(The over/under on how long it will take Chuck to remind Tito of the two times he mercilesssly kicked his ass? Twelve seconds.)
There are a lot of similarities between how I felt when I heard that Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell would coach the next season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and how I felt when I found out there was no Santa Claus. In both cases, I was initially flooded with overwhelming grief. How could this be, I wondered. What kind of world are we living in? Just when I thought there was something to believe in – be it the promise that Liddell would bow out gracefully at Dana White’s insistence, or the promise that a fat, seemingly immortal man would invade my home in order to give me a Nintendo for getting good grades – it gets snatched away from me.
Those were dark days. Both times I responded by masking my pain with hard drug use and shoplifting, the latter of which, if you haven’t tried it, is a total rush and much easier to get away with when you’re eight years old. But after I got out of rehab and got my life back together, I came to see the positives in each situation. I started seeing them for what they were, instead of what they weren’t. And you know what I found? There’s ample reason to be grateful for this turn of events.
With the Santa situation, I eventually realized that I didn’t have to be good all the time to get presents from some omniscient being; I just had to not get caught by my parents or other authority figures. That really freed up my social life. With the TUF 11 situation, there are also some silver linings worth taking note of…
No Title Gets Taken Out of Circulation, No Important Rivalry Put on Hold
The worst part about the UFC taking a champion and a challenger – or even just a top contender and his sworn enemy (see: Rashad and “Rampage”) – and thrusting them into opposite coaching roles is that it guarantees that the fight won’t happen for several months. If a champ is involved, the whole top tier of the division basically comes to a halt. Even if there’s no title on the line, there is such a thing as too much build-up. We love to see a little heat to make a fight more interesting, but too much and we drift into pro wrestling territory. Plus, the more time elapses, the greater the chance that something will derail the fight (see again: Rashad and “Rampage”).
The Best Enemies Are Old Enemies
True, Ortiz-Liddell is a rivalry, but not in the same sense as Evans and Jackson. For one thing, they both know how to push one another’s buttons at this point. For another, we’ve already seen them fight twice, so no one is dying to see it a third time. That’s both good and bad. Good because we’re not really missing anything by letting them spend a couple of months building the hate between one another, and bad because the end result will be yet another fight between them. However, with Liddell getting older and slower, Tito might actually have a chance this time.
This Time, More Talking Than Fighting Is Actually a Good Thing
Liddell and Ortiz have both reached the point in their careers where their skills have begun to atrophy and they just aren’t as exciting once that first horn sounds. Before it, however, they still have all the same abilities. Tito can still talk a good/slightly incomprehensible game, and Liddell can still play the role of the laconic bad-ass. In fact, if there’s anyone who can stimulate “The Iceman’s” trash talk muscles, it’s Tito. The fight itself may not turn out to be a barn-burner, but so what? The season can’t be less entertaining than TUF 10, and the coaches can’t be more boring than Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
In other words, it’s something to do that comes at the expense of nothing else we might have wanted to see done. Maybe you can still complain about that, but I’m going to kick back and enjoy it. And probably also complain a little bit.
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Comments
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:42
I agree. Let the old men have their little reality show, seeing as no one is exactly clamouring to see these guys fight other people anyway. At least now, it's not affecting/holding up a division this way. Oh, and fuck you Bens! I KNOW Santy Claus is real and since I've been such a good boy this year, I'm gonna get that shiny new bike!
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:43
As much as I want to see this fight at the end of the season, I'd rather two entirely new fighters as coaches for TUF11.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:44
Losing coach has to change his nickname...
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:50
CP -- Your articles and analogies are getting too long winded in my opinion. I know you guys try to be funny but sometimes it gets way too tiring to read. You guys are taking forever to get to the point lately in some articles. No offense though, just saying. I am a long standing reader and still catch your website every opportunity I get.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:53
If Tito wins, he will never shut up about it.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:56
lol @vyapaar I actually kind of agree with you. But its their blog, and they've got to get something out of it other than our inane comments and petty squabbles. ;P Take the good with the bad, and the funny with the long winded. Overall, there's still nowhere else most of us would rather get our MMA news. Why did the Cheers theme song just start playing in my head?
