The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter is a reality TV show where 16 contestants live together and battle each other in MMA fights.

As a reality show, it had some moments in the house. As a competition show, the fights rock. As for its influence, it changed the world of fighting.

Before the show, boxing was still on top. MMA was just a fringe sport. It had the feel of an illegal dog fight. What this show did was to demystified the world of MMA. It show these fighter as athletes rather than maniacs. It opened this world to the general public allowing more people to join.

And that most DEFINITELY includes myself! Now I do not have to wait 2 months to pay $30 to see a cool ufc fight because at 10:00 PM every Monday night now,I can see one at the end of this very interesting documentary.Plus,we now have a close-up look at the training that these MMA guys go through.We see the certain work out methods of how one individual loses at least 20 pounds in less than 24 hours (very grueling indeed); I mean...WOW,and I thought my old school tae kwon do training was difficult.Also,the tension between the different trainees can be sometimes just freakin hilarious (like watching the WWF you know).

But like I said,it's a very interesting show and I will never miss one episode if I can help it.I just hope the show lasts a long time.

This has to be the best way that UFC can introduce its fans to its new fighters. You get to know the fighters way more then you ever would be able to do so in the past and actually care if they win or not when they actually start competing on UFC events. I see Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Nate Quarry, Josh Koscheck and Kenny Florian from season 1 all having good to great UFC careers. Season 2 has some good prospects too with Joe Stevenson, Luke Cummo, Melvin Guillard, Josh Burkman, Sammy Morgan, Jorge Gurgel, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, and also Brad Imes if he gets more experience.

Also a great way for helping get attention to the veteran UFC fighters who work as the coaches on the show.

I have to agree about watching TUF for Diego dishing it out. But I'm not going to lie...watching the fight between Forrest and Stephan in the finale was one of the most memorable and exciting things I can ever remember on television. Even to this day, I have NO idea how they picked a winner...it would have been SO tough.

And I think you brought up a great point. UFC was drowning...fast...and they needed something to put them through the roof. I think TUF did that for them and the enormity of its success was a big shocker to Dana White and fans of the sport.

Me? I'm EXTREMELY glad it came out because I've been a fan of the UFC for as long as I can remember. I really like Chris Leben and was sad to see it end for him so quickly with that cut in the semi finals. I also think Koscheck is a good fighter even though I didn't really like him as a person.

Also, I DO agree about the Bobby/Stephan fight, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did. Not only do I think Forrest would have walked all over Bobby, but Bobby didn't deserve it anyway.

What I was trying to say about the whole thing is; I think TUF is amazing, I haven't missed a single season yet, and I look forward to even MORE UFC and TUF to come in the future :)

I love this show. This TV Show is a great way of showing how fighters act outside or inside the cage with real fighters and real people. I have huge respect for the mental toughness of an indivudual who might have an injury and push past it, still winning his match etc. That's one aspect of what martial arts is all about when competing. Also, another thing I like is when you see a complete tool like Chris Leben in Season 1 who always talks too much about his record and how good he is and then loses all of his fights which proves another thing that as a fighter you must also have good character or you can get swollowed up in your own bullshit. Be humble.

Most of this show is drama but some of the show has conflict when you have two guys that don't like each other and always argue (that's the most fun part). The rest is about the 16 competitors fighting tournament stlye to get to the final fight and becoming an ultimate fighter.