MMA’s Full 38’ 11.28.07: MMA Reality TV - Future And Past
Posted by Sid Needelman on 11.28.2007
Some people only got involved in MMA from the UFC reality show, but Forrest Griffin was not the first guy to try on fingerless gloves and appear on a reality show. For instance, Tim Sylvia made a fool of himself on Blind Date and Kit Cope was on MTV. Plus, the future looks bright with Ricco in rehab and Tito Ortiz on The Apprentice.
Two quick announcements before we begin…
1. We will be doing an MMA Holiday Shopper's guide, spotlighting the best training gear, coolest fashions, and best places to buy all of your items during this holiday season. If you would like to nominate your products, or know someone who thinks they have something worthy of a recommendation, please contact me ASAP @ SidnJustice@aol.com
2. On December 1st, just a week away, there is a MMA event scheduled for Orlando and will be taped by the same company with the quick turnaround DVD production company that recently put out "Night Fights." Tickets are still available for the upcoming event and a review and link to get a DVD copy of the old event along with all my other columns can be found at: http://www.411mania.com/user_profile.php?user_id=2265
MMA & Reality TV: The Future
Word is that taping started a month ago for Tito Ortiz and this time it wont be for a documentary with no ending like the one Dana White put out of his planned boxing match with Tito. This time around, Tito is up against people with bigger heads than he has. Maybe not physically bigger, but the expression fits.
Tito Ortiz joins an all-star cast to fight over fame and charity money. Word is that the following will make up the some of the more interesting cast competing for a nod of approval from Donald Trump:
Trace Adkins the country music star, two actors and actress in Carol Alt and Vincent Pastore A.K.A. "Big Pussy" from "The Sopranos," Stephen Baldwin. Also Nadia Comaneci an Olympic gymnastics, a Playboy Playmate named Tiffany Fallon, the ex-champion Boxer Lennox Lewis, and Kiss rocker, Gene Simmons.
In past seasons contestants fought for a job under the well known business tycoon, but this time around I would suspect some new twists, and for Tito to plug his team Punishment clothing line. Also, if you would like to meet Tito, he will be shaking hands and signing autographs Saturday December 1st, between 2-5pm at the North American Mixed Martial Arts Expo in California.
Ricco Rodriguez will also be back on reality TV. You could claim that his appearance on The Human Weapon was unscripted and reality show like, but his new show will be un-debatable. VH1's Celebrity Rehab is just what the doctor ordered for the former champion who was for a time living very unhealthy. His bad habits were depicted on MMA websites and in documentaries where he is out late partying like in The Smashing Machine. As noted in a column focusing on Ricco's first and so far only, IFL fight, he is actually living clean, and he has kept clean even before the show was filmed.
Joining Ricco on the VH1 "Celebreality," was Brigit Nielson of the Flavor Flav fame, "Chyna Doll" who must be called such to avoid any conflict with the rights to her name and her old wrestling job, Tom Sizemore, one of the guys from the band Crazytown, porn star Mary Carey, and American Idol star Jessica Sierra.
Ricco spoke openly about the non specifics of the filming as he is legally bound to be as vague as possible and reveal nothing. But he enjoyed his time in the house and still gets along with his fellow detox celebs, including Jessica Sierra who called to see how he was after his IFL fight. The show airs in January.
MMA Reality TV: The Past
Three weeks following a broken arm courtesy of Frank Mir, Tim Sylvia risked a broken heart by going on the reality dating show, Blind Date. For anyone who thought the man who was in denial about his broken arm, would not be in denial about his lack of skills with the ladies, you are mistaken. The date started off, and stayed awkward as Tim's huge body but cowered shoulders cast shadows on his victim… er, date. Jennifer, his date, was not perfect, but her biggest fault was an insistence on drinking and her date drink too. One could suspect though it was her way of keeping his heart at bay, while making the night enjoyable by walking around with beer goggles.
Having met Tim before, I was surprised that the same guy who could not understand why I was not keen on myself going hunting, was afraid of a spider. Halfway through the segment watch as some lame comedian makes the former UFC champion jump a few inches. Tiki also made his face known on the show as well, but it was not nearly as fun to watch., even if he was with a Hooter's girl.
You can watch the clip at any video site like by going here: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Tim+Sylvia+blind+date
Kit Cope also spent time on reality TV long before it was the obvious way into the UFC Octagon. He appeared on True Life: I'm a Muay Thai Fighter and looked like a hopeful talent the public could hardly wait to see in MMA. In fact, the show even mentioned him making the transition. Kit Cope sported two losses and a win when he got his chance in the UFC. On the finale for the reality show, The Ultimate Fighter: Season 2, Kit showed what he could do, or more so, what he could not do, the ground game. He was choked out in the first minute of the second round by Kenny Florian.
His next MMA fight saw him losing by strikes, and testing positive on a drug test. To say the least, he has had more success on MTV, Spike TV's Wide World of Spike and as an example of why someone needs strong well rounded skills to make it in MMA.
Daniel Puder started in MMA and took a path not many other fighters have taken. Most people who transitions between pro-wrestling and MMA used their fame from one to propel them in the other. Hear, Daniel tried out for the reality television like entity that was called "Tough Enough." It was as much pro-wrestling and reality as it was anything else, but Daniel, who had had one pro MMA fight previously used that experience to build himself up as a legit character. While the pro-wrestling video editors saved the world from witnessing the potential dethroning of pro-wrestling star Kurt Angle, it is considered common knowledge that Daniel almost made Kurt scream in pain when he slapped on a kimura. Since returning to MMA, Daniel has been carefully matched against opponents, but it will not be long until we truly see him tested.
But we will be tested, tested with more Ultimate Fighter seasons and other reality appearances. I'm sure only some of them will be worth noting in the future.
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And for those of you wondering what is MMA's Full 38' It means: an octagon is 30 ft across with 4 feet extra on each side, for cornermen, doctors and camera crew. To know MMA, sometimes one needs to make sure they cover some of the lesser know aspects of it, and 38' represents a number a lot of hardcore fans would not recognize. But be warned, do not try to set up an arena without knowing how big the octagon really is, or there will be problems.
Sid Needelman