Wed, 12/09/09 - 09:58
Maybe this could be the start of something great. Take two over the hill fighter who are arguably good coaches. They don't even have to be relevant UFC fighters (Matt Hughes, Carlos Newton, Some sort of Gracie. Pat Miletich, you get the idea), just give them some real talent to work with not personalities. Show them training and all that and then have them fight for a contract. Meanwhile the coaches can fight at the same live finale. It won't be for a title shot or even contention. Just a good scrap, not unlike the old timers game during all star weekend, with over the hill technically/physically equal legends of the sport. I think this would be much more entertaining. The only downside is you know Ken Shamrock would want to jump on this band wagon. There are infinite coach possibilities, what or who do you think.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:00
Honestly, this might be the best possible coaching scenario -- older guys who are interesting in and of themselves, beyond any key matchup in the division. The younger guys are going to be stoked to be fighting on Team Liddell or Team Ortiz (or they will if they have any sense of UFC history, which is not a given, now that I think about it). Plus, this means that both Chuck and Tito have reason to spend extended time in Vegas. Between all the floozies that Chuck will hook up with, and the potential of Tito's wife getting camera time this season, I think we're guaranteed to have some great behind-the-scenes stories.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:06
@ SteamPunk: Shit man! You suck! Now you got that song in my head! Jk, you don't really suck, but damn bro!
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:07
If only there were two other past-their-prime fighters available... Two older guys that barely mutter coherent sentences, looking to capitalize on their rivalry... One of them looks for a takedown, the other prefers to stand and move... Shaved head vs. goofy haircut... That's right, I'm talking about Pedro Martinez and Don Zimmer. Make it happen, Dana.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:08
Oh, and Bens: please don't write shorter articles, no matter who says what. I mean, they aren't long. You're not filling two double-spaced pages in Word as it is. One of you has a fucking MFA in writing, for God's sake. You can't convince me you type slower than 90wpm. This article probably took you five minutes to bang out once you got the research done. Seriously, you're writing about a pretty complex sport. Your Flesch-Kincaid readability score should never climb above 70, just based on concepts like kimura and gogoplata and Nick Diaz's weed dealers. Fight the power, guys.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:09
itll be a laugh for sure
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:18
I really hope Danny Bonaduche is one of the contestants in the house... I know this would probably never happen for obvious reasons, but let's say Brock recovers 100% and somehow beats a few HWs, Brock and Mir as coaches would be really fuckin fun to watch...
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:19
The only point of contention I have is that Dan Hardy Vs. GSP would have made for a better season. GSP needs as much time as possible to heal his groin injury anyhow, so we wouldn't have really been missing out on anything. Plus, Hardy is an annoying British cunt, so watching him for a whole season would have made us salivate in anticipation before GSP utterly destroys him. And who doesn't love GSP attempting to thrash talk. "Dan Hardee, you cannot handel my riddum."
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:26
Yeah those 2 are the best possible coaches. Anyways, im'ma post this one again and hope it keeps going this time... Out of any personality in MMA who would you... 1) Fight? Scott Blevins 2) Go to Disneyland with? Mayhem Miller 3) Marry? Carano 4) Go to the bar with? Dana White 5) Go on a four day bender with? Logan 6) Have a training session with? Fedor 7) Fire? Rob Emerson 8) Give a raise? Roy Nelson 9) Go into battle with? Brock Lesnar 10) Backpack across Europe with? Fedor 11) Advise to retire? Phil "Were-Guido" Baroni 12) Take medical advice from? Josh Barnett 13) Have children with? Carano 14) Invite to live on your couch until they got back on their feet? Denis Kang 15) Go fishing with? Cro Cop 16) Cook with? Roy Nelson 17) Talk politics with? Helwani 18) Punch in the face? Bob Arum 19) Go on a crime spree with? WarMachine 20) Have as your wingman/woman? Anderson Silva 21) Debate the meaning of life? Diego Sanchez 22) Advise to get a different haircut? Alex Emelianenko (yeah i stole that one. And what?!)
