit

If you haven’t seen the second episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. Yesterday was another episode in the bag and today is the hangover. The show was probably the most heated and controversial in recent memory that had many in the Twitter world buzzing. If you’re a TUF fan, this wasn’t an episode to miss. If you’re a purist of the sport you swore that this episode was

Posted in: tuf, episode, wasn ’t, haven ’t, tuf fan

Read the full article at Low Kick

Fighting can be an endeavor full of hard emotions.  Being packed into a house with a bunch of dudes, cut off from the world and observed like lab rats, can only exacerbate ill will.  But come on, losing your sh*t over imagined slights, punching walls and shooting double-leg takedowns at fight announcements?  That’s Junie Browning territory right there.  And do you know where that infamous TUF competitor is right now?  On a barstool somewhere, eating burnt microwaved pizza and about 45 pounds past the cutoff for lightweight, wishing he hadn’t spent his fifteen minutes of SpikeTV fame acting like a total douche.  But I digress! For some reason, Diego Marlon Brando is angry.  His teammate, Green-Haired Gaudinot, just suffered a tough loss at the hands of Team Mayhem resident holy man Reverend Dustin Pague.  So the diminutive Brazilian huffs, puffs, and focuses his boiling rage on Steven Siler.  Why?  Who knows.  But after Green-Haired Gaudinot and Reverend Pague’s bout, he follows Siler back to the locker rooms and promises all sorts of mean and hateful things involving farm animals and the kind of assault that puts you on the National Sex Offender Registry for life.  This confounds everyone, from coaches Mayhem “Seriously, that’s not his real name” Miller to Michael “Unlovable” Bisping to Siler.  Even Diego Marlon Brando himself is confounded, and the swirling tempest of anger prompts the little guy to punch the wall.  Because, you know, hitting walls did wonders for Mikey Burnett. Back at the TUF House, and Mayhem rolls up bearing gifts – namely, a natty cowboy hat with a “B” emblazoned on it that he gives to Dustin Nice (which makes Country Boy Ferguson jealous or something).  Also, Mayhem learns the identity of the mole: John Dodson, his trusted aide-de-camp.  However, in lieu of taking it personal, or displaying the kind of the outburst that would make for standard reality TV (“What?!  I’m going to kill him!”), the Grinning One formulates a plan, one that entails acting like the next match-up will be Siler against Diego Marlon Brando, but instead announcing it as Dustin Nice and the Swede. Nice wants to play along, and struggles to keep up the ruse, but when Country Boy Ferguson steals his precious “B” hat in the middle of the night, he assumes it was one of the Swede’s pranks.  He retaliates, throwing the Swede’s food in the trash and dumping his gear all over the locker room. The Swede, of course, is angry.  More threats, this time involving prison love and the kind of marriage that only this year was legalized in New York State, and the foreigner keeps requesting that Nice “meet him in the garden so they can fight bareknuckle (Is that a thing in Sweden?  Is conflict resolution done in gardens?)  At the fight announcement Mayhem attempts to perpetuate the Siler/Brando ruse (which Team Bisping has fallen for hook, line and sinker), but Nice and the Swede are too worked up and too heated to do anything other than growl at each other.  So Mayhem announces them as the next match-up, and when the two TUF contestants pose, they butt heads.  Then Nice shoots for a takedown, and all hell breaks loose. Cue dogpile! There’s scuffling, rolling around on the mat and limbs flailing everywhere.  But at some point Bisping gets in the face of a Team Mayhem assistant coach, and Mayhem pushes him.  More bedlam!  In the end, Mayhem and company trudge back to the locker room, Mayhem promising to knock Bisping out when they meet in the cage and Bisping questioning the veracity of that statement with empirical evidence (“Statistically, you’re likely going to choke me out,” he says). There’s a weigh-in, but save for Bisping arriving late with a sack of fast food in hand, it’s uneventful.  However, at one point Green-Haired Gaudinot moves the big “M” that marks Mayhem’s parking spot outside the TUF Training Center to the spot designated for handicapped parking, and Mayhem unwisely leaves his Mayhem Mobile there.  Foreshadowing! And then they’re fighting.  From what we’ve seen of Nice and the Swede’s training segments, we’re led to believe that Nice is a wrestler and the Swede like to bang.  Well, half of that turns out to be true.  In Round 1 Nice inexplicably tries to land spinning back-kicks and play to his opponent’s strengths.  It does go to the ground, though, and when Nice slaps on a heelhook, it appears as if the Swede taps.  But the referee doesn’t acknowledge it, and soon they’re taking potshots at each other on the feet in Round 2 – a losing gambit for Nice, who gets dropped and pounded on.  He survives to the bell, and the majority decision goes to the Swede. Not content with the victory, the Swede strides over to Nice’s corner and makes some sort of gesture as if he’s spraying a hose into a garden (really, what is that all about?).  The display raises the ire of Nevada State Athletic Commission grand poobah Keith Kizer, who steps into the cage and asks the Swede if he wants to get suspended.  The answer is no, and the Swede moves on with his life. The ending sequence sees Bisping and team outside, savoring their first win while Mayhem’s trusted steed is towed away from the handicapped spot.  Mayhem witnesses his sweet ride being carted off, and in true TUF fashion, starts foaming at the mouth and goes berserk. No he doesn’t.  He just grins and shakes his head – the last bastion of anger management left in the world.  Bless his heart. The end.

Posted in: team, tuf, bisping, mayhem, swede

Read the full article at MMA Convert

TUF 14 contestant Akira Corassani is catching some flak from fans after an apparent ‘false tap’ incident allowed him to escape a heel-hook...

Posted in: tuf, corassani, akira, heelhook, faketap

Read the full article at Fighters Only

submitted by blueboybob [link] [comment]

Posted in: season, tuf, house, blueboybob, pissed

Read the full article at Reddit

submitted by blueboybob [link] [28 comments]

Posted in: dana, coach, tuf, flyweight, coaches ?.

Read the full article at Reddit

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode four of the Spike TV reality show. According to numbers released by the cable television network earlier today, the latest episode garnered a 1.49 rating in males 18-49 and a 1.71 in males 18-34 for an average audience of 1.5 million viewers, up slightly from the previous week's 1.3 million. Here's a look at how the TUF 14 numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 million Episode two: 1.6 million Episode three: 1.3 millionEpisode four: 1.5 million Four episodes down, eight to go. TUF 14 episode four featured the usual reality show shenanigans including failed pranks, locker room drama and a British guy screaming "GET THE F' UP." Aside from that, Dustin Pague and Dennis Bermudez won their elimination fights and move on to the next round. For a detailed recap of The Ultimate Fighter 14 episode four click here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, episode, elimination fights, dennis bermudez

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 ratings are in for episode number three of the reality show in its final season on Spike TV and the numbers are just a tad alarming. That's because the not only did the third episode fail to build on the solid viewership of the first two episodes, it actually experienced a significant drop. According to numbers released by Spike TV, the latest episode garnered a 1.0 rating (including a 1.30 in males 18-49 and a 1.51 in males 18-34) for an average audience of 1.3 million viewers, down from the previous weeks 1.6 million. Not good. What's worse, these numbers look rremarkably similar to those of TUF 13 around the same time, which was easily the lowest rated season in the history of the once popular show. Here's a look at how the numbers stack up to date: Episode one: 1.5 millionEpisode two: 1.6 millionEpisode three: 1.3 million Three episodes down, nine to go. TUF 14 episode three featured the usual TUF house shenanigans with failed pranks, debauchery and news of one of the contestants sporting an extra testicle. Oh and Johnny Bedford won a unanimous decision over Josh Ferguson. For a detailed recap of episode three click here.

Posted in: reality show, tuf, episode, spike tv, number

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Akira Corassani, cast member on season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter” seems to be on his way to becoming THE polarizing fighter on this season of TUF. Some of the guys seem to see Akira as a breath of fresh air while others seem to find him, shall we say, annoying. Akira discusses the latest episode of TUF on his latest videoblog.   For more from Akira check out his website:

Posted in: tuf, akira, fighter ”, akira corassani, akira check

Read the full article at Low Kick

submitted by theguardfighter [link] [comment]

Posted in: tuf, episode, theguardfighter

Read the full article at Reddit

If you haven’t seen the third episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. TUF 14 - Episode 3 Notes: -Bisping gets Mayham back after his tire prank in the dressing room by jacking the tires on Mayhem's car. -Tempers flare during a Team Bisping sparring session, especially between Diego Brandao and Marcus Brimage. -The first bantamweight matchup is chosen between Johnny Bedford and Josh Ferguson. -Knowing he

Posted in: tuf, episode, marcus brimage, tempers flare, johnny bedford

Read the full article at Low Kick

Episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 gets underway a little later tonight after chopping down its roster to 15 bantamweight and featherweight hopefuls gunning for a "six-figure contract" under middleweight coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller. As it stands, Marcus Brimage (145 lbs.) is out and Bryan Caraway advances. Tonight, at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV, Team Bisping starts to unravel from the inside, "lines are crossed" inside the TUF house and Team Miller gets to pick the first bantamweight fight. Stay tuned immediately following the show for our complete recap. In the meantime, go ahead and sound off in the comments section on all things TUF!

