TUF 9, USA vs United Kingdom, what is really the point of this?

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 11:45 AM EDT Comment 28 comments

We're now at the eve of a new season of The Ultimate Fighter beginning, this time around its USA vs UK.... Dana and the boys have lined up two great coaches that will have a great fight come UFC 100 or 101 in Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping but all of this really raises a question with me... what is the point of a Team USA vs Team UK set up? MMA is the ultimate "individual sport" and only one fighter from each weight class will get a contract, so why set this up as a battle of nations? If each member of the "winning" team were to get a contract (which in all reality most of them do), then I would see a point to this pinning of two countries against each other.

The Ultimate Fighter has ultimately become a punchline for many jokes and although they have introduced us to many phenomenal fighters (Forrest, Rashad, Bisping, etc..), we have had major douche bags that are horrible representatives to the sport as well (Junie, mainly). Is Zuffa hoping to rectify their past mistakes with this season of TUF? Well only time will tell but in my own personal opinion... I think the set up of USA vs UK is just pointless.

Anyone expect anything positive from this season?

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It looks to be a gimick to keep the show fresh. Every once in awhile you need to introduce something new. Just like the NHL has done several different incarnations of it’s all-star game (don’t bash me for the NHL reference, i love all sports) looks like TUF will go through some of these changes. All in all it will be a positive because of the finale and the coaches fighting it out at the end (which was a great addition by Dana).

by TWeb on Mar 31, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I see your point with the NHL reference but when they did the whole North America vs the World set up for the All Star Game…. I didn’t like it. It always seemed kind of one sided because it was really Canada vs the World.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm. Didn`t US have that Chelios-guy and the other one, the Son of Bobby Hull? And Mickey Mousedano?

"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 31, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Richter FTW

by subo on Mar 31, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would very much like if they went back to basics. Show when and how they train. Let`s see them spar against eachothers. Let us watch as they teach BJJ etc etc.

Last season I kinda think that one head-coach didn`t speak english and had a seemingly half-deaf half-retarded boxing coach taken straight outta Rocky 2 kinda prevented that angle.

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 31, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NO STANKIE BASHING

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 31, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

we love stankie

by subo on Mar 31, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I`m sorry. I was clearly out of line. His monologues does have a certain Shakespearean-quality come to think of it. I get this sudden urge to poison myself or maybe stab everyone else.

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 31, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Btw, No wonder Minotaouro was flabbergasted by the speeeed of Mir. Thanks Stanks!

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 31, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Them’s fightin’ words, partner.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 31, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the other hand Minotaoro should`ve picked up on the things Stankie did teach him. Such as the Two-Handed-Eye-Poke.

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 31, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty sure I have seen interviews where Dana said he didn’t care for the country vs country bit either. This is what SpikeTV wanted to do.

by who me on Mar 31, 2009 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thats what he said fo sho

people take this show too seriously. Enjoy it and don’t over think it.

by banter on Mar 31, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering that this show is the main feed for bringing talent into the UFC, I just don’t like the limiting of it to USA and UK fighters only. I feel that the UFC needs to branch out more, especially if they are wanting to conquer more foreign markets. I thought it was great seeing some more international flavor with the Israeli fighters that were brought into the “fight for the house” last season. I guess I just don’t like the battle of nations gimmick.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s just one season, and limiting it to the US and England isn’t really limiting it that much.

It’s already limited by the fact that the fighters need to speak english. If the network wants to try country vs country for 1 season to try to get a boost in the ratings, let it go.

by Phildo on Mar 31, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

y’all are the ones making a big deal out of this… I asked a question to see what others opinions were about the subject…. so we can cut the “let it go” bull shit.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If thats the case...

then BOOOOOOOO!!!!! Wouldn’t expect less from the people that came up w/ MANswers, I guess.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think sometimes people forget that TUF is a SpikeTV show. It’s SpikeTV that decides what does and doesn’t make it on tv and SpikeTV’s prmary concern is tv ratings.

by who me on Mar 31, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just hear all the time about the creative control that Dana White has with the UFC name which is why Zuffa never signed a deal with HBO because of creative control…. I guess I figure that if he doesn’t like an idea.. it doesn’t happen.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, from the sounds of the Spike deal and how it was made, the UFC didn’t have near the bargaining power and leverage then that they do now.

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

by AJB on Mar 31, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HBO wants to have pretty much complete creative control over event broadcast, SpikeTV is exerting control on a reality show they are partnered up on but they don’t tell the UFC what they can and can’t do for a live event. The UFC on HBO would of been a HBO production not a prepackaged UFC production for broadcast. TUF isn’t a UFC event it’s a SpikeTV reality show. For sure Dana has a lot of influence and I’m sure Zuffa controls the sport side of it but SpikeTV is also going to have a lot of influence into the product that shows on tv.

by who me on Mar 31, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I get what you’re saying… that makes sense.

by Gunslinger20 on Apr 1, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s time for people to stop beating that drum.

Everyone said Dana didn’t take the CBS deal because of creative control. Even after it’s come out that it was near impossible to make money on the deal Elite signed, everyone still beats the creative control drum.

Does Dana want to produce the fights himself? yes. But he doesn’t (and can’t) control everything about everything UFC related.

by Phildo on Apr 1, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

They are trying to tap into group association. It is one reason team sports are so big, because fans associate themselves with a team because of that team being from their location or someplace important to them. People care more.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 31, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The point is to further market the UFC in England.

by undrafted on Mar 31, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense. There have been UK fighters on the show before but I can see how this would further the interest more.

by Gunslinger20 on Mar 31, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The show needs a two year break. Its growing stale and the talent pool has shrunk. They should take an extended break to get people excited and to replenish the talent pool

by Brian Bobby on Mar 31, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree with this... 100%

I think its time to go back to the drawing board. I can still remember the first season when they had “the challenges”. Seeing them carry around Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture like they were Egyptian royalty was classic. Joe Stevenson doing the “Scarecrow” on the 2nd season was cool too.

by Gunslinger20 on Apr 1, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs