TUF 6 begins taping this week - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Bomber · 06-06-2007, 06:45 AM

Recently crowned UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra has officially tied the knot, according to his Web site, Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The newlywed and welterweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 4 will now head to Las Vegas for The Ultimate Fighter 6, which begins taping later this week.

Serra, who won the welterweight title by defeating George St. Pierre in April at UFC 69, will serve as a coach on the upcoming welterweights-only season of the reality show.

The series debuted on Spike TV in January 2005, and despite sagging ratings, continues to be the premiere launch vehicle for young careers in the UFC.

Rival and former champ Matt Hughes is this season’s other coach.

I’ve gotten a number e-mails and questions about the upcoming season, so I’ll run down the latest information I have:

The season begins taping this week and should debut on Spike TV in September.
Sixteen 170-pound fighters will compete for a UFC contract. I don’t know of any likely cast members.
Serra and Hughes are expected to fight for the title during The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale in December — on Spike TV, not a pay-per-view event. (This, of course, could change depending on the marketability of the fight.)
The winner of Serra-Hughes will face the winner of St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck, who fight in August at UFC 74. UFC president Dana White recently stated that the winner of St. Pierre vs. Koscheck would not have to fight again before the title shot — despite what will likely be an eight- or nine-month layoff.
Source: ufcjunkie.com

yaiir · 06-06-2007, 06:51 AM

So....two seasons ago he was on the show as a contestant, and now he is suddenly good enough to be on the show as a coach?

They must be really running out of ideas.

Bomber · 06-06-2007, 07:07 AM

That is a long time to suspend the WW title. Just so we can watch Hughes and Serra bicker. Been there, done that. They should have put new coaches in instead of screwing up the WW division.

You have to credit TUF with building the current UFC bonfire, and it's been great for everyone. But starting with season 4, it's messed up business as usual in the UFC. TUF 4 interfered with the title in two divisions, displaced guys who should have gotten title shots, and screwed up two PPV's. Now TUF 6 is going to put everything on hold in the WW division.

The Ultimate Fighter should be a feeder system for the UFC, a way to build popularity for MMA and UFC personalities, but it shouldn't compromise the real show, the battle for a UFC title.

Dirty Fighter · 06-06-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaiir

So....two seasons ago he was on the show as a contestant, and now he is suddenly good enough to be on the show as a coach?

They must be really running out of ideas.

Serra runs his own gym and is a seasoned veteran. The season he was on was "The Comeback". And he pretty much was the team coach that season. As for being good enough, isn't being WW champ a pretty solid credential?

My GnP is Sick · 06-06-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

That is a long time to suspend the WW title. Just so we can watch Hughes and Serra bicker. Been there, done that. They should have put new coaches in instead of screwing up the WW division.

I was thinking the same thing. I think as long as the Champ isn't hurt he should be defending that belt like every 3 months or so. Whats also strange is that the winner of GSP/KOS gets a title shot, but isn't that fight happening in August. So the winner is going to what wait 6 months before he gets his title shot? That’s a little ridiculous

Bomber · 06-06-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My GnP is Sick

Whats also strange is that the winner of GSP/KOS gets a title shot, but isn't that fight happening in August. So the winner is going to what wait 6 months before he gets his title shot? That’s a little ridiculous

Actually 8 or 9 months, like it says in the article. TUF Finale is in December. Then the champ needs 3-4 months before the next fight = March, April or even May, 2008. This is a frickin disaster for the WW division.

takeAnap · 06-06-2007, 02:15 PM

A guy from my fight house is in TUF 6, the 9th he leaves to go to vegas...

FightingIrish · 06-06-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takeAnap

A guy from my fight house is in TUF 6, the 9th he leaves to go to vegas...

do they pay for him to go over, or does he pay for himself?

HaVoK · 06-06-2007, 04:48 PM

I just don't understand why they are going to have Kos/GSP wait so long to fight for the title or why its going to be nothing but WW's in the house.

Bomber · 06-06-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVoK

I just don't understand why they are going to have Kos/GSP wait so long to fight for the title or why its going to be nothing but WW's in the house.

I don't know any more than you do, but it seems to me the UFC is sacrificing the WW division to try and prop up TUF (in other words, they're compromising reality for a reality series).

takeAnap · 06-09-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingIrish17

do they pay for him to go over, or does he pay for himself?

They pay for it. They actually pay for them to fly to Vegas and back twice. He had to go there a few weeks ago to be tested for steroids, drugs and all that good stuff.

AllTrac · 06-11-2007, 08:01 AM

I am annoyed that we have to wait so long for WW title matches because of the TUF series. i like TUF but surely the title matches are more important.

the WW division is my favorite so i will be interested in seeing who is on TUF 6, hopefully they can bring even more talent into the division.

Cas2910 · 07-16-2007, 01:38 AM

Seriously it will be like one whole year with two title shots in the WW divison. that is probably messing up all of the WW training schedule. You cant train for 9 months or rest for four months then start training. Also the top contenders need the fights to get paid.

name goes here · 07-16-2007, 09:23 AM

Personally as long as I get a steady stream of fights to watch I don't mind how they manage their schedule. But I'm surprised they're putting Hughes in as the coach, he didn't do to well last time, in success or likeability, not to mention his fighting style is not the most marketable, especially if Serra's ko was an oddity and he goes back to his submission mission.

Kaledonia · 07-16-2007, 11:16 AM

It will be good and with luck ill be able to finally see a whole serious of TUF, i just keep wishing that it was about the MW's...in my mind the UFC is beginning to be be summed up by how good or bad its current WW form is.

lambo84 · 07-16-2007, 08:18 PM

I thought Serra did great on TUF 4 by coaching his fellow teamates through the fights, he will do well with a team of fresh newbies to motivate.

p19101 · 07-17-2007, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambo84

I thought Serra did great on TUF 4 by coaching his fellow teamates through the fights, he will do well with a team of fresh newbies to motivate.

Yeah I see him being a far better coach than Hughes. I remember what a dick Hughes was last time around...

BispingKO · 07-17-2007, 11:59 AM

I wont mind seeing Hughes and Serra as coaches, although I m not too big a fan of either of them at the minute.

I wonder how they will spice the series up to get more ratings, hopefully no more ping-pong battles!

lambo84 · 07-23-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BispingKO

I wont mind seeing Hughes and Serra as coaches, although I m not too big a fan of either of them at the minute.

I wonder how they will spice the series up to get more ratings, hopefully no more ping-pong battles!

I dunno, I got a chuckle out of the ping pong match. They had to find some way for Jens to beat BJ

Monarch Clothing · 07-24-2007, 12:23 PM

I have watched all of the seasons. I find it very entertaining with the coach will actually coach and to see each fighter improve over the season.