411's The Ultimate Fighter: Season 5 - Episode 3 Report 04.19.07

Posted by Gabe Ruediger on 04.20.2007

Join UFC veteran and Ultimate Fighter 5 cast member Gabe Ruediger each week as he recaps all the latest from Spike TV's hit reality program!

Every week UFC veteran and TUF 5 cast member Gabe Ruediger gives his firsthand insight and thoughts exclusively to 411mania.com following the airing of The Ultimate Fighter 5 on Spike TV


Wow! I even outdo myself some times. This episode gets right to my weight theme. I'm called on my antics by Tony our wrestling coach and Gray also comments on it. They are right. I was trying to be the antagonist, I was trying to get camera time. In retrospect, I feel I could have done it in a different way, but I had a game plan. Its kind of hard watching myself in that light and even worse with the dramatic editing. Ahh..... Reality TV and it not being reality. I remember talking to Gray when I decided to do the colonic. I raised both of my hands in a weighing motion and said "self respect or more camera time, what is worth more" . We both laughed as I raised my hand to camera time. The procedure itself is uncomfortable, and not enjoyable at all. I did how ever get more camera time because of it.

Cory's antics are great. Besides the first time he got in my face (funny back story, we were both the first ones up on team pick day. We were in the hot tub and talking. He told me about his family and how much respect he had for those of us that have already fought in the UFC. We then were joking around in the van together over to the gym. He puts the shirt on and instantly gets "CRAZY"), he never even hinted that he had an issue with me. As a matter of fact, after his little outburst back at the house, he walked up to me and said "it's just for the camera". I actually think he was one of the guys who figured that drama makes you recognizable. Good for you Corey, ARF ARF!!

Nate isn't homophobic, but he was VERY pissed off when anyone did anything he perceived as gay. NO ONE in the house was gay, but EVERYONE was bored out of their minds. People will never know what the house was like. Boredom is not descriptive enough. We seriously would be going out of our minds and then start doing stupid shit, just to battle monotony. There was a lot of other antics that they haven't shown, but they could always add it in later. Constant boredom makes people/especially fighters do unusual things

Nate picked Emerson to fight. At first I was really excited for this fight, Em was the guy on our team that I thought was the toughest. Good stand up, good takedown defense, and decent ground. I really thought it was his fight to win. Nate is as tough as they come and I knew he was the toughest guy on Pulver's team. This was a great match up.

The fight itself was great. It was a little inspiring and put me back in the fighting mind frame. I talked to Em afterwards and honestly said the fight was inspirational. Both guys put it on the line and fought with everything. It was hard seeing Em lose, but it also showed how dangerous Nate was. I think Emerson has always had an issue really letting it go. If he would have really let go in the first I think the fight might have gone a different way

Gabe Ruediger

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