I was waiting on the phone for a half hour last night, I was waiting to say something on Luke Thomas's MMA radio show. I must say that I consider myself to be a pretty hardcore MMA fan and you guys will soon see my posts on some MMA blogs. Last night the first hour discussion was about The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show and Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos being the two coaches for the upcoming season. I must admit that I like to see what the coaches bring in and how they coach, I do hope that the guys on the show become successful in the UFC. This personal side of the show gives you insight in to the coaches makes the show more enjoyable. As well I love seeing the antics, tomfoolary, meltdowns, blowups that happens on the show.
Let's be honest, the show is a one hour informercial for the UFC every week. I agree with Luke Thomas, the sport would be hurt if the show was not on. The UFC is being marketed though that show and the show makes casual fans into hard core fans and shows people what MMA is about. Yes, the antics hurt but the show has turned it's focus towards training and fighting. I was first introduced to the UFC and MMA though the show. People like drama and like constant entertainment and the show tells the fighters stories and this helps make the fighters more human and adds to the fights drama. Especially when a the scrappy kid from Vietnamese immigrants fights the recovering drug addict who just had a kid. That shit is great TV. Besides people are hitting each other in the face, all the while that beer commercials and commercials for upcoming fights are playing. (don't forget the occasional Viagra and Mexican beach resort commercials) The UFC is making a mint off of this. This show is brilliant and will only continue to be a staple of the UFC's marketing and the sport.
I still like to see the training and the coaches and guest coaches but lets be honest Rampage is a thug, Mir is goofy, GSP doesn't speak great english(not that it's a bad thing), and Tito is a bitch. I am not looking for great words of wisdom from this guys. I watch the show because it is entertaining, I want to see the guys train, I want to see the fights, I want to see the stupid things that Rampage says, and I just want more MMA. Fighting isin't like baseball or basketball where there are games on everyday and you can see your favorite player in action whenever you like. There is a fight about once every three weeks and you may only see your favorite fighter fight 3 times a year. We need that presence of the TUF show. It's a great show and a great money maker.