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:28
What !? There is no Santa ?
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:42
1) Fight? Kim Couture 2) Go to Disneyland with? kyle Maynard 3) Marry? Carano 4) Go to the bar with? Mikey Burnett 5) Go on a four day bender with? Don Frye 6) Have a training session with? Rampage Jackson 7) Fire? Patrick Cote 8) Give a raise? Art Jimmerson 9) Go into battle with? Hong Man Choi 10) Backpack across Europe with? Joe Rogan 11) Advise to retire? Jardine 12) Take medical advice from? Chuck Liddell 13) Have children with? Emmanuel Yarborough 14) Invite to live on your couch until they got back on their feet? Joe Son 15) Go fishing with? Ron van Clief 16) Cook with? Corey Hill 17) Talk politics with? Kimbo 18) Punch in the face? Dana White 19) Go on a crime spree with? Lee Murray 20) Have as your wingman/woman? Bruce Buffer 21) Debate the meaning of life? Tank Abbott 22) Advise to get a different haircut? Koscheck
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:48
@ Sabado Gigante You are shitting me right? what could Cock Chenstner actually coach? he doesn't even know MMA. not saying he isnt a superior athlete, but i have yet to see a truly technical move... when he pulls a sub of any kind then we can talk.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:53
Vyapaar, no one cares. LOL@ El famous Burrito.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:58
@ without: That's the thing. If there is anything TUF has taught us is that you don't need to know how to coach to coach. Brock's inability to act smarter than a toaster and Mir's obsessive personality would make it very interesting... This show has obviously evolved to where ratings is the focal point, not producing talent....Either you get it or you don't...
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:00
Ok here it is! Scrap the current TUF format... and call it Making The Ultimate fighter!... Have guys try out based on just pure athleticism absolutely no MMA experience. Get all the great coaches to pick a guy, perhaps several 1 from each weight class, and they train the guy like a madman for a year. Fuck even send the guy to Russia and have him train with Fedor, i dunno. Follow the guy documentary style. Then when they think he's ready put him in a TUF show and see how he actually fairs... I know it might discredit the sport, but if the guy gets sick training at all the major gym's im sure the guys going to compete at a high level. But even if he's a trainwreck we'ed all still want to see him get his ass wooped. Random thoughts - and copy write by me, just in case anyone is smart enough to run with it.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:02
@Sabado Gigante I guess i get your point... like watching a fat naked chick, you dont want to see it but you cant look away either...come to think of it i would really like to see Brock's version of Rampage's TKO on that door...would the entire gym collapse?
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:20
Out of any personality in MMA who would you... 1) Fight? Fedor (Why not?) 2) Go to Disneyland with? Fedor (he loves rollercoasters) 3) Marry? Logan 4) Go to the bar with? Rich Franklin 5) Go on a four day bender with? Randy 6) Have a training session with? Fedor 7) Fire? Tito (just to fuck with him) 8) Give a raise? All WEC fighters 9) Go into battle with? John Fitch 10) Backpack across Europe with? GSP (Speaks French) 11) Advise to retire? Trigg 12) Take medical advice from? Greg Jackson 13) Have children with? Carano 14) Invite to live on your couch until they got back on their feet? Jeff Monson 15) Go fishing with? BJ Penn 16) Cook with? Kimbo 17) Talk politics with? Fightlinker boys 18) Punch in the face? Jerry Millen 19) Go on a crime spree with? Team Chute Boxe 20) Have as your wingman/woman? Rashad 21) Debate the meaning of life? Jardine 22) Advise to get a different haircut? Rosimar Palharis
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:22
