Dana White Open To Another Redemption Season Of The Ultimate Fighter

[No More Sorrow]

Eleven seasons have passed since "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series featured a "comeback" season, but another one could be on the way.

Following Friday's regular-season finale of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" – the first season on FX and the first with live fights – UFC president Dana White admitted interest in a season that would exclusively feature former UFC fighters.


The success of the first one, "TUF 4," is a big reason why.


That season took place in 2006 on Spike TV and featured 16 fighters with previous UFC experience. While the decision to give the middleweight and welterweight "TUF" winners immediate title shots initially was met with criticism, it resulted in one of MMA's biggest upsets. After winning "TUF 4" with a narrow win over Chris Lytle, Matt Serra earned a title shot and then upset welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69.


So would White consider a second comeback season?


"Of course," White said. "I think enough time has gone by by where there's enough guys out there where you could do that type of show again."


"TUF: Live 2," which will be the 16th season of the seven-year-old series, is expected to kick off this fall. White, though, isn't sure if it'll be a comeback season or a traditional one that features largely undiscovered talent.


However, he admits an affinity for "TUF 4."


"You know what I loved most about that season?" White asked. "The winner actually became the champion. He won the title against Georges St-Pierre."


White, though, said he wouldn't do it simply to "rejuvenate" the series. With ratings down this season and reaching all-time lows, critics have questioned the new live format, a lack of true blue-chip prospects and, most notably, its Friday-night timeslot on FX.


White said he's meeting with FOX executives next week on a number of topics, including the future of "TUF." But he balks at the idea that tweaking the format is a cure all. At the end of the day, all he cares about are good fights.


"Seriously? Seriously, think about this: 'Rejuvenating 'The Ultimate Fighter' brand and it being stale and all this?'" he said. "Do you like fights? It's a [expletive] fight show. It's a fight show. This isn't the [expletive] 'Jersey Shore.' It's not the same [expletive] crew partying and hanging out and he's mad at him and she's mad at her.


"It's a [expletive] fight show. We're looking for the new talent, and the show has proven itself throughout the years. I mean, how many champions have come from 'The Ultimate Fighter?' How many top contenders? How many of the sport's biggest stars have come from 'The Ultimate Fighter?' It is what it is. The [expletive] show is a fight show. ... If people are tired of seeing fights, I guess I'm [expletive]."

I was a fan of Season 4 when they did the redemption season last, i wouldn't mind seeing it next season as well. As long as it doesn't involve HW's as Tim Sylvia would join up and end up winning the thing then Dana would be fucked.

 

[Troy]

I really enjoyed TUF 4 as well, I always wondered why they never did another redemption season since it had great results. At the time I don't think it rated as well because the guys were more mature and so they didn't get into as much trouble as the normal batch of drunk twenty year olds. The only issue I see with this is UFC finding enough fighters to fill 16 spots, UFC basically bring anyone that they want back into the company so there aren't as many top fighters outside UFC like there was six years ago.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I just want the UFC to do this, maybe it'll be like a shot in the arm and help boost viewers. I loved this last season of TUF with Cruz and Faber but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to make the show successful like past seasons.