Posted in: miller, tuf, bisping, jason miller, team miller

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The middleweight match-up between Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller is now official for Dec. 3, 2011, at "The Pearl" from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. As per usual, Bisping and Miller, after verbally bashing each other throughout the season, will meet inside the Octagon to physically bash each other later this year. But, unlike most seasons, when the two meet inside the cage it won't be on pay-per-view. Instead, for just the second time in the show's history, the coach vs. coach match-up will go down at the live Finale. And now it's going to be a five-rounder. Bisping, a TUF veteran in every sense of the word (won TUF 3 and coached TUF 9), couldn't be happier: "Jason is one of those guys that you either love him or you hate him," Bisping said in today's release. "I definitely don’t like him. I think most people around him find him very, very annoying. I know people on The Ultimate Fighter did and I was no different. On Dec. 3, I’m going to kick his ass." Miller is no noob to this reality show thing. "Mayhem" has been the host of MTV's "Bully Beatdown" for three seasons dating back to March 2009. All the ingredients are there. Controversial? Check. Gimmicky? Check. Can't stop talking? Check. Oh, and he's a pretty good fighter, too. "I definitely got under his skin during the season," Miller said. "We hate each other’s guts at this point and on Dec. 3, we’re going to get in the cage across from each other and settle it. I’m excited for this fight." TUF 14 Finale will also feature, for the very first time in the long history of the show, finalists from the bantamweight (135-pound) and featherweight (145-pound) divisions. Any Maniacs have an early pick to win it all? And who takes the battle of coaches? Thoughts?

Posted in: coach, miller, &rsquo, tuf, bisping

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale, which is slated for "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort on December 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 7, at 12 p.m. PT. UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption. TUF 14 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists in each weight class from the Spike TV reality show, as fighters from both the bantamweight (135-pounds) and featherweight (145-pounds) divisions will be crowned champions. In addition, opposing coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller will throw down in the main event for TUF bragging rights and to see who gets one shot closer to the 185-pound title. Here is the TUF 14 Finale tickets sales schedule (all times are PT): UFC Fight Club presale: Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. UFC Newsletter presale: Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. General tickets sale: Friday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. TUF 14 Finale tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET on fight night. For more on TUF 14 Finale stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out the latest fight card and rumors right here.

Posted in: ufc, tuf, las vegas, ticket, finale

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The TUF 14 Finale is official. The TUF 14 Finale is scheduled to take place at the The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, December 3, and will air on Spike TV at 9pm ET/PT. The card will be headlined by five-round middleweight match-up between TUF 14 coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. “Bisping and ‘Mayhem’ spent the last few months as TUF coaches and they really got on each other’s nerves,” UFC President Dana White said. “On Dec. 3, the talking finally ends and these two will go at it inside the Octagon. There’s a lot at stake in this fight. Not only do they get to settle their feud, but they get to prove that they belong in the mix to fight Anderson Silva.” “Jason is one of those guys that you either love him or you hate him,” Bisping said. “I definitely don’t like him. I think most people around him find him very, very annoying. I know people on The Ultimate Fighter did and I was no different. On Dec. 3, I’m going to kick his ass.” “I definitely got under his skin during the season,” Miller, who owns a record of 34-8 with one no contest, said. “We hate each other’s guts at this point and on Dec. 3, we’re going to get in the cage across from each other and settle it. I’m excited for this fight.” Ticket info below. UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 10am PT UFC Newsletter Presale: Thursday, Oct. 6, 10am PT Public On-Sale Date: Friday, Oct. 7, 12pm PT Tickets will be priced at $450, $350 and $200. They can be purchased at the Pearl box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. The latest TUF 14 Finale fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: fight, tuf, bisping, finale, ’s guts

Read the full article at MMA Convert

UFC President Dana White talks about offering Kurt Angle a spot during TUF 10, but that's as far as any negotiations went with the longtime WWE and TNA wrestler.

