Video category button Ring girls category button Forums site button Fighters site button

TUF

International Audiences to Bear Witness to the Fitness of the Modern Warrior

TUF Iran UFC
(Props: Smoogy on this epic UG thread.)

Just as Pop Idol spawned American Idol, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? launched Oh, lucky man!, the UFC wants to turn its Ultimate Fighter property into a global franchise. As Dana White told MMA Junkie following UFC 105, international versions of TUF will begin production in seven or eight countries early next year:

"My job is over the next 10 years, the same game of soccer that we play in the U.S. is the same game they play in Canada, Mexico, Spain Italy, France, etc., and that's what we're doing with mixed martial arts right now," White said. "Everywhere you go all over the world, it's the same sport, and everybody plays by the same rules. We're trying to get these television deals in all these countries, major TV deals exposing the fans to it, then you bring a live event to those places. Then the virus spreads and people start training at it, trying to make a living at it, eventually becoming professional athletes. That's what we're going to do over the next 10 years.
 
"How do we plug this whole thing in with television and how to watch it everywhere? We're trying to figure that whole thing out and build that now. But the groundwork for this thing is 'The Ultimate Fighter,' and we've been working it very hard, and we're making it happen. 'The Ultimate Fighter' is going to be all over the world. That's the goal."

Machida and Rampage May Be Fighting in September, Won't Be Coaching Against Each Other on 'TUF'

Lyoto Machida UFC MMA

UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and #1 contender Quinton Jackson are letting some cats out of some bags this morning. First we have the above image taken from the homepage of Machida's official site, which announces that Machida and Jackson will be fighting each other in September — we're guessing at UFC 103, since that show is currently without a main event, though the Couture/Nogueira card is also earlier that month.

But here's the weird part: TUF 10 is slated to premiere in September — and weren't Machida and Rampage supposed to be coaching against each other? Well, Rampage will definitely be a coach on the show (visual proof after the jump), but new reports indicate that the Dragon will be sitting this season out.

The Ultimate Fighter 9.6 Recap: Isn't It Ironic?

The Ultimate Fighter 9 - Episode 6 Submissions - Watch more Funny Videos

When Michael Bisping went AWOL during Dean Amasinger's fight against Damarques Johnson, the nation wanted answers. Had he been in a car wreck? Was he holed up in a motel room with a crack pipe? Did he finally get picked up on his outstanding buggery warrants? Nah, the dude just overslept. He was badly jet-lagged, and was sawing logs while Dean was getting his ass kicked. Not exactly the cliffhanger we were hoping for, and the whole thing was resolved in about 20 seconds. 

Other than that, last night's episode was very satisfying, with two fights (I'm liking this trend) and some highly ironic tooth-loss thrown in at the end. To begin at the beginning...

Rumor of the Day: Rampage to Sleep Through Another Season as TUF Coach?

Quinton Rampage Jackson
(And still...the undisputed king...of the pre-fight mean-mug!)

Here's some good news for those of you who can’t get enough of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s antics: Spike TV may very well agree with you.  Fighters Only is passing along a rumor that Rampage is being seriously considered as a coach for season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” mainly because he was “a big hit with Spike TV executives thanks to his charismatic and extrovert nature.”  Obviously, this is still in the early planning stages, but it does present a couple logistical challenges for season ten, which is set to begin filming around a month or so from now.

Michael Bisping Is a Better Coach, Fighter, and Lover Than Dan Henderson

Michael Bisping UFC MMA The Ultimate Fighter
("I also look cooler in me leather jacket." Photo courtesy of the-fight-site.com)

Okay, maybe he hasn't said he's better in bed. But Michael Bisping has been laying into his Ultimate Fighter rival coach Dan Henderson lately, for a number of other reasons. First there was this interesting bit in his new TUF blog for UFC.com:

As you saw in the episode, I made good on my promise to ensure my team were at peak fitness. The footage of us running through Vegas was taken early in the morning. Basically, each team had two sessions in the gym later in the day so, in order to make sure Team UK were getting their cardio in but without affecting their ability to train in the gym, we ran at 8am.
 
Some people were surprised I was going to the house at 8am to run with them, but that’s the kind of coach I wanted to be. Plus, under the rules, Team UK – or Team USA for that matter – couldn’t leave the house except with me or to be taken to the gym. So if I didn’t run with them, they’d not be running at all. Without me going there and actually getting my guys, they would have no roadwork, and as a coach that wasn’t an option. As far as I know, Dan didn’t take his team out running or doing any cardio except what my team dubbed “Ultimate Frisbee”, which I think says it all. That was Team USA’s cardio training.