The Ultimate Fighter's latest season had its fair share of excitement, but could we do without its ugly moments?
With Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) now in the books, all that remains is the finale on Dec. 13, right here on Rogers Sportsnet. The finalists have been set in both the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions and the remainder of the card announced, after what can definitely be described as one of the most controversial seasons to date.
Through their version of reality TV, the UFC hopes to achieve a variety of goals with each episode that airs. Whether it’s building the next generations of stars or showcasing some sort of drama every week, there is often a price to pay with each and every decision in the editing room. Creative control is a beautiful thing, but what you do with that prized option sets the stage for fans and critics to further debate the good, the bad and the ugly.
This season had its fair share of all three, with varying opinions defending both sides of the line. UFC president Dana White will always profess that the show is successful, ratings are great and like it or now, people are watching. But it’s what people saw this year that may have turned them off from the UFC, and the sport of mixed martial arts in general.
In episodes three and four, Junie Browning and Shane Nelson made fools of themselves after drinking themselves into complete stupidity. Both guys began picking fights with the other members in the house, with Browning at one point throwing a glass at Kyle Kingsbury, cutting him in the forearm. White is forced to draw a fine line which should have set the tone for the rest of the season.
After gathering the fighters together, Browning and Nelson pretty much knew their time on the show was done. Instead, White shocked everyone. “I’m not kicking anybody off,” he said. “I’m gonna give you a second shot. I don’t know why I’m doing it, but I am. Don’t make a fool out of me.” It’s safe to say Browning did not heed this advice. But he is far from being the only one to blame as many of his housemates were unable to take into consideration that their actions were obviously being recorded and the detriments thereof would define what they would be remembered for during their “fifteen minutes of fame.”
The incidents on the show ranged from Browning jumping the cage after a bout to once again throwing a glass, and taking a swing at Shane Primm. During episode eight, a group of fighters urinate in another fighter’s fruit platter with retaliation reaching an all-time low. For all the years spent proclaiming that MMA fighters are athletes, and not buffoons, this season did a fair bit of damage, setting the sport back a few years. For critics that continually preach that MMA fighters are not real athletes and a bunch of uneducated idiots, actions showcased on this season aptly lived up to their beliefs.
But the show did have its fair share of moments that portrayed MMA (and the UFC) in a positive light. The team spirit showcased by Team Nogueira as well as the genuine relationship between Nogueira and his pupils was a true showing of what many MMA gyms are like, all over the world. While MMA is widely considered a one-man sport, the show was able to shine a bright light on how the team/family atmosphere is so crucial to a fighter’s psyche. Without it, many talented fighters will never realize their true potential. With it, a support system helps cultivate a champion (or many) from within the family.
Many of TUF 8’s members showcased a level of class that even regular society can bow down to. Every fighter that showed restrain during Browning’s outbursts and challenges should be commended for not being sucked into a fight. The old martial arts adage was on display -– do your best to back away from any challenge and keep the fighting to the constraints of the medium that it is designed for: the ring or the cage.
I personally enjoyed Krzysztof Soszynski’s sense of humour (via his pranks) and his ability to take whatever he dishes out. This was evidenced by his reaction when he noticed his room was turned into the ‘UFC Storage Room." His attitude was all smiles and he congratulated those who conducted the prank. What also impressed me was the UFC showcasing Soszynski (and George Roop’s) willingness to fight after suffering hand injuries during training.
This is one of the most underrated aspects that many people are unaware of in MMA (and all pro sports for that matter). The heart, determination and pain tolerance that athletes must endure to fuel the “mind over matter” phenomenon -- to play the game no matter what cards they have been dealt. This is an area of MMA that can be showcased on TUF as it delves into the human spirit and how far the mind and body can be pushed, all in the name of success, carpe diem and fulfilling a dream.
If I had a say, I would much rather use TUF 9 to feature the fighters for “who they are” and “how they got to the show.” I’d like to know their stories, what got them into MMA and the sacrifices they have taken and are still willing endure to win that six-figure contract. Are they fathers? Are they brothers, uncles? Are they a small town mechanics, school teachers, IT tech or doctors that have decided to pursue the dream of becoming an Ultimate Fighter? Did they ignore the request of their families to "give up the lost cause"?
Wouldn’t it be great to get the families' thoughts, throughout the season, as to why they didn’t want their relative to be there? How about getting their reaction on tape, when after everything they did to stop him is thwarted by his hand being raised in victory during the season finale, while being given a the big contract? What do they have to say now? What does he have to say now? How about bringing in his fellow mechanics, faculty staff, programmers and fellow medics?
Perhaps this type of drama pales in comparison to guys throwing glasses at each other, fighting in backyards or urinating in fruit platters, but it may open the sport up to a whole new demographic. I believe the 18-to-34-year-old males will still watch, but this time they may actually see a fellow college student they can relate to on the show. They may be able to relate to the book nerd or corporate project manager as their day-to-day lives mimic each other, separated only by the four-ounce gloves the reality show star wears during his bouts on national TV.
Drama can be inserted in a variety of different ways, without pushing the boundary of complete lunacy. I may be wrong or I may be out to lunch. The UFC obviously has a model here that has worked for eight seasons, while closing in on one of the longest running reality shows in the history of television. I’d like to see them portray fighters in a different light and I’m sure they can keep the ratings up. They have proven time and time again that when they want to succeed, they will succeed. The question is, will they change the format of the show? Will they be more cognizant of what they keep and cut in the editing room? Or will they continue to trek forward with their tried and true recipe, seeing as it has gotten them to the point where they own the industry today?
