The Ultimate Fighter: Season 5 - Episode 5 Recap
Posted by Gabe Ruediger on 05.04.2007
In retrospect I would have done things a LOT different...
Every week UFC veteran and TUF 5 cast member Gabe Ruediger gives his firsthand insight and thoughts to 411mania.com following the airing of The Ultimate Fighter 5 on Spike TV
Tony roughs up Noah. Tony was pretty serious and was constantly on edge. Its kind of strange because of how much of a jokester BJ is. Tony was grappling with Noah and decided to "teach him a lesson". He basically pinned Noah and slapped him. Noah got really upset and there was a back and forth yelling match. It was bound to happen at some point, because Noah and Tony had "words" on different occasions
The Cake. I knew I shouldn't have eaten it, but I did. It WAS however right after Emerson fought and not when I was called out. I DID snack WAY more than I should have. With boredom and the "NOT REAL" feel of the house/show, it was very easy to get distracted from what I was there for. You would think that in a house of fighters and no distractions it would be easy, but it was the opposite. I really made an error and I paid for it. Instead of doing what I've decided to do for a living, I allowed being on TV get to me.
Picked by Corey. I knew Corey was going to pick me. Initially I thought I was going to fight Melendez, but after they picked Andy I knew that the match up for me was Corey. Why did they wait as long as they did? Im not sure, Jens will say that I wasn't a threat, but I think they wanted more time for Corey to get prepared.
Cutting weight. A little known fact, I got sick the day before the fight pick announcement. My roomate in the house, Noah, got strep throat and the day after, I came down with the same symptoms. I was on antibiotics and trying to fight off the cold. In fact my night before interview, the producers asked if making weight was an issue. I said "Ill make the weight, its this sickness that Im worried about" I cut 10lbs on the first day. I might have been a bit more non chalant than I should have been, but I was trying to fight off the cold and drop weight without really draining myself. The day of weigh ins I woke up feeling like shit. I went into the gym and I just didn't have it. Tony suggested I get a sweat going and then get under some towels to "hot box " it. After over an hour and only 1pound coming off, BJ said we should go to the sauna. We got in the sauna and the cut already felt worse than it ever has before. I've cut that much weight before, and its NEVER been a problem. At 159 I hit the wall. I lost belief in myself and it was a huge mental laps. I had to have a serious talk with myself and will myself back into the sauna. Thankfully Gray was right the with me. For all the bullshit I pulled, I have to thank him for putting up with me. I remember getting in the sauna and then.........waking up in the ambulance. I don't remember getting on the bike or ANYTHING until the paramedics had an IV going and I was in the ambulance. Watching the portion when I was dragged out, I probably was about on weight from the crying LOL
Walking back into the house was REALLY hard. I knew I had made a major error and I knew that I let my team down, but the backlash was BAD. EVERYONE, even those I was friends with were mad, and rightfully so. I let BJ and his coaches down, my teammates, the other team, and worse myself down. It made for a rough night. I didn't hear anyone's little jokes and watching it was like watching sorority girls all giddy because they got asked to the formal. I bet Brian and Matt had a great time at the dance together.
The cut up of the last confessional. My last confessional was cut up into segments. Its weird seeing it like that. The one producer that I was close with, really drove out the emotion. She looked me dead in the eyes and made me talk directly to her.
Dana's speech. The night before, The producers told us that Dana would be talking to us all the next day. I knew it wasn't good and that I was most likely gone. The worst part was the incident was an eye opener and I realized that although my antics were getting me face time, I had lost track of why I was there. I talked to BJ the next day and even tried trained before Dana's "announcement". Too little too late . Dana had another one of his speeches and it was very much his personality. He takes this seriously and it showed. Watching it was the first time I got to hear everything he was saying. It sunk in even more that I had made a HUGE mistake.
Bringing Emerson back. Im glad that Dana brought Rob back. He deserved it and it made sense. I was glad that at the very least my exit gave Em another shot.
In retrospect I would have done things a LOT different. I just wasn't thinking about the repercussions, just getting face time. Getting on air time superceded doing my job. It cost me, but I learned SO much about myself and what I need to do for my career. That isn't the end of me and Im still with the UFC. I told BJ and all the guys this the day that Dana had his "announcement" "Im not talking about it anymore, just let my actions from this point prove my worth" Will I show up like I can and should for my next fight? Only time will tell. I will say, I havent been this motivated in my career in a LONG time. I have a phenomenal team that believes in me and I believe in myself. I just have to prove myself now. Its a long road, but one that Ill travel
Reader Questions: Each week Gabe will take time to answer some of your questions. Please remember he is unable to talk about things that reveal events in later episodes, such as who wins in future matches. Send your questions 411Gabe@gmail.com
On a side note, I'm curious to know if you heard the trash Joe Lauzon talked about you last week in his stuff for the Boston Herald? If so, do you just brush shit like that off your shoulder or does it make you look forward to potentially silencing him in the Octagon? - Bren Oliver
I dont know what Joe has said and I dont pay attention to it. Im sure he has his reasons and Im not going to fault him. I actually liked Joe when i was on the show and its kind of bad that he has to air his garbage on the internet instead of bringing it up with me. If I had ANY issue with anyone, Id bring it up with them first.
Hi Gabe its cool that your writing a column. After this show win or lose what UFC lightweights do think you think youd put on a good match with in the future? Is there anyone already there that rubbed you wrong in the past or just someone you'd like to test yourself against? - Anthony, San Antonio
Well, after the show there are more than enough match ups for me. Wiman, Geraghty, Hill? Id like to fight them ASAP.
Gabe Ruediger is a 29 year-old mixed martial artist training out of California. He specializes in jiu jitsu, spending a number of years honing his skills with Rodrigo Mederios and obtaining the rank of brown belt. He has a professional record of 10-3, the bulk of which relates to his career in WEC where he was the organization's Lightweight Champion as recently as 2006, a title he held three times.
