I am still is a fan of TUF, even rarer, I am one of the few willing to admit publicly. During the season each Thursday morning I will give you my take on TUF 22 in The TUF Times Report. Between now and the first episode we will look at the two coaches, the lightweight division, some different takes and thoughts on the show.
Today we will start with the purpose of the show, some changes I hope to see and why we probably will not see those changes and will get more of the same old TUF.
Why Does TUF Still Exist?
I see this question come up a lot on Twitter and the usual response is time-slot filler for Fox Sports 1. I used to think that there was more to it than that but after TUF 21 I am starting to think that it is becoming nothing more than something to air on Wednesday nights after UFC Tonight.
Over the 21 seasons of TUF its purpose changed. Originally it was the UFC’s hail-mary attempt to get the product int front of the masses, educated them about the sport and hope it caught on.
During the first couple of seasons they would explain some of the most basic elements of the sport. They also had some silly stupid side-games for the fighters to engage in that quickly became coaches challenges.
Sometimes Lightening in a Bottle
TUF was also one of the best ways into the UFC by winning the show or making an impression on Dana White and the UFC. More than just getting into the UFC it also was a path to stardom. During the Zuffa Era many of their stars got their start on the show.
For some like Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin one fight was all that was needed. Their clash in the finale of the first season made them legends. While others would slowly build and catch on later like a Rashad Evans.
Both Griffin and Evans would go on to become TUF alumni to wear the UFC title later in their career. Current bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw also got his start on TUF.
Other Times You get Lightening Bugs in a Jar
During the 21 seasons TUF has produced stars of varying magnitudes, several champions and many roster fillers. Lately, there have been more and more roster fillers than champions and stars. Fighters that fight on the finale maybe get one or two more fights and then are gone.
The season winners have for the most part been able to stick but of the recent one have broke through. The closest is Kelvin Gastelum who has been plagued but his struggle to make the welterweight limit.
Two others, Juliana Pena and Chris Holdsworth the Season 18 winners, both have been slowed by major injuries. They seemed both to have the right potential mix of talent and charisma to at least be stars if not champions.
While another future star, Uriah Hall lost to Gastelum in the finale of their season and has never lived up to the potential he flashed on the show.
Too Many Other Ways In
It used to be that TUF was one of the few and best paths to the UFC. Even if you did not win the season there was a way in. Any fan of the show is familiar with the type of fighter that Dana likes.
If a fighter shows up, fights hard and tries to finish their fights then chances are good they will get at least a couple of fights with the UFC.
It is a much different MMA world today than even just a few years ago. There are several solid local promotions like RFA, Legacy, CES, Shooto Brazil, Cage Warriors and Invicta that are consistently sending high-quality fighters into the UFC.
Just two years ago Conor McGregor emerged from Cage Warriors to quickly become one of the UFC’s biggest new stars.
Know Your Audience
In this case the producers of TUF do not seem to grasp the audience for the show. Every season I start out hoping that they finally realize that they are driving the core audience away with all of the stupid drama. Every season I am disappointed by the amount of unnecessary and stupid drama.
They are chasing the fickle “reality-show” viewers who long ago stopped watching TUF, instead of trying to satisfy the hardcore fans. Every season we continually hear the cast members talk about all the great footage that was not shown.
As a fan of the sport I would like to see more of the training and the guest trainers. It is frustrating to see glimpses of some MMA luminary during an episode in shots hoping to hear something from them only to realize that the drama is getting the focus.
Even though I have been burned I still hold out a glimmer of hope that Season 22 will be different.
It Could Be Something Special
This season the Producers of TUF have a chance to do something different and potentially special. With McGregor and Urijah Faber as coaches it would be very easy to have another drama filled season.
It is what everybody is expecting but there is an opportunity to give us something different and more real. But, wait, I know you are thinking, How can a Reality Show not be real?
Actually, I know you are not thinking that at all. You are not stupid and it is easy to see that the petri-dish element of the house and show creates the drama. If you cut anyone off from the rest of the world, all social media, only have them work a few hours a day, restrict them to a house with access to alcohol and surprise stuff happens.
This season though they have a chance to show us a different side of McGregor. We have seen plenty of the bold and brash McGregor but we have only got a glimpse at the other aspects of him.
After his win over Chad Mendes we saw the relationship with his teammates and coaches. There is obviously more to him than what we have seen and it would be nice if we could get more than just a lot of noise and drama this season.
There is also a chance to see two very different camps and approaches between the two coaches. There is a lot of possibility for the hardcore fans in this coming season. We probably will get very little of it.
Not The UFC’s Fault
I think if the UFC had more control over the show it would be geared more towards the true fans of the sport and not trolling so hard for casual ones.
Instead it is the production company that has a big say about what ends up our TV screens. When it comes to those decision it feels like non-MMA fans are making them based on the shows. The production company is clearly stuck in their drama-based mode and refuse to change.
However, the UFC has been willing to make changes since the beginning of TUF.
Their willingness and ability to make changes has been one of their biggest strengths as a company. The TUF format has changed over the years as the UFC. One season saw veterans return while another introduced a whole new weight-class to the UFC.
Over the years they have added elements to the show and later removed them if they did not work. I just wish we would see more of that in the final product on our TV screens.
TUF 22 is supposed to feature the lightweights, but I am afraid it will be more about cashing in on McGregor’s popularity and playing off of his rivalry with Team Alpha Male.
While I hope we get a chance to learn about how these two intelligent and intriguing fighters approach the sport, I fear we are headed for another drama filled season. Hopefully there is at least one “monster” and a couple of “nightmares” this season, or it could be another long one for us fans.
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