'The Ultimate Fighter' Doing Away With Live Fights

[No More Sorrow]

The UFC is sticking to Friday night on FX, but live fights will be no more, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports. The show will still be seen at 10 p.m. ET.
The UFC went with a live-fight format for this first season on FX, but the ratings were not to the level that were expected. UFC president Dana White also said that if the next season isn't up to standards expected, "(FX) promised me we can move it to Tuesday or Wednesday." He added that casting would begin in three weeks and the show will debut in September with welterweights.


"FX wants to try it again on Friday nights," White said. "But if it's not up to the standards I'm expecting, I'm pretty sure they'll give me what I want. But this season was a smash hit home run for them."

I'm not totally surprised by this, they really should get off Friday nights while they're at it.

 

[Slim]

Well first problem is that they went with guys that were really small. I mean yeah they will have exciting fights but people generally don't want to see these small guys. They want the bigger fighters.

Secondly... Cruz isn't really a big name out there. Faber has a recognizable face sorta but... they needed something bigger. Its like... they had the tools for what a true MMA fan would want to watch but not for the general public. Going with welterweights should be better... but depending on the coaches will determine how the show does.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Just thinking about it, I don't even know who i'd like to see coaching TUF next season. They're doing The US version and U.K. vs. Australia which will only air in Australia and England.

Maybe Rashad vs. Jones

 

[No More Sorrow]

Another thing that i forgot to mention is Bellator is moving to Spike TV this year, I bet they come up with a reality show just like TUF and throw it on Wednesday nights or something to try and catch fans of the older seasons of Ultimate Fighter. Seems like it'd be a smart move on Bellator and Spike's behalf.

 

[The Cork]

Could do Henderson and Pettis as the coaches and put their fight on Fox to pop a rating, I guess.

Theres not many English speaking champs/contenders around to pick from tbh.

GSP/Diaz would be brilliant but it's too soon for that, plus Diaz doesn't seem to like cameras.

 

[Troy]

UFC are in a pretty good spot though with their long term deal, it is pretty good that they know that if ratings aren't strong this season they can switch it to another night. Cutting the live fights would cut down costs and make it much easier to produce the show.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I'd love Henderson-Pettis doing the show. And yeah Troy i think if Ratings aren't great again this season then they'll have to switch the day it's aired on. Only problem is it's on FX and they have there line ups all set and everything so they just threw the UFC on Friday nights because they couldn't move any other TV shows on their network. Tuesday or Wednesday nights would be ideal though.