Why Phillipe Nover Deserves Praise

by Luke Thomas on Dec 12, 2008 11:14 AM EST in News Comment 46 comments

He's not the only one who did this, but his discipline and success are a testatment to his character:

He had to survive a zany season in the house in which much of the focus was on Junie Browning’s drinking and wild antics.

Some of the, ahem, highlights of Season 8 included Tom Lawlor urinating in his fruit to pay back those who were eating it before he had a chance to; and Dave Kaplan, a lightweight, begging Lawlor, a light heavyweight, to punch him on the chin to prove he couldn’t be knocked out. Lawlor obliged by putting Kaplan to sleep with a right on the chin while the two were in the bathroom.

It’s the kind of lowbrow entertainment that turns many off and takes the spotlight away from gifted fighters such as Nover.

“It turned out to be more of a frat house,” Nover said. “It turned out to be a bunch of dudes who were like college dudes living in a house together. I blended in and, thankfully, I didn’t get into any of the conflicts or anything like that. It was a messy house, but I just separated myself from the scene.

“I didn’t really need the spotlight from that kind of stuff. When there was negativity going around, I usually wasn’t there. I went to sleep early and I woke up early and I was lucky to miss a lot of the nonsense. I was there to train and fight and take notes from these world champions who were teaching us.”

True talent doesn't need the buffoonery and shamelessness of reality television to achieve. Nover understands that and himself, and deserves the highest praise for acting like a driven, professional adult in the primate house maelstrom that is the The Ultimate Fighter house.

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Props to Nover. The funny thing is, most of the guys in the house at least tried to follow this plan, leaving the incidents to the same old usual suspects.

I think the house had some really top prospects and truly good guys with big personalities. Unfortunately we rarely got the opportunity to witness that because of the dysfunctional jackassery that the production chose to spotlight.

I don’t want to drag this all out again, I think we all understand why things are the way they are, but respect must be paid to guys like Nover who showed what mma should be about.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 12, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

AND...

He’s not the only one who did this, but his discipline and success are a testatment to his character:

This is my argument about the whole house experience. If you put a high quality person in a tough situation, I don’t believe the surroundings will change them much in that period of time. Conversely, if you put a self-destructive moron in the same circumstances, it is like adding fuel to the fire. Of course the other aspect is, if you put a person that is in the middle somewhere, they may either rise to the occasion or could get caught up in the emotions and fall some.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 12, 2008 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i hope he doesnt become the next CB..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 11:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Me either

I hope he does really well. I’d rather see this guy be the Phillipine connection than Vera.

by mythbuster on Dec 12, 2008 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree.

People were starting to think that vera could become the pacquiao of MMA.. hahaha.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How’s MMA in the Philippines? Is it big like here in the US or is it just boxing’s red-headed stepchild?

by cyph on Dec 12, 2008 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not as big as boxing since there’s a man named pacquiao.. but it’s also big here.. Filipinos love Combat sports.

There are 2 MMA promotions (or even more, im not sure).. And people are crazy about the UFC. You should’ve seen the turn out when Vera and Chuck had their public training sessions. There’s UFC programming on the tv like wired, unleashed, tuf, etc.. and we get to see the PPVs live for free. :D

I was ringside during chucks public training session and he said that the UFC plans to have the UFC event here around april or may i think. So that got the people here excited.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome. MMA in ten years will be ridiculous.

by cyph on Dec 12, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As long as they continue to stay away from the dirty politics found in boxing they’ll be okay.. They’re expanding globally and exponentially.. what i would really like to see is amateur MMA in the Olympics.. That would kinda show that they’re indeed accepted by everyone in the world as a true sport.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While it’s a nice thought, MMA in the Olympics would be more frustrating and unwatchable than boxing. It wouldn’t even be MMA.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Dec 12, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. Bring Jujitsu to the Olympics not MMA.

by cyph on Dec 12, 2008 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or submission wrestling..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seconded!

by Rundownloser on Dec 12, 2008 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

is anyone blogging about the MMA scene in the Phillippines?

by Kid Nate on Dec 12, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There’s a couple of blogs but mostly dormant ones. I just found one through google that is updated. There is also another local sports blog that put up MMA articles from time to time..

I was planning to do one.. If I’d learn how to write better articles..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

go for it!
don’t worry about quality, the secret to good blogging is quantity. the more you write the better you’ll get.

by Kid Nate on Dec 12, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And to get the members to write some for ya =D

by mythbuster on Dec 12, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

The Fanpost is a wonderful feature of this site. Plenty of decent articles being put up which I think a testament to the kind of community and the quality blog site we have here..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the encouragement.. I’ll keep that in mind.. I think BE is great site to learn too.. the Fanposts provides writers/bloggers with ready audience and quick feedback..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well.. I thought so too.. cause he’s the first one to pop out as a popular pinoy MMA fighter.. there’s no one before him to root for in MMA.. Nover’s name has been thrown out frequently as the most talented fighter in this batch of TUF, never thought he would be a Filipino, that’s more reason for me to watch his fights..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He would have the plethora of Pina/oy nurses in the Philippines and other countries to identify with him and back him up. Having him, Mark Munoz, and Vera on the Philippines card (whenever that may happen) would be big.

by dmayeda on Dec 12, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is he a Nurse too?

