TUF- No Cinderellas

The Ultimate Fighter (said in a deep, gruff voice) is the UFC’s way in for unknown MMA fighters across the globe. Is it really? Let me throw a few names out there: Shamar Bailey, Len Bentley, Jonathan Brookins and Wes Sims. What do all of these Ultimate Fighter contestants have in common? They all fought in major promotions before their stint on TUF.
Two contestants from this season of TUF, Bailey and Bentley both fought in Strikeforce, considered to be the second biggest MMA promotion, behind the UFC. Season 12 winner, Brookins fought José Aldo in the UFC’s sister promotion, WEC prior to his victory on TUF. The most confusing name on this list is Wes Sims. Many older UFC fans will see this name and think: “Why was he on TUF after he had already been in the UFC and cut by the promotion?” Your guess is as good as mine, MMA fans.
As I read the e-mail my editor sent to me about the idea for this column, my true feelings were realized, and they were much the same as his. The Ultimate Fighter, while entertaining, is a sham! It is supposed to be the ultimate showcase of the underdog fighting (literally) against all odds to become the one fighter out of over a dozen who gets a six-figure contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Another flaw is evident here. The Ultimate Fighter implies one fighter rising above all the rest. That hardly ever happens anymore, and it hasn’t really ever since the first season of the show. When Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar battled out a three-round bloodbath at The Ultimate Fighter season 1 finale, both were awarded a contract for their stellar performances. Out of the fighters in that season, 11 of the 16 fighters fought at least one fight under contract with the UFC, and half of the fighters on the show still fight in the UFC today.
Many will argue that TUF was the first season of the show and it was absolutely stacked with talent, a statement with which I wholly agree. However, TUF: United States vs. United Kingdom was one of the least talent-laden seasons and 5 of the fighters still fight in the UFC today.
So basically, TUF isn’t a show for the underdogs, it’s a show for professional mixed martial artists to make the switch from one major promotion to the biggest one. The fighters are not to blame here, they see an opportunity and they take advantage of it.
The fracture is in the system itself. The requirements to be on the show are as follows, and taken straight from The Ultimate Fighter website. All applicants must: be 21 years of age, have at least three professional MMA fights, complete and sign the application and attend the open tryouts.
I understand all of the requirements except for one. The applicants must have three professional MMA fights? Wait, I thought this show was billed as a bunch of starry-eyed hopefuls looking for their chance to break onto the MMA scene? You’re telling me they’ve already been professional athletes for some time?
Look, I get that the higher-ups in the UFC don’t want every guy who thinks he can swing his fists trying out for TUF, they have enough guys to sort through as it is. Roughly 250 fighters try out for every show, and the evaluations are as imperfect a system there is, but adding more fighters to it would only make it worse.
I set out writing this to say, “Here’s how we should fix The Ultimate Fighter,” but the answer is that there is no good answer. Either the UFC stops billing the show as a bunch of nobodies trying to make their dream and admits that these guys are all pros, or they let a bunch of amateur fighters onto the show and give a six-figure contract to a guy who isn’t ready to fight in the big leagues. Honestly, if the show were actually what it was billed as, there would be no Ultimate Fighter left in the UFC. What amateur fighter could fight his very first professional fight in the UFC and it not be a borderline assault with a deadly weapon on a civilian?
So, at the end of a long Wednesday when you finish work, and tune into the next episode of The Ultimate Fighter, just know that sometimes even these great stories where the little guy prevails have to be fabricated. Sorry to crush your dreams folks, but many of you have a long road ahead before even applying for The Ultimate Fighter.