Tapping Out With TBerg 11.21.08: Fixing The Ultimate Fighter

Posted by Todd Bergman on 11.21.2008

The Ultimate Fighter is sick and needs a dose of reality. In this edition of Tapping Out With TBerg, I supply the medicine to fix this once proud and strong franchise. We also try to crown a new "Champion of Hotness." Reading this article is like signing away your likeliness for the rest of your life, only without being fired and then re-hired within 24 hours. Leave your inhibitions at the door because you are Tapping Out With TBerg.

Awesomely bad quote for Episode VI
"I'm gonna knock your hair black" –Ken Shamrock to Tito Ortiz

The Ultimate Fighter is becoming increasingly stale as the weeks continue on. The show is becoming more like an episode of Jackass and less about bringing new athletes into the fastest growing sport in America. Each week people are tuning in to watch the contenders eat and drink urine as well as other bodily fluids. If it's not fluids that you're into then you can indulge in the overabundance of lame pranks that the cast members constantly play on each other. One can imagine that being locked up in a house with no TV, internet, or any means of communication to the outside world could get extremely boring, but this season of The Ultimate Fighter has certainly stepped over the edge. It's time to change up the show so that it doesn't follow the course of other reality shows like "The Contender" and "Tough Enough." Here are the things that I would like to see changed and how these changes would help the show stay innovative and fresh.



Fixing the show

As mentioned before, the show needs to focus more on the training aspect of the sport and less on the pranks and drunkenness that has run rampant on the show the past few seasons. Seasons 1 and 3 really did a good job of showing the training and how some conflicts came about during the sparring sessions. I don't mind watching the drama if it comes from inside the Octagon, but I have certainly grown tired of the late-night, alcohol-fueled, profanity-laced disagreements about who's the better fighter. Seasons that showcase the training instead of the childish behavior have helped fuel future Pay-Per view showdowns between Diego vs. Koscheck along with Bisping vs. Hamill.

Everyone in MMA has a story, and MMA fans certainly want to hear those story. This is another element that the show has veered away from. Where are the fighters that you relate to and enjoy because of their life experiences? You certainly don't hear much about the fighters' backgrounds anymore because that time is taken up by guys missing weight, guys jumping fences for a YMCA employee booty call, and fighters pulling pranks on each other. How could you not love Josh Haynes' story about his son during Season 3. Now, I'm not expecting everyone to have a sob story but I am expecting to be able to relate to the fighters on the show if you want me to continue to watch it week after week and season after season. Even if that means we witness another fighter going home due to missing his girlfriend, it's still got to be better than what we are seeing now.


I hope this is the same girl!

I think that the chemistry between coaches is also a huge factor in the overall success of The Ultimate Fighter. This season you have seen little to no chemistry between the coaches as they haven't really interacted with each other. There has been a constant competitive spirit between the two, but there is no drama and intrigue beyond that point. Where's the one-upmanship that usually occurs between coaches? Outside of the horrible soccer showdown, fights, and the semi-final showdown meeting have the coaches even been in the same room with each other? I don't want them to go all Ken-and-Tito on each other, but fostering rivalry between the two coaches would greatly attribute to the success of the Pay-Per view fight. That's why for the next season, Dana must make sure that he picks coaches who aren't afraid to build the competitive spirit throughout the whole show.

On the next season of The Ultimate Fighter we are going to see fighters from the USA competing against fighters from the UK. While I think that this is a step in a positive direction, it's hard to believe that this pairing will be the explosion of ratings that the UFC needs in its quest for world domination. A better concept would be to include 4 fighters from 8 countries. Any combinations of countries would be sufficient. I would think that the UFC would go after the following countries: USA, UK, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Australia, Mexico, and China. All the countries boast great MMA talent that could help the overall image of the UFC outside the States. This would be especially true with Australia being the dark horse since MMA is still a newer sport over there.

Another concept that the UFC could look to capitalize on would be Women's MMA. They could divide one season of the show between men's competitions and women's competitions. Of course the probability of this happening would depend on the UFC finding 32 qualified women's MMA fighters, but I have faith in the franchise. The coaches could even be Carano and Cyborg. Their expertise and experience would certainly raise the bar for training when it comes to Women's MMA. You would have to keep the men's competition separate of course for fear that the show would turn into "As The Ultimate Fighter Turns" complete with horrible love plots and even worse break ups. However, having the women together could provide for some excellent TV as well (I'm looking at you Tonya Evinger!!). You could have the coaches fight on the finale and possibly guarantee the winner of the show a shot at the winner of the coaches fight. This would help to ensure that Carano and Cyborg would have a fight in the future as well.


She sure does love Gina

These are certainly some ways to help clean up TUF's image and rejuvenate the show since the ratings have been falling steadily for the past few seasons.


TAP THAT OF THE WEEK
With Gina Carano's bra and panties highly resting in the 411mania.com rafters, we look for two new challengers in this week's competition. Stepping up to the mat is "Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson vs. WEC Ring Girl Christine Cartwright.



As in the past, if you want to vote on the winner, then please add a comment and name your winner. If one of these lovely ladies able to win 4 weeks in a row then they will join Gina Carano's bra and panties in the rafters high above the 411mania.com battlefield. Thanks again for checking out the article and be sure to make your voice heard and leave a comment. Don't forget to support your local MMA and keep your tapping hand strong.