1) Fight?: Anderson Silva 2) Go to Disneyland With: Wes Simms 3) Marry: Sarah Ponce 4) Go to the bar with: Miguel Torres 5) Go on a four day bender with: The long lost Edith Labelle 6) Have a training session with: Eddie Bravo 7) Fire: Steve Mazagatti 8) Give a raise: all the divisions lighter than 155 9) Go to battle with: Diego Sanchez 10) Backpack across Europe with: Joe Rogan 11) Advise to retire: Ken Shamrock 12) Take medical advice from: Eddie Bravo 13) Have children with: Logan I guess 14) Invite to live on your couch until they got back on their feet: Karo Paresian 15) Go fishing with: BJ Penn 16) Cook with: titties 17) Talk politics with: Jeff Munson 18) Punch in the face: Mauro Renallo 19) Go on a crime spree with: Benson Henderson's priest! 20) Have as your wingman/woman: Dana White 21) Debate the meaning of life: Lyoto Machida 22) Advise to get a different haircut: let's see... Not Clay Guida... Not Miguel Torres... I'll go with Frank Mir
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:33
@Vyparr Shut the fuck up. Reading is the shit.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:54
1) Fight?: Natasha Wicks 2) Go to Disneyland With: Natasha Wicks 3) Marry: Natasha Wicks 4) Go to the bar with: Natasha Wicks 5) Go on a four day bender with: Natasha Wicks 6) Have a training session with: Natasha Wicks 7) Fire: Natasha Wicks 8) Give a raise: Natasha Wicks 9) Go to battle with: Natasha Wicks 10) Backpack across Europe with: Natasha Wicks 11) Advise to retire: Natasha Wicks 12) Take medical advice from: Natasha Wicks 13) Have children with: Natasha Wicks 14) Invite to live on your couch until they got back on their feet: Natasha Wicks 15) Go fishing with: Natasha Wicks 16) Cook with: Natasha Wicks 17) Talk politics with: Natasha Wicks 18) Punch in the face: Natasha Wicks 19) Go on a crime spree with: Natasha Wicks 20) Have as your wingman/woman: Natasha Wicks 21) Debate the meaning of life: Natasha Wicks 22) Advise to get a different haircut: Natasha Wicks
Wed, 12/09/09 - 11:59
^^^ Obsessed much?
Wed, 12/09/09 - 12:09
@ skeletor Go to Disneyland with?) Kyle Maynard. Damn right. Front of the line, bitches!
Wed, 12/09/09 - 12:20
^^^ LOL! Thanks for saying that cuz i missed the point of that answer.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 01:32
I dont give a toss that Tito and Chuck are coaching! I just hope they get some real fighters in this season! some with skill and cardio! Not former NFL players! and some who could make a dent in the UFC middle weights not just someone who can win TUF! Because winning TUF and fighting in the UFC is two diffrent things!
Wed, 12/09/09 - 01:38
@Sabado Gigante Kids with Logan definitely, sugar foot ain't built for kids if u no what i mean.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 01:50
"How could this be, I wondered. What kind of world are we living in?" Those have been my same thoughts at the announcement of every season of tuf after the first one. But then I dont like high school musical either so what do I know.
Wed, 12/09/09 - 02:09
I'm just glad that Chuck's on a reality show that doesn't involve him looking like a psychopath trying to shake his "money-maker!"
Wed, 12/09/09 - 07:17
@skeletor Wonderful suggestion about the old guys coaching and fighting. Who doesn't wanna see Bas fight again?!
Wed, 12/09/09 - 10:33
I agree with AussieJosh. What will save this season are fighters who show up with real skills and three round cardio. I guess having two coaches that actually care can help too.
Tue, 12/15/09 - 12:03
Face7biter has the best idea for the new season--GSP trash talk would be ratings GOLD i tell you. i would name the 22 Gang, but it would pretty much synthesize the ones above. Except someone needs to tell Miguel Torres to choose a new 'do. I don't care if it's part of your culture, this is America and that is a goddam mullet. Now assimilate yourself, fool. Also, Natasha Wicks needs a punch in the face, and Logan and Sarah Ponce are in need of a four day bender. After which, one or both may need marrying. see also: Kyra Gracie.
Tue, 05/10/11 - 05:08
[...] The Unpopular Opinion: Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz Are the Best … [...]
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