What is up with the ads on the mat causing guys to slip? Seriously, it happens again and again, and probably played a role in Ken Shamrock's ass-whipping at the hands of Rich Franklin. Dear Dana, I understand your desire to bring in money with these ads, but when it has an adverse affect on the fights, which, ostensibly, are what you're selling, then you need to re-examine things.
Did anyone come out of Ultimate Fight Night looking better than they did going in? Maybe Josh Neer, but only because he was supposed to lose to Joe Stephenson. Now, the golden boy of TUF2 has lost and lost ugly. Not the best way to build on his victory. Leben has been exposed, Rashad has been exposed, and Bonnar...
I call BULLROAR on the Bonnar decision. I would have said 29-28 for Jardine in that fight. At the very least, I was expecting a split decision. Bonnar did not deserve to win. Not that the win did anything to move Stephan up anybody's rankings.
This is a serious problem with the whole TUF concept. Yes, these guys are good fighters. But if they're the only personalities you're going to build on, then you're up the proverbial creek sans paddle when they get exposed. It started with Nate's drubbing at the hands of Rich Franklin, and its going to continue. UFC needs to bring in other personalities to sell the product, because relying on TUF alumni is not going to pass muster.
There is no way Dana White could, or should, be happy with what he saw in those four fights.
Speaking of which. Okay, all four fights went the distance. That means there were 60 minutes of fights, plus 8 minutes of breaks between rounds. So let's say 70 minutes of fights. And they went OVERTIME!!! Time management Dana. You had 120 minutes to show 70 minutes of fights. Even with 24 minutes of commercials, that is still too much wasted time. Stop forcing us to watch bad promos and vignettes. If I want promos and vignettes, I'll watch WWE, who have turned not showing fights into an art form. But the name of the game is fighting. Deliver fights.
Thank HHH they've gotten rid of the challenges. Not that "Randy" didn't come up with some doozies, but let's face it, they weren't what you want from a fighting reality show. They proved it with the atrocity that was the "$1,000,000" Tough Enough on Smackdown, and the challenges on TUF 1&2 made it even more emphatic. The challenges are the fights. They shouldn't need to worry about injuring themselves while trying to steal socks or move logs. They should train, and they should fight.
Okay, shaving a guy's eyebrow when he's passed out is funny. Cruel, but funny. But when he wakes up and you have to hold him down, and then dig the clippers in so deep you cut him? That's assault brother. Not funny, not cool, just stupid.
Okay, you had a tough day of training and trying to impress the coaches. And you know you have to do it all again tomorrow. So why do you decide to get falling down drunk after the first day? I don't work out, but I can't imagine its either easier or more enjoyable when fighting a hangover.
Okay, Ken hates Tito. Dana hates Tito. Tito hates Ken. Tito thinks Dana (and the Fertittas) are cheap bastards. Here's the problem. Tito is, thusfar, the most likable guy on TUF3. What does that say about the kind of people that Ken and Dana are?
Seriously Ken, your coaching decisions stink. A nutritionist and not a jiu-jitsu coach? You said you don't know jiu-jitsu, and thats supposed to mean that the other guys shouldn't either? Ken, you got your ass handed to you by Franklin. Royce Gracie is going to be served his on silver platter by Matt Hughes. The world has turned, and MMA has evolved. You are doing your team a great disservice. Not just on the show, but in the future. You should be giving them the tools they need to progress, and bodybuilding nutritionists are not one of those tools. Can't they get all the nutrition they need from Xyience anyway?
I really want to see the British guys go far. Although I did like the Maple Leaf shaved into Kalib's hair. Nationalism tends to be hellalame, but it can also be kinda funny.
UFC 59 should be an okay show. I think this show will be the ultimate test of where the TUF guys are at in comparison to other fighters. Forrest is their poster boy, their golden child, their great white hope. And if Tito chews him up and spits him out...
I also agree with ToMar's assessment of the promotion of UFC 59. Sylvia/Arlovski is not the money fight. I don't think the heavyweight division is going to deliver a money fight for a while. Arlovski is a beast, and he's going to trample whoever they feed him for a while. Besides, Tito and Forrest have name recognition. People want to see Tito's first fight back, and Forrest's first major hurdle. Thats the money fight, and thats what they should be promoting. But of course, I will be going to watch UFC 59 at the Oar House, and hope to convince my friend Tamara and her boyfriend Matt to join me and my roommate to enjoy the show. I do, however, hope to avoid sitting too near Ivey clones and their turned up collars.
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