The Ultimate Fighter is coming again with a new season but some very familiar faces. Here are some points to check:
Format
The theme of the season, Redemption is about the idea that the cast is made up of former TUF participants who are getting a second chance at the show.
The show concept is certainly unique but former fighters on the show is not a new concept as past seasons have featured former participants on the show. Season four in particular comes to mind though that show featured a title shot.
Cast
There are some familiar faces on the show with whom the redemption concept can certainly apply.
Joe Stevenson has had the most success in a past TUF season considering the fact that he won season two of the show in the welterweight division. He went onto challenge BJ Penn for the lightweight title but has since been cut from the UFC and had varying levels of success on the regional circuit.
A fighter who is really looking for redemption is Jesse Taylor who was set to fight on the season seven finale but was removed because of bad behavior at the conclusion of filming the show.
Another winner is that of Eddie Gordon and participants from several other seasons.
Coaching Tension
In past seasons of the show there’s been some real life tension between the coaches, but this season has the potential to be one of the more bitter rivalries in the history of the show.
Coach TJ Dillashaw used to be a member of Team Alpha Male before leaving to join former Team Alpha Male coach Duane Ludwig for the Elevation Fight Team gym.
Opposing team coach Cody Garbrandt is now the UFC Bantamweight Champion and a current team member of Team Alpha Male. Garbrandt apparently didn’t get along with Dillashaw while he was still with the team and now has a deep seeded feeling of betrayal against Dillashaw and Ludwig.
Involved in the mix is Team Alpha Male founder Urijah Faber who will be the head coach for Team Garbrandt.
Another factor in the mix is the fact that Taylor is a former college teammate to Dillashaw while they were wrestling at Cal State Fullerton together. That is probably going to affect the team picks in the show.
Final Thoughts
This season has certainly got potential to be one of the better seasons, however there are also reports that this might be the shows swan song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouMa8-eG5D8