UFC Reality Show ALMOST HERE!!!!!! (comes on Jan 17)

[pressureguy]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=2233

 

Here is the text for the article:

 

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The Ultimate Fighter Premieres January 17 on Spike TV

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

 

LAS VEGAS – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Spike TV® have assembled 16 athletes from across North America to determine who has what it takes to earn a UFC contract in The Ultimate Fighter™, a new and exciting reality-based television series.

 

The original series, hosted by top recording artist and model Willa Ford, premieres on Monday, Jan. 17 at 11 p.m. (check local listings) following WWE Monday Night Raw and runs for 15 exciting episodes, including a LIVE event. Craig Piligian (co-executive producer of Survivor I, II and III) serves as co-executive producer.

 

New episodes premiere Mondays with encore presentations on Fridays (midnight-1 a.m. EST/PST), on Saturdays (7 p.m. EST/PST) and on Sundays (5 p.m. EST/PST). Competitors in The Ultimate Fighter are not voted off the island, fired by a CEO, or eliminated in a rosy ceremony. Instead, the ones sent home are those who lose in the Octagon® or are sent packing by their coach.

 

“Sixty-year-old Sylvester Stallone may be looking for a contender, but the UFC is looking for a champion,” boasts Dana White, UFC President. “The Ultimate Fighter goes behind the scenes to see what it takes when 16 hard-core guys from around the country live, train, and fight together – all with one ultimate goal.”

 

Viewers will be able to follow the 16 fighters as they train, workout and live together. At the end of each week, one fighter from each of the two teams must fight in the Octagon® until only two remain in each of the two weight divisions. In the end, The Ultimate Fighter will be decided by a competition match -- a head-to-head fight inside the Octagon – LIVE on Spike TV.

 

The competitors are all accomplished athletes, disciplined in the sport of mixed martial arts which combines boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu. For seven weeks during taping, the competitors were under the strict supervision of two of the most successful and well-known UFC fighters and trainers: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture and UFC Light Heavyweight #1 Contender Chuck Liddell.

 

In each episode, the competitors also will compete in team “Challenges” designed to push the fighters to the edge of their physical and mental capabilities. The challenges revolve around old-school training techniques, physical stamina and mental strategy. The team that wins the challenge controls which combatants must fight and face elimination.

 

The Ultimate Fighter was taped in Las Vegas at the UFC Training Center™ under the supervision of Piligian, the show’s creator and co-executive producer. Piligian, from Pilgrim Films and Television, also is known for his work on American Chopper, American Hot Rod and American Casino.

 

Robert Riesenberg (executive producer of NBC's The Restaurant) of Full Circle Entertainment also serves as co-executive producer. Riesenberg is president and CEO of Full Circle Entertainment, a New York Company. Full Circle Entertainment is an independent production company specializing in developing and producing programming that services the marketing needs of advertisers. Full Circle Entertainment is a wholly owned unit Omnicom Media Group, which is part of the Omnicom Group.

[tufrthanu]

I wonder how they will avoid having the same fighter(s) fighting in consecutive weeks...sounds like there won't be enough recovery time if they don't change it up somehow.

[SevenStar]

I dunno... in thailand, it's not uncommon for a fighter to have fights once a week. That's why there are 21 year olds there who have had like 90 fights... it's possible for them to fight weekly.

[Shane]

This sounds pretty cool, I havent had TV for about 2 years so I really miss out on some of these cool programs. This one sounds like it might be worth going to some friends houses to check it out.

[Luckykboxer]

to be honest I rarely ever have been injured in a fight, it is the intense training leading up to the fight that usually has been where i have had my injuries from.

 

fighting week after week isnt nearly as bad as training intensely for several weeks leading up to a fight, since you will likely have much more time to rest between fights and let your body recover.

[SevenStar]

agreed. the most I've had happen to me thus far is a few lumps. Never anything serious.

[tufrthanu]

Well I assume that comes from tapping out or perhaps from being in a lighter weight category...in boxing at least if one of the fighters is knocked out they will be hospitalized for at least a day. And I would think they would not be prepared to fight...and it might be physically dangerous to do so again a week after having a concussion. I have seen the thai fighters and while I do agree very young fighters can have alot of fights they also arent very big. I can only think in that case either there are not many knockouts, or they are competing in very dangerous circumstances. In the US in most states you must have a doctors statement saying that you are fit to fight. Does this exist for the thai fighters and will it exist for the UFC competition?

[Red J]

It should be fun to watch how these guys train and prepare each week.

 

...and it's another sign that MMA is getting its due having its own reality show!

[SevenStar]

Well I assume that comes from tapping out or perhaps from being in a lighter weight category...in boxing at least if one of the fighters is knocked out they will be hospitalized for at least a day. And I would think they would not be prepared to fight...and it might be physically dangerous to do so again a week after having a concussion. I have seen the thai fighters and while I do agree very young fighters can have alot of fights they also arent very big. I can only think in that case either there are not many knockouts, or they are competing in very dangerous circumstances.

 

I'm a heavyweight and was referring to kickboxing...I do agree with you though - you should not fight after being KOed or concussed. I actually know someone who developed problems from doing so.

[roy291]

I cannot believe that I missed it. when does it come on again.