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So...who else forgot this started last week?

Apparently a lot of people did, because I heard it got the lowest rating of any premiere episode ever. Surprising, considering Brock Lesnar is involved, but not so surprising considering the lack of promotion (maybe they thought Brock's name being attached would be all they needed?), and more importantly, the lack of a lead-in Fight Night event (definitely the main reason I forgot about it...not sure why the Davis/Noguiera Fight Night couldn't have been a few days later).

*FIRST EPISODE SPOILERS*

Anyway, the first episode kind of sucked.

They decided to scrap the "fight to get into the house" idea, which I was never the biggest fan of. They just did some training, picked teams, had a fight. Even the way they picked teams was weird. Brock and JDS did it in Dana's office, and then Dana came out and read the names. Didn't get the usual build up, nor the one last guy standing there.

Some guy got hurt, and apparently he was one of the better prospects on the show.

JDS' top pick Shamarr Bailey LNP'd his way to a decision over some German guy. Was not a good fight, and if Bailey is really the class of the show, this is probably the weakest group of guys ever.

Even the "this season on The Ultimate Fighter" looked ****.

Don't have high hopes for this season, but I will still watch.

I knew it was coming soon but yeah I totally forgot about it.

I watched it. Fight was LnP fest as stated by the OP.

My girlfriend was even in the room with me and was like "Does this guy know how to do anything but wrestle and lay on top of the other guy? He's not DOING anything! I don't even like fighting but even I know he's not DOING anything!"

I enjoy the fights to get into the house. My favourite part, actually, because you see a bunch of finishes and you can make your "pick". Thought the episode was very boring, while usually the first episode of TUF is action packed.

SDM wrote:I enjoy the fights to get into the house. My favourite part, actually, because you see a bunch of finishes and you can make your "pick". Thought the episode was very boring, while usually the first episode of TUF is action packed.

Yeah, the best part of last season was the first episode. So many crazy fights/finishes. I watched the second half of this episode on fast-forward.

REDDzone wrote:My girlfriend was even in the room with me and was like "Does this guy know how to do anything but wrestle and lay on top of the other guy? He's not DOING anything! I don't even like fighting but even I know he's not DOING anything!"

i'll probably watch a few episodes, but for the most part i don't like tuf. the whole reality show element annoys me.

I actually liked the whole fight to earn a shot on the show gimmick. It gave you a look at the guys and what they were capable of. That way you have an idea of how good someone is when they are picked first and how bad they are when they are picked last. Without it you're left to guess at the reasons why guys are picked where they are picked.

I watched.

Nemesis21 wrote:I watched.

Snacks? Bathroom breaks? Give us some insight.

cowboyronnie wrote:

Nemesis21 wrote:I watched.

Snacks? Bathroom breaks? Give us some insight.

Dude who won was LnP a lot.

skflives wrote:I actually liked the whole fight to earn a shot on the show gimmick. It gave you a look at the guys and what they were capable of. That way you have an idea of how good someone is when they are picked first and how bad they are when they are picked last. Without it you're left to guess at the reasons why guys are picked where they are picked.

Agreed.

I'm not going to lie, I like the reality show element of TUF, probably more than the fights themselves, as 90% of the time they are pretty bad. I like being able to get to know the fighters, decide which guys I like and don't like, and see them fight throughout the show and then in their UFC career. If I wanted to watch a bunch of guys I've never heard of fight, I'd watch HDNet.

Having the fighters fight to get in was definitely not all bad. In some ways, getting to see everyone fight (at least in highlight form) was better for the "getting to know the fighters" aspect. It's just that having the first episode (and sometimes the second as well) dedicated entirely to fights, often of pretty poor quality, occasionally felt like a letdown. Especially since they were typically following Fight Night events. You had just seen a 2 hour broadcast of actual UFC fights, including some strong main events like Condit vs. Kampmann, Florian vs. Gomi, etc. It was weird to watch a bunch of amateurish fights right after that. For me, anyway. I didn't hate it, I could just do without it, and I don't miss it. If they bring it back for a future season, no big deal either I guess.

Was looking thru the guide on my dvr, there is not a new TUF episode this week ?

We're starting to see guys who are 20, 21, 22 who have been training specifically in MMA, not just lifelong black belts in TKD or BJJ who work part-time with a boxing coach or grappling coach or whatever. The first generation of successful MMA fighters were mostly one-dimensional, while the guys coming into the sport over the next several years won't be and will be training specifically to finish opponents in fights instead of training years in college to anklepick guys in competitions. That said, I believe the show itself has run its course but I'm not going to rule out any fighter on TUF as being slim pickins and assume that they're only on the show because they suck.

Nemesis21 wrote:Was looking thru the guide on my dvr, there is not a new TUF episode this week ?

It's on for me at 9pm Wednesday.

And I agree with CPT, I usually enjoy the "reality TV" aspect more than the fights. Most fights are totally one-sided lay and pray or sloppy brawls where both guys gas a couple of minutes in. I like getting to know the fighters and finding someone to root for during the show and beyond.

High 5 wrote:

Nemesis21 wrote:Was looking thru the guide on my dvr, there is not a new TUF episode this week ?

It's on for me at 9pm Wednesday.

And I agree with CPT, I usually enjoy the "reality TV" aspect more than the fights. Most fights are totally one-sided lay and pray or sloppy brawls where both guys gas a couple of minutes in. I like getting to know the fighters and finding someone to root for during the show and beyond.

Weird, the one mine has at 9 is an episode from Chuck/Tito season.

Brock is getting carried away with his "chicken salad/chicken ****" line. I don't think he realizes how insulting it sounds from the fighters' perspectives.

Haha yea, Brock is a douche, making it seem like his fighters only have a small chance of winning fights.

I love all this Brock footage. He's really interesting. A douche, as below...but interesting.

K1NG wrote:Brock is getting carried away with his "chicken salad/chicken ****" line. I don't think he realizes how insulting it sounds from the fighters' perspectives.

Yeah, for sure. After the fight he said, "we're chicken ****" and "see, anyone can win". LOL.

It's funny how he talks in sports cliches period. He'll string 3-4 in a row. He said during that pre-fight speech, 'any given Sunday means each dog has its day'.

Still, man, I wanted to play football for the coach. He's someone you want to please. Or I do, anyways, desperately. Love me.

Horrible, awful, terrible fight. I'm glad that Javier **** lost with the way he was Nick Diazing inside the cage, but the other guy was so **** that he couldn't realize that all this jerk does is throw superman punches to start combos. Instead of countering and knocking him out, he'd cover up and back up. Neither of these guys could finish a sandwich.