Posted in: dana, tuf, angle, kurt angle, tna wrestler

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

"Everyone's friends at first." That's the word from Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 contestant Akira Corassani. But he knows, as well as we do, that will all soon change. Find out what to expect on next week's episode of TUF 14 straight from Akira himself right here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, akira, everyone, friend

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Hamid “Akira” Corassani met Brian Pearman in the elimination round of season 14 of the “The Ultimate Fighter.” Corassani stopped Pearman in the first round after several hard rights to the chin. After the second episode of TUF, Team Bisping member Corassani recorded a vlog , offering, among other things his take on moving into the TUF house and how he will go about using his PhD in pranks. Corassani then also breaks down the fight from Wedensday’s episode, where Team Bisping

Posted in: tuf, episode, tuf house, corassani, elimination round

Read the full article at Low Kick

If you haven’t seen the second episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. Another episode in the books Lowkick’ers, another solid hour of reality television. I’m sure those of you reading this are familiar with the “TUF Formula”. What that means is that every episode needs to have three things and these are usually highlighted in each episode.  You got to have a featured fight

Posted in: i ’m, tuf, episode, haven ’t, reality television

Read the full article at Low Kick

If you haven’t seen the first episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. It’s back Lowkick’ers and I’m back too to bring it to you. For those that remember, I kept a diary of for The Ultimate Fighter season 13. Every single fight, every bit of drama, and all the comedy that is TUF will be covered for the 14th and last season on Spike. I wasn’t a huge fan of the 13th season and I

Posted in: fighter, season, tuf, episode, fighter website

Read the full article at Low Kick

If you haven’t seen the first episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. It’s back Lowkick’ers and I’m back too to bring it to you. For those that remember, I kept a diary of for The Ultimate Fighter season 13. Every single fight, every bit of drama, and all the comedy that is TUF will be covered for the 14th and last season on Spike. I wasn’t a huge fan of the 13th season and I

Posted in: fighter, season, tuf, episode, fighter website

Read the full article at Low Kick

If you haven’t seen the first episode of TUF 14 yet beware of spoilers below. Click here to watch the full episode for free from the official Ultimate Fighter website. It’s back Lowkick’ers and I’m back too to bring it to you. For those that remember, I kept a diary of for The Ultimate Fighter season 13. Every single fight, every bit of drama, and all the comedy that is TUF will be covered for the 14th and last season on Spike. I wasn’t a huge fan of the 13th season and I

Posted in: season, tuf, episode, fighter website, diary

Read the full article at Low Kick

MMA Junkie reports that the debut of TUF 14 drew a 1.5 million viewer average in its last season on Spike TV. The two hour premiere which featured nothing by fights was the number one rated show in its timeslot among the key demos of males 18-34 and 18-49. Via MMA Junkie: The ratings were on par with past seasons of the long-running reality-competition series. The “TUF 13″ debut scored 1.5 million viewers, “TUF 12″ drew 1.6 million, and “TUF 11″ scored scored 1.9 million. A heavily anticipated heavyweights-only 10th season shattered records with 4.1 million viewers for its debut in 2010. Payout Perspective: Despite moving back to its preferred timeslot the UFC still scored the same rating as last season’s debut. Still, Dana White still seemed pretty happy with the viewership. This season will prove to be interesting as its the first time that bantamweights and featherweights will be featured. We’ll see if TUF 14 can improve on the 1.5 million viewer average.

Posted in: season, tuf, viewer, debut, hour premiere

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The Ultimate Fighter 14 started its run last night, and the ratings were pretty comparable to the last few seasons. The two-hour season premiere scored a 1.1 rating and averaged 1.5 million viewers. It was number one-rated program for males 18-34 and males 18-49, and was the second-highest rated program of the day for males 18-49. The first episode was arguably one of the best ever, and featured a ton of entertaining fights as the competitors needed to defeat an opponent to get into the TUF house. While it can't compare to The Ultimate Fighter 10's incredible debut that averaged 4.1 million viewers, it's pretty similar to TUF 13 (1.6 million) and TUF 12 (1.9 million). This season is the first to have featherweights and bantamweights competing, and features Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller as coaches. The coaches will meet in the season finale, currently scheduled for December 3rd. This season of the show will be the last on Spike TV, due to the UFC signing a broadcast deal with Fox. The next season of the show will air on a Fox affiliate that hasn't been determined yet.

