Should TUF start featuring semi-recognized or recognised fighters not under the UFC..

[Uncle Chester]

name?

Season 12 was my first season of TUF but since watching that I've seen season 1 in it's entirety and half of season 9. Comparing earlier seasons to recent ones I've noticed there's been a significant drop in talent- where only a small amount are actually good enough to even compete IN the UFC let alone achieve great success in it. So I was wondering what some intelligent MMA fans think of the idea (best MMA forum on the web BTW) of bringing semi- recognizable or even recongisable names to fill in a sufficient space in a TUF roster. To give an example, I'd get guys who compete maybe in Japan and are semi-relevant in Strikeforce to compete (Del Rosario, Cormier and Dave Herman etc.) which would bring the floundering prestige and value back that guys like Sanchez, Leben, Florian gave TUF.

Obviously to fans a major incentive to watch is the rise of unknowns and marginal prospects in the UFC but the trade of has definitely been a decrease in actual solid talent due to MMA's pupularity rise and good fighters already finding work.

My personal opinions is that the promise of a good crop of fighters that ARE going to be relevant in the future will result in a more worthwhile experience.

So THOUGHTS?

 

[ArcherCC]

Strikeforce fighters, no not at all. But maybe some of the Bellator guys, but even then most the bigger names in Bellator should go directly to the UFC. (The Pit-bull brothers for example should go directly into the UFC, as should Eddie Alverez.)

The biggest talent drop comes from Spike TV. UFC holds try outs, selects X amount of guys, then Spike picks who comes into the house, they base this one who they think will be the biggest personalities outside of the cage and drum up the most ratings, not realizing it's what goes on IN the cage that brings in the ratings. Now this was not true for the earlier season, but the past couple Spike has had most if not all the control of who comes into the house (out of the group Dana & Co select at the try outs.).

 

[JWGunslinger]

I say why not, I mean lets face the fact that TUF wont ever be as interesting as the first few seasons. What made TUF so great in the beginning was that it was something new, nobody had ever seen what happens when you put a group of testosterone filled fighters in a house together for a few weeks. Now we've seen it 13 times, there isnt anything new and exciting to it anymore, when it all started there were original personalities and now it seems as though the only time we see guys show individuality it's probably fake just to get attention. It's impossible to replace a Chris Leben or a Forrest Griffin, so once we accept the fact that the show will not ever be as good as it was in the beginning we can address bringing in talent from smaller orgs.

I always liked the idea of having guys we don't know much about grow on the show and become great fighters in the UFC, but that being said it worked back then and I dont think it's going to cut it anymore. I think it would be an interesting new way to experience The Ultimate Fighter, I feel like it would seriously improve the chances of guys coming off the show having more success. I say give it a shot for a season, if it gets good reception then keep it up and if not then go back to the old program. I personally would like to see another season like season 4 where they bring back UFC vets who had bad luck, I loved that season and I found it very entertaining. The best part about that season was that because they had all fought in the UFC and they all respected each other,eliminated the all the stupid young guys who have to prove to everyone how badass they are.