TUF 8 Behavior Draws Scrutiny From Nevada Officials

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 17, 2009 8:49 AM EST in News Comment 16 comments

For each season of The Ultimate Fighter, dating back to the first season's filming in late 2004, Zuffa has requested and been granted a waiver of the NSAC's regulations relating to the results of NSAC-sanctioned fights being posted publicly. This allows the results of the fights on The Ultimate Fighter to remain secret until the fights air on Spike TV months later. These waivers must be requested and granted for each individual season of TUF.

Prior to granting the usual waivers to Zuffa for the upcoming ninth season, which recently started filming and is tentatively scheduled to begin airing on April 1, the NSAC wanted to talk to Zuffa about some of the behavior in the eighth season.

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The NSAC's official summary of the meeting goes on to say, "Lorenzo Fertitta stated that the UFC does not condone the behavior of those contestants and wants the State and the sport to be reflected in a good light. Lorenzo Fertitta stated that in the future there will be a closer look at any behavior that might be offensive prior to broadcast, and that Zuffa does not encourage such behavior and had no prior knowledge of it occurring."

After thanking all of the parties involved for attending the meeting, "Commissioner Avansino stated he did talk with Mr. Fertitta on the phone and he is confident that Zuffa will endeavor to monitor the show so such behavior will not occur again, and there will be no further incidents."

I've been pretty critical of The Ultimate Fighter as of late, so I'll try to steer clear of a rant at this juncture. What I will say is that Nevada's athletic commission is in a unique position to effect change in the show if they deem it necessary. The waiver that allows Zuffa to keep the results of TUF fights secret until airing is a giant bargaining chip in the NSAC's possession. I don't see how the show can function in its current form without the ability to keep results hidden from the public. Obviously, NSAC officials are intimately involved in every fight on the show. I'm quite confident that the most revered athletic commission in the United States isn't willing to accept negative publicity resulting from antics on a reality show. Judging from Lorenzo Fertita's statement, he's taking the athletic commission's concerns seriously. I'd count that as positive development.

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The part about doing shots of urine is ridiculous.

by smoogy on Jan 16, 2009 11:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, got to see that part when they broadcast it in Australia.

Twas fucked. Really, really, fucked.

by SamCupitt on Jan 17, 2009 12:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NSAC is in no position to change jacksquat

2 former heads of the NSAC run ZUFFA. All they have to do is call in old favors and the NSAC will be back to sucking the ZUFFA teat in no time.

Lorenzo and Marc Ratner OWN that commission.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 17, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And if anybody else wants a job with ZUFFA when they quit...

They better just shut their damn mouth about anything ZUFFA does or does not do… If they know whats good for their career

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 17, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At first read....

I thought that this would be a good thing. It is a great way to hold the producers accountable, through consequence, for the actions of the contestants on the show given the environment created. Then I thought that if the commission did decide not to grant the waiver due to the poor behavior of the shows contestants that the backlash it would experience from fans of the show might be worse than the negative publicity resulting from the antics of the contestants. In other words I think this is a bluff on the part of the NSAC. The UFC and TUF generate lots of money in Nevada and I doubt anything is going to change regarding the antics we have seen and if history proves true next season will push the boundaries a bit further than the last.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 16, 2009 11:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m not so sure it’s a bluff. You raise a good point, but I don’t believe the show provides them with so much revenue that the NSAC is scared to come down on Zuffa. Honestly, I don’t believe Zuffa would want press the issue, anyway. I guess we’ll see, but I really think Zuffa will try to reign the contestants in a bit.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 16, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed 100%.

I think they are just a little concerned at how the sport and its governing bodies may be perceived with allowing this kind of behavior with no consequence. I would think they just want the show to be tightened up a bit, that is all.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jan 17, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if they don’t control anything in the house (though I’m sure they don’t want guilt by association) there was enough in-ring controversy, notably Junie’s cage-jumping, to warrant closer supervision. I wonder how control-freak Dana is handling this.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Jan 16, 2009 11:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

it’s time for dana and co. to try and come with some new ideas, some different strategies to change the core (drunken reality)of this show and still keep it interesting enough for the casual fans. dana and the fertittas were able to change the face of mma, they ought to be able to revamp this show, make it entertaining and still have it be credible. i think if pressed they can pull it off. they’ve done it before.

by bdw on Jan 17, 2009 12:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

And though the show remains popular, the UFC has heard a lot of criticism about the antics of the fighters in the house. Fighters have gotten out-of-control drunk, urinated and ejaculated on food that others ate and exhibited much other lewd and raunchy behavior.

The man who could put an end to it, though, says he’s not changing a thing. UFC president Dana White said he’s not going to require the fighters to change anything about the way they behave. That means alcohol stays in the house and the fighters are free to do what they please when they please.

That was Dana White’s response 3 days ago. Me thinks someone read that piece and decided they needed to step in to get things changed since UFC wasn’t going to clean up the mess. I agree young guys are stupid and that won’t stop, but they could at least not promote it by leaving it on the cutting room floor.

by bignerd on Jan 17, 2009 1:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

According to the article, the quotes from Dana saying there would be no changes were 1 month after the Nevada meeting where they said the antics would be ending. So I don’t think their taking the Nevada panel very seriously.

by James Raymis on Jan 17, 2009 1:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dana can say whatever he wants. He usually does. I can’t prove my hypothesis is valid; only time will tell. Suffice it to say, Zuffa can tone down the show without publicly admitting they’ve done it. If the NSAC isn’t willing to do anything then why did they say something about the antics at all? They’ve sort of put themselves in a corner with the remarks. If they don’t do anything if the TUF 9 is much like TUF 8, they’ll look weak and somewhat in the pocket of Zuffa.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 17, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Besides, Dana said that the show will stay the same. Fine, but his response to incidents as in the case of Junie may well change. I think that’s what many objected to.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 17, 2009 10:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's Reality TV people...

Get over it!!! It will never change!

by steveoc24 on Jan 17, 2009 4:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

no big deal here...

…5 minutes cut from the last season and no one would know anything about it.

Nothing will change about what happens IN the house. Just the editing.

by RipeTide on Jan 17, 2009 7:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the real mistake

Dana shouldn’t have name dropped Keith Kizer when he failed to show up and witness the “cage hop” incident. If he kept his mouth shut, NSAC wouldn’t be flexing like this.

by Demogorgo on Jan 17, 2009 7:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs