Will Ryan "The Kid" McGillivray be the next Ultimate Fighter? Photo credit: SpikeTVBack in November, ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) ran a profile on Canadian welterweight Ryan McGillivray (11-4-1) who had just tried out for The Ultimate Fighter season 13.
At the time, just like a whole lot of other hopefuls, Ryan was waiting to hear back from Spike TV and the UFC to see if he made the show.
Sometime later I attempted to contact Ryan and never heard back, so it was then I assumed he must have got picked for the show and had already left to start filming. This news was later confirmed.
Now here we are nearly five months later and The Ultimate Fighter season 13 will premiere this Wednesday night on Spike TV featuring Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos, and yes of course, Ryan McGillivray too.
Ryan talked to us about what the process was like waiting for the news to know if he had been cast for the show, and how he felt when he got the call.
“I found out that I was going to be on the show six days before we flew out to begin taping the show,†Ryan explained. “I was unbelievably excited and grateful that I was chosen to be on the show. It is a very long process, the tryouts are over three months, and a lot of uncertainty. Even though in our sport you’re never wasting time training, there was a lot of training without knowing if I was on the show. I was thinking everything was worth it and couldn’t believe the opportunity. I immediately started to try and get my life taken care of for when I was gone.â€
Ryan owns a gym in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. So he had a lot to take care of before he could just take off. Luckily, he has a great team who was able to pitch in and help.
“I have an amazing team at Legends Training Centre in many ways,†Ryan said. “We had a lot of guys watching the gym and filling in. The unsung hero in all of that was my family, most of all my father. He spent countless hours at the gym while I was gone.â€
The coaches this season are former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and top heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos. Ryan explained his thoughts when he first learned who the coaches would be and which team he was hoping to get picked for.
“I found out who the coaches were maybe a couple weeks before I was selected,†Ryan said. “I feel that both coaches bring an amazing amount of knowledge and experience in their own area. Both teams had amazing coaching staffs that most fighters can only dream of working with. I was hoping to be on team Dos Santos, mostly because he has such amazing stand up. At the end of the day I was just happy to be on the show, and think both coaches are very talented.â€
Without giving away too much – you’ll have to read Ryan’s TUF 13 blog for that – Ryan explained what fans can expect to see this season on The Ultimate Fighter.
“The show is a great chance to see the fighters on a personal level and meet one of your favorite future fighters,†said Ryan. “For both fans and people who don’t follow MMA, gives you a great insight into the ins and outs of the show. And of course some great fights.â€
Finally, Ryan gave us his prediction on the Lesnar vs. dos Santos fight when the two step in the cage against each other on June 11 at UFC 131.
“I think if Junior can stop the first couple take downs or get right up he will be too much for Brock,†Ryan explained. “He is very close to the same size and is too experienced in my opinion. â€
For the next ten weeks, beginning this Wednesday, March 30, following each episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santosâ€, you are going to want to come right here to ProMMAnow.com and read TUF 13 cast member Ryan McGillivray’s thoughts and comments in his official TUF 13 blog.
Mark you calendars now, and don’t miss it!
UFC fans be sure to follow Ryan on Twitter @KidMcGillivray and check out this piece the Toronto Sun ran on him today: Ryan McGillivray is all bite, no bark.
Filed Under: The Ultimate Fighter • UFC
Tags: Brock Lesnar, featured, Junior Dos Santos, Legends Training Centre, Ryan McGillivray, Spike TV, The Ultimate Fighter, TUF 13, UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship
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