I could only imagine how it’ll go about here.. I’m already starting to see people here walk around in UFC/Tapout/Affliction shirts.. might be huge indeed..

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, he’s a nurse, so both the ethnic and occupational connection.

by dmayeda on Dec 12, 2008 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

I think I should be starting his fan club now.. I’m a Filipino Nurse too! I heart him already. lol!

by Johann on Dec 12, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha. :)

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup. i’d definitely be there. Bring in munoz, vera and nover. THen They could sign a couple of people from the URCC to fight in the undercards like they do in their euro cards. Then add a star or two, then the fight would surely sell.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 8:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He looks like the next Amir to me. A guy who’s under the radar and everyone expects to lose.

by cyph on Dec 12, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How would he become the next CB?

CB is an ass.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Dec 12, 2008 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

if he loses to the underdog… CB is favored to win the final like Nover is. Nothing to do with their attitudes.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if he does, I wouldn’t take it as a huge knock against his long-term potential. CB beat Credeur and Jesse Taylor; Credeur has been whipping guys since then, and Taylor beat Fickett.

I think Amir is just really, really, really good.

by Michaelthebox on Dec 12, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. You know, this exposure gives some decent fighter the opportunity to train at higher level camps and evolve in to good fighters. I wouldn’t put to much into it if he were to lose.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 12, 2008 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Since I didn’t watch TUF this season, I’m curious, outside of his fights, how much of Nover was shown during the show? Since he wasn’t acting like a fool, was he generally ignored?

by dmayeda on Dec 12, 2008 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They showed him as a class act. He drank pee-fruits (was a victim of a prank) and they showed him eat Balut with the rest of the fighters.

by cyph on Dec 12, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nover AND Efrain

deserve a lot of praise. Escudero took shit from the biggest ass on the show and beat him. Shane Nelson also pushed the crap outta him early on in the show and he did nothing, just kept his cool. I hope its a really close fight and both fighters get contracts.

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 12, 2008 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think its a pretty safe bet that all the finalists get contracts. They usually sign several fighters from each season. Its just about how they perform on their next few fights that is crucial for them to stay with the UFC..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 12, 2008 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s good, especially give some the talent they’ve got on their hands, like Bader for instance. I think that Vinny will win their fight; however, I think that Bader has much more potential in the long run.

by Rundownloser on Dec 12, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell no! That mid kick Vinny has is gonna hurt a lot of people when he learns more MT. :-)

by ununkvadrium on Dec 12, 2008 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vinny is a superstar in the making if he can keep his focus on MMA. He may be a little slow on with his hands but a few seasons with a top camp and he’s going to be serious business.

by Benicio on Dec 12, 2008 11:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really think they are looking to keep several of the fighters, even Junie.

They gave Eliot and Krystof very winnable fights, rather than having them face each other.

I fully expect to see Bader, Vinny, Efrain, Nover, Eliot, Krystof, likely and unfortunately Junie, Shane Nelson and maybe 1 or 2 others in multiple UFC fights. I think this is a statement about the quality of fighters on the show this year.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 12, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. Its the most talented house they’ve had in a long time, IMO.

by Michaelthebox on Dec 12, 2008 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by Rundownloser on Dec 12, 2008 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Minus Junie

Oh, and Roli.

lol

by xFenixKnightx on Dec 12, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Guys in the TUF house like Nover are what tempered my displeasure with some of the foolish acts perpetrated during this season. I was able to roll my eyes and keep tuning in because I didn’t think it would be fair to the guys like Nover, Eliot, Efrain, Krystof (who had some good natured fun) and Bader, who were training hard and representing our sport with dignity and class. Is it any wonder that the guys that were acting like complete idiots ending up failing in the Octagon? The cream rose to the top and I think it’s very appropriate.

by Blackout612 on Dec 12, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It seems like each year the fighters in the house have a tougher time keeping it together than the ones from the seasons past. I don’t remember all of this “The house makes you crazy.” stuff from seasons 1 or 2 at all.

A potential answer to my question – Could the production crew be stepping in more and trying to facilitate the drama more and more each season?

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Dec 12, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Casting would have a lot to do with it. Adding a lot more ‘unhinged’ or emotionally weak guys into the house will always create dramas. There’s no way they wouldnt do some kind of psych profiles on the perspective fighters – as per all reality tv shows.

by Benicio on Dec 12, 2008 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’re probably right. Can you imagine the casting crew’s reactions when Junie came threw – I picture all of these buzzers and alarms going off.

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Dec 13, 2008 1:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs