Another season of The Ultimate Fighter has come and gone and as usual there were several events that happened during the show that will leave a lasting impression.
Women in the Equation
A consistent pattern in The Ultimate Fighter that has taken place in recent seasons is that women in the house leads to higher ratings. Not only that but women also put on good fights to say the least.
There was also the unique situation of guy-on-girl pranks and girl-on-guy pranks which have not happened in the house in past seasons.
One thing that hasn’t happened in any coed seasons have been an in house relationship which didn’t happen this season but very well could in a future season.
Moving Stories and Surprise Twists
While there was nowhere near as much drama in the house this season as there’s been last season, there was no lack of drama.
The in house drama took the form of Abdel Medjedoub having to deal with a situation back home with his wife which while resolved, ultimately took his mental game out as he admitted following his loss.
Then there was the twist of teammates Cory Hendricks and Khalil Rountree having to face each other in the first fight of the house and Cory having to drop out due to his neck injury only for Khalil to step in and make it to the finals.
As for moving stories, Khalil’s weight loss and time without his father were inspirational. However, no one can beat Tatiana Padilla Suarez‘s fight with cancer and her motivation to ultimately win the show.
Tension Between the Coaches
There has certainly been tension between coaches before but this season may have topped the past seasons.
It was very clear from the get go that coaches Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha did not like each other and the rivalry was clearly more intense then perhaps even Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz or Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.
While there were no pranks pulled between the two, there were personal jabs thrown back and forth between the two and most of the time it seemed like Jedrzejczyk was the aggressor, which has not been clear from her personality in the past.
In the end Jedrzejczyk got the last laugh in the fight then buried the hatchet. However, Gadelha got the last laugh in when both contracts were won by her fighters.
Legacy
This season has the distinction of being the last TUF season to be produced under Zuffa ownership. While UFC President Dana White has said that under WME-IMG ownership it will be business as usual that is just in the short term.
Things could easily change as time moves on, including White’s employment and how the show is conducted. Only time will tell how things will change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16O9xWGpTfw