Last night marked the big premiere of the new Ultimate Fighter Live on FX. For some of you, this article will be the first time you’ve heard of it; which seems almost impossible considering the glob of advertising the UFC used to hype this up. But can you blame them? Last night was one of the most important nights in UFC history. The UFC has transformed from its barbaric beginning, collecting hoards of fans along the way. But the UFC brand is still a far cry from the NFL or NBA.
This marked the 15th Ultimate Fighter season, but this season is in every way as important as the first. It wasn’t long ago on April 9th, 2005, when the UFC showcased the Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale to the world, welcoming a new generation of fans. On that night, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar battled in a 15-minute slugfest that put the UFC on the map. Fans who were in attendance or watching from their couch, who were hardcore MMA fans or watching it for the first time, knew alike that they were watching something special. And I was one of them. Last night gave me a sense of nostalgia to that time, the time when I first became a fan.
That night nearly 7 years ago earned the UFC millions and assured they were here to stay. Last night the UFC hoped to entice a new cluster fans that would push the brand into the national spotlight, right next to the major sports.
What made this season different from the first 14 you ask? The previous seasons had a group of UFC fighters that would participate in a tournament to become the “Ultimate Fighter,” which would mean a six-figure UFC contract. The fighters all lived in a house together, creating bitter rivalries and drunken antics, which were all caught on tape. The season would then culminate with a live finale aired on Spike TV. This season will have all of that, but all of the fights will be aired live on FX. The live aspect adds a sense of unpredictability and professionalism, making these guys feel like they’re already fighting under the UFC banner.
I was intrigued to see how this would work. Would the fights be at a big arena? Would there be a ton of promo videos before each fight and presentation? Would Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg announce the fights?
After sitting on the edge of my seat for two and half hours of action-packed fights, I was satisfied to say the least. It felt like the anti-Elite XC, devout of any glitz or glamour, with the only semblance of announcing coming from coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, and President Dana White, who were all mic-ed up. The event was held at the same UFC gym used in the past for TUF fights, giving it the feeling of a college wrestling meet. There were sixteen 5-minute fights, setting up for a night of full flash KO’s and submission finishes. There was even an 8-second KO. Heck, some guy even broke his toe mid-fight and the whole nation shared a collective grimace. This format made the fighters have to think on their feet, putting them in an uncomfortable environment where they had five minutes of fame to showcase their skills. Future fights should follow the regular 2 round fight format.
With 16 fighters coming out victorious and prepared to live in a house together, it will be interesting to see what angle this season takes. The live fights add a new wrinkle to the show, but also breathe new life into what was the foundation of the UFC’s success. After just the first episode, The Ultimate Fighter Livewas a big step forward for the UFC.
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