Posted in: season, tuf, male, season finale, season premiere

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 premiered last night, Wed., Sept. 21, 2011, featuring middleweight coaches Jason Miller and Michael Bisping, with an average of 1.5 million viewers tuning in to Spike TV. The cable television network reported the ratings earlier today, which most likely fell below expectations, considering how heavily UFC President Dana White promoted the special two-hour show.  By comparison, TUF 13 (with coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos) pulled in 1.5 million viewers, the exact same as this year and slightly less than the 1.6 million garnered by TUF 12 (with coaches Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck). One episode down, 11 to go. In the debut episode,16 fights were held to determine who would make it into the house. The results were explosive, with eight knockouts, five submissions and just three decisions. TUF 14 will serve as the lead up to a hugely important middleweight mash up between Bisping and Miller, which is set for the live Finale on Dec. 3, 2011, in Las Vegas. For a full recap of TUF 14's debut episode click here.

Posted in: tuf, episode, spike tv, bisping, middleweight mash

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by onlydrawzombies [link] [comment]

Posted in: tuf, episode, onlydrawzombie

Read the full article at Reddit

We caught up with TUF 14 coach Michael Bisping in Denver to talk about coaching the show, his feelings on Mayhem Miller and more.

Posted in: michael, tuf, bisping, mayhem miller, fight day

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

For the first time in the history of The Ultimate Fighter, the bantamweight and featherweight divisions are being featured on the Spike TV reality series, and leading these 32 hopefuls into battle on what promises to be one of the most action-packed seasons yet will be middleweight contenders Michael “The Count” Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. “I’m really excited to help a batch of new guys start their UFC careers right here,” said Miller.“I’m back here for season 14, I’m not gonna do anything differently,” said Bisping winner of TUF season three and a successful coach on season nine. “You either like me, or you don’t.”As this season opens, UFC President Dana White doesn’t meet the fighters in the UFC Training Center. Instead, the Octagon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center is the setting for his introduction to the 32 competitors.“The reason I brought you here today is because I want you to feel it,” said White. “I want you to take it in and look around at some of the banners up here. Not only some of the biggest UFC fights in history, but some of the biggest fights ever have been held here at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.”And the next series of fights, to whittle the field down from 32 to 16, will be held in this renowned arena. In another new twist, fans will vote for the best fight, knockout, and submission of the season, with the winners getting $25,000 each at the finale.After the coaches are introduced, the fights begin.Josh Ferguson is up first against 21-year old Casey Dyer in a bantamweight bout. Ferguson wastes no time sending Dyer home, dropping him with the first right hand he landed and finishing him off with ground strikes in less than 20 seconds.Featherweights Diego Brandao and Jesse Newell get called to the Octagon next, and Newell has some striking success early, but it’s Brazil’s Brandao who finishes things later in the first round with a left hook followed by a flying right forearm.John Dodson was impressive with his punches and kicks throughout his bantamweight bout against Brandon Merkt, and it was a body shot that spelled the beginning of the end, with follow-up ground strikes forcing referee Steve Mazzagatti to halt the first rounder moments later.East coasters Dennis Bermudez (New York) and Jimmie Rivera (New Jersey) squared off in a featherweight matchup. Rivera was in total control in the first round, dropping, slamming, and almost submitting Bermudez. The New Yorker got back in the fight in round two though, and after getting Rivera to the mat and taking his back, he finished off his foe with strikes. Bermudez goes to the TUF house via second round TKO.Josh Ferguson’s brother BJ gets the next call to face Winnipeg’s Roland Delorme in a bantamweight scrap, but he won’t be joining his sibling, as Delorme finished matters in the first round with a triangle choke.In featherweight action, Marcus Brimage was impressive in his stoppage of game Bryson Wailehua-Hansen. It didn’t look good for Brimage early, as he was controlled on the mat for much of the first round, but after reversing position, getting back to his feet, and opening up with his thudding strikes, he battered the steel-chinned Hawaiian for the rest of the round.  In the second, Brimage picked up where he left off, and after another series of strikes, Mazzagatti stopped the fight, sending Brimage to the house.Texas veteran Johnny Bedford scored the upset in an exciting bantamweight battle, using his wrestling and striking to set up a submission via choke of Carson Beebe, the brother of former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe.Tokyo native Tateki Matsuda is the first Japanese fighter to compete in TUF, but after two closely-contested rounds, it was Dustin Pague earning the majority decision win in the bantamweight bout.In a back and forth bantamweight match, Paul McVeigh and Louis Gaudinot went to a sudden victory round, but in the third, Gaudinot surged ahead to earn the decision win.WEC veteran Bryan Caraway moved on the final 16 at featherweight with a two round unanimous decision win over Eric Marriott, and joining him was veteran Dustin Neace, who upset unbeaten Josh Clopton via unanimous decision.Highly-touted bantamweight TJ Dillashaw lived up to expectations, stopping Indiana’s Matt Jaggers via first round TKO, but in the biggest upset thus far, unheralded Steven Siler submitted WEC vet Micah Miller via guillotine choke in the third round to move on to the TUF house.Earning the final bantamweight slot in the tournament was John “Prince” Albert, who submitted Orville Smith via rear naked choke in the first round. And in the final two featherweight bouts of the elimination round, Stephen Bass submitted Karsten Lenjoint via triangle choke in the second round, and Sweden’s Akira Corassani knocked out Brian Pearman in the first round.Next week, the coaches pick teams. Here’s the final 16:FEATHERWEIGHTSDiego BrandaoDennis BermudezMarcus BrimageBryan CarawayDustin NeaceSteven Siler Stephen BassAkira CorassaniBANTAMWEIGHTSJosh FergusonJohn DodsonRoland DelormeJohnny BedfordDustin PagueLouis GaudinotTJ DillashawJohn AlbertFor weekly recaps of The Ultimate Fighter, as well as fighter profiles, stay tuned to UFC.com.

