THE CANADIAN PRESS
Welterweights Tony Ferguson and Ramsey Nijem hope to shift the focus from reality TV antics to their fighting skills Saturday when they face off in Las Vegas in the live finale to Season 13 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Watch the finale live in high definition on Sportsnet at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.
The hard-hitting Ferguson was portrayed as the villain of the TV piece, a bad drunk whose boozy barbs — especially when he confronted another fighter about the child he is trying to get back into his life — earned him the disdain of his fellow cast members.
Fighters on the show spend six weeks cooped up in a Las Vegas mansion, denied contact with the outside world other than to train and fight.
Ferguson (11-2) said he wasn’t prepared for how he came across in the final episode that aired Wednesday.
“It sucked unfortunately but that’s what happens when you mix in alcohol and you’re stuck with a bunch of guys in a house,” he told a media conference call Thursday.
“I’m a nice guy outside of there, but that was an extraordinary situation. I know who I am and my family knows who I am but I hope that everybody in the world, they get to see what I’m actually made of after this.”
Ferguson said he has heard about it from the fans.
“I did make a mistake but I’m paying for it,” he said. “Obviously my Twitter’s been blowing up like crazy and even Facebook, I’ve had a few people send me some crazy messages I never thought I would get.
“But you know it brought me back to reality and made sure that I do have to make a difference and I do have to change some things about myself. And you know what, it’s not me. I know I got to see it on TV and I didn’t like it. I saw what other people saw and the only thing I want to do is I want to make my parents proud just like any other person that’s competing in this sport. I just want to make people proud and make things right.”
Nijem was shown to be a fun-lover who strips at the drop of the hat, preferably on a snooker table.
“I always have fun,” said Nijem.
“That’s just who I am,” he added. “And that’s how I am.”
Nijem (5-1) said he was actually trying to keep a lid on his antics during the show.
“I’d be doing things and it was like ‘Oh crap the cameras are on.’ so I was little bit more edited than usual.”
On Saturday, at The Palms Casino Resort, they will face off for a contract to fight in the UFC and bragging rights for rival coaches Junior Dos Santos (Nijem) and Brock Lesnar (Ferguson).
Other fights including Season 13 TUF alumni are Chris Cope versus Chuck O’Neil, Justin Edwards versus Clay Harvison and Shamar Bailey versus Edmonton’s Ryan McGillivray, who lost to Ferguson via TKO in the quarter-finals.
Both Ferguson and Nijem said Edwards, who was sidelined during filming by a 90-day medical suspension, was a cast member worth watching in the future. Nijem also singled out Myles Jury, who was forced to leave early after tearing knee ligaments.
Saturday’s co-main event is a lightweight bout between former WEC champion Anthony (Showtime) Pettis (11-1) and Clay (The Carpenter) Guida (28-8).
Guida, for one, is skeptical about whether TUF producers are looking for the best fighters or storylines.
“I think they definitely bring in some good talent but at the same time I don’t think they bring in the best talent,” Guida said. “I think they bring in guys that are going to create talk in the house, that are going to create controversy maybe here and there.”
But he said the best ones each season make the final and some of the others get “weeded out.”
Ferguson was Lesnar’s third pick on the TV show while Nijem was Dos Santos’ fourth selection.
Both Nijem and Ferguson have been training for the televised live finale since filming ended in early March.
The 23-year-old Nijem has been preparing with the Pit Elevated Fight Team in Orem, Utah, along with former TUF winners Court McGee and Jonathan Brookins, and at the Pit in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with former Chuck Liddell trainer John Hackleman.
Ferguson spent time in Lesnar’s camp in Alexandria, Minn., as well a his normal training HQ — Knuckleheadz Boxing in Ventura, Calif.
NOTES — Australian Kyle Noke and (Filthy) Tom Lawlor will meet in a middleweight bout at the UFC’s televised show Aug. 14 in Milwaukee. Other fights on that card include Dan Hardy versus Chris Lytle, Jim Miller versus Ben Henderson, Stephan Bonnar versus Karlos Vemola and Amir Sadollah versus Duane Ludwig. … Bellator Fighting Championships is holding an open tryout June 18 in Hollywood, Fla.
