The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 Tryouts Recap
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 10.28.2009
What went down in Los Angeles this week? 411mania.com was on the scene.
This Monday in Los Angeles, the UFC held open tryouts for their upcoming season of the hit reality series, The Ultimate Fighter at the Renaissance Hotel. Over 300 MMA fighters from around the world and from various camps were in attendance to get a chance to perform and show off in front of Dana White and Joe Silva. The tryouts began at about 8AM. From there, fighters were matched up in a grappling round where they were given two minutes to show off their grappling skills. The design of the grappling round was not necessarily to "win," but rather show your talent at grappling even if you are in a bad position. The grappling session went from 8AM to 8PM so everyone got a chance. Both light heavyweight and middleweight fighters were auditioned. Since weigh-in's were not done, fighters were on an honor system that they could make their weights or had a pre-existing record of fighting at their particular weight class.
From there, the UFC picked a group of people to go onto the striking round. Dana White and Joe Silva personally went onto the floor to observe fighters and their striking as they hit the pads of their trainers. Following the end of the striking session, Dana White called out his list of names of people that would be staying for interviews. After this, anyone else in the room were cleared out. Bobby Southworth and Nick Thompson who have both fought for the UFC and Strikeforce (Southworth appeared on the first season of TUF) were named for interviews. Two fighters there with the famous Al "Stankie" Stankiewicz were also picked and also fighters there with Scott Smith (Former TUF cast member and UFC fighter and current Strikeforce fighter). I spoke with Scott Smith who tells 411mania.com he hopes to fight again in November. Dana White advised fighters who didn't make it to interviews to stay in the gym and keep doing what they are doing because they can still try out again next time. Matt Major of the Tapout TV series was also in attendance and made it to the striking round.
It was reported to me from a coach that after his 205 fighter made it to the last phase that the show was being switched up at the last minute to "all middleweights." The UFC sat down with all the 205 fighters after the striking round and advised them to try and make it to 185 and then sent them all home.
The eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter will be broadcast on Spike TV in 2010.