Posted in: fight, season, round, bantamweight, tuf

Read the full article at UFC

Dana White does his best Chuck Liddell impersonation, reacting violently to the action tonight on the debut of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 on Spike TV. Were the fights tonight to get into the house worthy of a two-hour special and perhaps the "best Dana shot in TUF history?" For detailed recap of TUF 14 click here.

Posted in: dana, tuf, spike tv, dana shot, .... dana

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Reminder: TUF 14 premieres tonight on Spike TV at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

Posted in: tuf, spike tv, tv, spike, premiere

Read the full article at MMA Convert

 In the January 2005 The Ultimate Fighter season one debuted with a cast of 16 fighters aspiring for contracts and two star UFC fighters coaching their respective teams. On the surface the Ultimate Fighter reality show served a dual purpose for the UFC, first to scout and showcase potential talent for the organization's live events and two act as an eight week promotional tool for the coaches scheduled fight at the end of the season. Over time the UFC has generally hit the mark with drawing accelerated interest to their coaches fight through the Ultimate Fighter. After 13 seasons of the Ultimate Fighter the talent cast for the tournaments has seen more misses than hits. Afforded an eight week opportunity to promote the fighters they cast to their hardcore audience the UFC has often failed to produce any homegrown talent. A brief overview of the UFC records of the finalists for each of the past 13 seasons of the Ultimate Fighter reveals that the reality show has created its fair share of stars but also a large amounts of busts. The fighters below are only the finalists and it should be noted that fighters who did not make it to the finals such as Gray Maynard, Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben should all be filed under TUF success stories.  ---- Overall record of The Ultimate Fighter finalists in the UFC: 158-119-1Overall winning percentage of The Ultimate Fighter finalists in the UFC: .568Least successful pair of finalists: Season 8 lightweights Phillipe Nover and Efrain Escudero hold a .375 winning percentage Most successful pair of finalists: Season 1 middleweights Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez .750 winning percentage Record of Ultimate Fighter castmembers in UFC title fights: 3-10Number of Ultimate Fighter finalists no longer with the UFC: 12Top five most successful Ultimate Fighter finalists1. Rashad Evans TUF 22. Michael Bisping TUF 33. Diego Sanchez TUF 14. Kenny Florian TUF 15. Forrest Griffin TUF 1Top five least successful Ultimate Fighter finalists1. Brad Imes TUF 22. Josh Haynes TUF 33. Phillipe Nover TUF 84. Kris McCray TUF 115. Tommy Speer TUF 6/ Vinny Magalhães TUF 8Overall record of The Ultimate Fighter 1-3 finalists (12 fighters): 86-52-1 = .623Overall record of the Ultimate Fighter 5-12 finalists (20 fighters): 54-51 =.514The Ultimate Fighter 1Kenny Florian 12-4 UFC record Diego Sanchez 12-4 UFC record Stephan Bonnar 7-6 UFC recordForrest Griffin 9-5 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 2Luke Cummo 3-4 UFC recordJoe Stevenson 8-8 UFC recordBrad Imes 0-3 UFC recordRashad Evans 11-1-1 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 3Ed Herman 6-5 UFC recordKendall Grove 7-6 UFC recordJosh Haynes 0-3 UFC record Michael Bisping 11-3 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 4 (post show UFC record)Chris Lytle 9-6 UFC recordMatt Serra 3-3 UFC record Patrick Cote 4-4 UFC recordTravis Lutter 1-2 UFC record The Ultimate Fighter 5Manny Gamburyan 2-4 UFC recordNate Diaz 8-5 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 6Tommy Speer 0-2 UFC recordMac Danzig 4-4 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 7C.B Dollaway 5-4 UFC recordAmir Sadollah 5-3 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 8Phillipe Nover 0-3 UFC recordEfrain Escudero 3-2 UFC recordVinny Magalhães 0-2 UFC record Ryan Bader 5-2 UFC record The Ultimate Fighter 9Andre Winner 2-4 UFC recordRoss Pearson 4-2 UFC recordDaMarques Johnson 3-3 UFC record James Wilks 2-2 UFC record The Ultimate Fighter 10Brendan Schaub 4-2 UFC record Roy Nelson 2-2 UFC recordThe Ultimate Fighter 11Kris McCray 0-3 UFC recordCourt McGee 3-0 UFC record The Ultimate Fighter 12Michael Johnson 1-1 UFC recordJonathan Brookins 1-1 UFC record The Ultimate Fighter 13Ramsey Nijem 0-1 UFC record Tony Ferguson 1-0 UFC record

