Aaron and Team Jiu Jitsu Fighter

What's in a name?

It is hard to believe that the UFC will reach it's 100th pay-per-view this year. If anything shows you the longevity and scope of what MMA can and has done this would be it. I think that UFC has legitimized itself as a sport and not a sport entertainment sideshow as some have said in the past. I can't help but wonder though, will the UFC continue to number their shows and if so, when does it become unnecessary?

I propose that UFC go to the amazing UFC 100 title and then after that come up with a new concept of naming the shows. I believe they can take a page out of boxing and instead of calling it UFC 101, call it (hypothetical) UFC Penn Vs. Florian. You just have that main event to go on, while the UFC has these recognizable names they should be using them. I am the first to say, with the UFC having some sort of fight going on every month, I can't always keep track of who is fighting what "Numbered" show. This would clear up any confusion for that month's card. The UFC is doing a great job cultivating younger, lesser known fighters, so bring them up right and within a few years those fighters have drawing power on the main event namesake.

If that is not an option the UFC could go back to "Naming" the PPVs. Redemption, Meltdown, Boiling Point, these have all been used in correlation with UFC #s, but never on their own. The only problem here is that the show begins to sound gimmicky, too WWE. The WWE and all other pro wrestling promotions has done this since the dawn of time. It is a great way to promote a show, WCW's Halloween Havoc, TNA's Road To Victory, WWE's Royal Rumble. These names play to a certain curiosity in the demographic that watches both UFC and wrestling, but as you can see they are a little juvenile in the grand scheme. Let's evaluate one here, what sounds better to you? UFC Lidell Vs. Couture3 (which was actually the name of this PPV) or UFC 57: Execution. To me, hands down the fighters make the PPV not some catchy name. BTW, that card was the largest gate UFC had done to date up until UFC 91 with, Oh, another fighter Vs. fighter named PPV, Couture Vs. Lesnar. I believe I have made my point and a strong one at that, but unless Dana White and Co. stay up long Vegas nights Googling UFC, they probably won't see this, so they won't get it and we will get UFC 218: Beat Down instead of UFC Hogg Vs. Dvorak.

God save the Queen!?

As advertised, TUF season 9 began yesterday. If you read my last post you are well aware that there is much criticism within the MMA community for Mr. White and Co. for the character portrayals that seem to be dominating the show as of late. This season may be no exception, but I did like the fact that the producers made the Brits out to be a very blue collar, determined, well schooled bunch of blokes. I honestly think that a UK fighter will win one, if not both divisions this season. Although, I can't really tell you who I think will do this, I am just throwing my prediction out there this early. Good fights, even though it seemed like there was a little favoritism among a few of the fighters.

Dana arrives in England where Bisping awaits outside of the MMA training complex affectionately known as the Wolfslair. They go inside where 16 competitors are waiting with Tapout adorned on each fighter (talk about a corner on the market, although Dana just signed a deal with Triumph and was wearing one of their shirts instead of a Tapout shirt.) Dana informs the Brits that only half of them will be making the trip to Vegas to fight for the UFC contracts. The battles ensue and we have our nameless 8 that are going on to Vegas.

I am already cringing as the next episode's preview begins. It is the American boys' turn to show what they got. And we have a guy who is struggling to make weight, and another guy who is fainting on the pedestal (Ala, Phillipe from last season.) I think that this is the MMA embodiment of how the rest of the world views the U.S. in general. We want max results with minimal effort. We half-ass everything and shit on opportunity, we don't take enough seriously and act like our life depends on our own success. We think we are better than everyone else when obviously we are not. I am not going to stand on a soapbox here, but wait and see, if one of the US guys does win it will not be through true grit and determination, it will be from half-arsing it and lucky picks. Maybe it is the English running through my blood, or the fact that I go against the norm. I love the underdog story in every avenue, so God save the Queen and let's see how this goes.

Where does "TUF" go from here?

Since the first Chris Liben melt down to Ryan Bader wrestling his way into a 6 figure contract I have devoutly watch the Spike TV/ UFC program "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series. This brain child of Dana White started back in the Reality Show boom a few years back. In a wash of terrible reality shows, this show really didn't stand out at first. I think if you were a die hard UFC/MMA fan you were watching, giving support to the show to see it work. I think the mass public looked at most in the TUF 1 house as a bunch of meat head thugs that were just there to hurt each other. I would say that the first season is still my favorite, which seems to be the case in most reality show instances, there is a sense of reality that is captured on the first one. A close second is Josh Hanes on season 3, his motives for being there were truly honorable and he fought like he had to win. Many of those guys were there for the TV time. I think the show took on a life of it's own and showed that it was a cash cow then the live finale took place and we got so see Griffin Vs. Bonner in a hellfire 3 round beat down. Both men left everything in the octagon and for their efforts were awarded UFC contracts. Bonner has kind of petered out, but Griffin wound up fulfilling his and the UFC's dream of cultivating a champion from the reality series.

Lately, though, the TUF product has become something of a character clinic. Truly, I really watch anymore of the fights and the coaches. I could watch these shows like I watch Britney Spears music videos...with the sound off! Two words, Junie Browning. Junie maybe single handedly killed this shows success in the long run. Then again, maybe his Liben-wannabe antics have secured that it will be around for a long time, taking it in strange new directions.

For fight purists and those of us that actually practice avenues of Mixed Martial Arts, I want to throw up every time I see our sport depicted in this way. Even Dana White in the first 2-3 seasons said that he was out to break that street thug image that most people have of the sport. So with great anticipation and reluctance all at once I wait for this season's TUF.

The bright spot in this season has got to be the fact that Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson are the coaches. Like I said I watch now a days for the fights and the coaches. Most find Bisping annoying, but he is a damn good fighter and I like him. Hendo is always a good show, but he is so low key and soft spoken, it will be interesting to see how he translates to TV.

Who knows, maybe this batch of fighters will be great and not just in it for the TV time. It does seem like after a alcohol filled sausagefest season, Dana tones it down with an actual good, technical, clean shaving boy season. Cheers to all who still have the stomach to watch the train wreck that is The Ultimate Fighter!