Posted in: ufc, fighter, tuf, record, finalist

Read the full article at UltMMA

Having been both a fighter competing on "The Ultimate Fighter" and a coach, Michael Bisping brings a unique perspective to his return stint as a coach on TUF 14 opposite Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

Posted in: coach, tuf, michael bisping, return stint, tuf fighter

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Hamid “Akira” Corassani is a 28-year old featherweight out of Sweden. Corassini will compete on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter, looking to earn a contract with the UFC. The Golden Glory fighter, made his way to the TUF house with a professional record of 11-3. The below video gives a look at the fighter and how he got his start in fighting, why he fights now and the message he wants to spread through fighting, which is “Love, don’t hate.” TUF 14 "Akira" short film

Posted in: fighter, tuf, “ love, tuf house, spread love

Read the full article at Low Kick

It's time to break out your sweatband, track suit and your sneakers and start stretching those hamstrings and glutes in preparation for the two hour premiere of TUF season 14 tonight at 9pm EST. Your leg and arse muscles need to be prepared for for the two full hours they will be spend stuck to the couch supporting the weight of your torso while you are engrossed in what could very well be the most entertaining season of the ultimate fighter to date. Now that you've warmed up the muscles responsible for getting you physically through tonight's grueling session of couch potatoing, don't forget you will need to warm up that big bulging brain you've got shoved inside your skull. The brain needs to be prepped to absorb tonight's show too. Right now our brains are foggy--it's early and it's mid work week. We need to stretch out the neuroplasticity of our brains in order to get the full benefit of this season of TUF. Luckily for us, the UFC recognized this need and has decided to host a live fan based Q&A session to get our brains ready for tonight's violent cinematic brilliance. You, the fans, will get the opportunity to ask coach Mayhem Miller absolutely anything your MMA loving hearts desire this afternoon via either Facebook or Ustream. There is also a post show Q&A session scheduled with Mike Bisping tomorrow. Here's the scheduled times and links to participate: Wednesday September 21, 2011 1pm ET/12pm CT/11am MT/10am PT USTREAM  LIVE WEBCHAT  with Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller Season 14 TUF Coach To watch go to Facebook  http://on.fb.me/UFCLiveChat  or UStream  http://www.ustream.tv/ufclivechat Thursday September 22, 2011 1pm ET/12pm CT/11am MT/10am PT USTREAM  LIVE WEBCHAT  with Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping  Season 14 TUF CoachTo watch got to Facebook http://on.fb.me/UFCLiveChat  or UStream http://www.ustream.tv/ufclivechat *There will also be a live fan Q&A session later in the week in preparation for Jones vs Rampage with swagger jack victim Rashad Evans.

Posted in: season, tuf, brain, ustream, session

Read the full article at Middle Easy

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is back with season 14, featuring mouthy middleweight rivals (and opposing coaches) Michael Bisping and Jason Miller as they try to lead a group of featherweight (145-pounds) and bantamweight (135-pounds) fighters to the promised land. You know the deal by now: Win it all and get a "six-figure contract." Watch it all unfold in the TUF 14 series debut tonight (Sept. 21, 2011) at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV. If you can't, or just want to stick around to keep the discussion going, hit us up immediately following the show for our complete recap. Until then, you can check out a sneak peek of tonight's episode after the jump. More on TUF 14 here.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, spike tv, michael bisping, jason miller

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The veteran discusses UFC 135 match-up with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson, his thoughts on Nick Diaz and more.

Posted in: nick diaz, tuf, aaron riley, tuf graduate, winner

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

The fourteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” kicks off on Wednesday night.  That’s right, there’s been fourteen seasons of them, which translates into about ten thousand episodes and countless instances of people urinating on pillows and defiling food, all caught on camera for the world to watch and wonder about for eternity.  But the long-running reality show has given us some good things.  I’m not talking about the exposure – for sure TUF has been successful in saving the sport and bringing it to the masses.  No, I’m actually talking about fighters.  Some won the competition, some didn’t even come close, but they’ve all taken the spotlight shown upon them and shined in their own ways.  Here, then, is a list of the greatest TUF contributions of all time, in no particular order.  Just remember: let he who is without reality TV sin cast the first stone. -Forrest Griffin – Good old Griffin took top honors in the inaugural season, blazing a trail through the forest of celebrity to be spoon-fed easy opponents, climb the rankings, defeat tougher guys, coach TUF,  earn a title shot, take the belt, lose the belt, and not care at all about fighting anymore.  That’s one heck of a career!  Thanks to Griffin, we know now to what heights a TUF winner can rise to.  Also, we know how much they weep when Keith Jardine knocks them out. -Diego Sanchez – This TUF 1 winner made an impact partly because of his ability to scrap and partly because of his ability to be crazy.  Luckily for Sanchez, the gutsy wars he’s fought in the cage – against Karo Parisyan, Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida, among others – overshadows his propensity for standing in the rain trying to harness lightning. -Chris Leben – He did not win TUF, and he may never challenge for the middleweight belt, but you cannot say Leben doesn’t like to stand and bang.  And while he may not always win (remember how badly Anderson Silva mauled him?), the dude leaves it all the Octagon just about every time – which means he can be a viable main eventer or simply someone who will plug up holes in a card.  That’s versatility. -Josh Koscheck – Another TUF 1 washout, Koscheck has proven to have the kind of promotional longevity many aspire to and few achieve.  He’s won some, he’s lost some, he’s coached TUF and he’s challenged Georges St. Pierre for the belt.  That’s a pretty respectable resume. -Rashad Evans – The winner of TUF 2 has firmly established himself as a top guy in the light-heavyweight division, and he even wore the crown briefly after dethroning fellow TUF star Griffin.  Like Leben, Evans has got versatility, but his is more about being both a good guy and a bad guy, and that goes a long way toward bringing eyeballs to fights. -Michael Bisping – Bisping, who emerged victorious from TUF 3, has made a decent living being “that guy”.  You know, the one who runs his mouth, and when Dan Henderson knocks him out everyone jumps for joy.  The Brit’s skills are legit and his record isn’t bad at all (his only losses have been to Henderson, Evans and Wanderlei Silva), and this coming season of TUF will mark his second stint as a coach.  Pretty cool for a person people love to hate. -Matt Serra – Serra was far from a contender when TUF 4 rolled around, but with a title shot at stake for the competition’s top dog, the jiu-jitsu black belt made the most of the opportunity by winner the whole shebang.  Then, in what many consider one of the biggest upsets of all time, he TKO’d champ St. Pierre.  Since then Serra’s coached a season of TUF, won some fights and lost some, and eased into a leisure lifestyle of taking only big fights while eating pasta in the meantime. -Kimbo Slice – If anything, Slice’s tenure on TUF let the world see how the Bearded One truly stacks up against legitimate competition.  Because remember: prior to that, the average Joe only knew him from YouTube and CBS, where Slice came across of the best thing since sliced bread (yes, all sorts of puns intended).  For SpikeTV, the upside was monstrous ratings; true fans of the sport benefitted by the dispelling of one of MMA’s last, most enduring myths.  You want to be a f***ing fighter?  No?  Okay, then get out of here.

Posted in: time, guy, season, belt, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Convert