The Ultimate Revamp

What a Fall we’re having… The Ultimate Fighter’s ratings are at an all-time low, Dana White just said that we will “absolutely” see women in the UFC eventually, and everybody’s in a furor because  Chael P. Sonnen will not only be getting a TUF coaching slot opposite Jon Jones, but also a Light Heavyweight Title shot. Yes, everybody’s talking about something, but lets look past that.  Look past the attempt at hot-shotting The Ultimate Fighter’s ratings, look beyond what many see as a mismatch on the level of Bonnar Vs. Silva, and look to the 18th edition of The Ultimate Fighter.  There is a way to try to rebuild the franchise, and we’re going to take a look at it after the jump.

If you want to rebuild the The Ultimate Fighter franchise, you start with the coaches. Yes, you need charismatic and skilled personalities to be your head coaches, but that does not mean they have to fight. Look to the past and get some retired legends like Randy Couture or Matt Serra to be the head coaches. Going this route allows you a wider range of options, as you don’t have to worry about the coaches’ weight classes for the fight at the finale’. This avoids things like this season’s coaching match-up, Shane Carwin Vs. Roy Nelson. I’m a fan of Shane Carwin, but pairing him up with Roy Nelson as TUF coaches did not set the world on fire when it was announces, and the globe has yet to go ablaze now that we’re part-way into the season.  If the coaches aren’t going to fight, then we can avoid pairings like this and instead focus on getting personalities better suited to both coaching and to television into the show.

Secondly, let’s drop the “There’s only one contract up for grabs” myth. We know there’s not. Most of the fighters from each season end up on the prelims anyways, so let’s make each round of the tournament for a higher paying contract. You make it into the house, you get an $5K/5K (show/win) per fight contract. If you make it into the quarter-finals, you get $10K/$10K, and so on and so forth, with the season winner getting the six figure contract, along with guarantee that their first post-finale bout will be positioned no lower than main card on a Fuel TV show. It may seem a little lower stakes, but at least this way there’s some truth in advertising with the show.

Next, let’s look at a cast and a prize for Season 18. Dana White recently stated, as far as Women’s MMA goes, that, “It’s absolutely going to happen.” So, let’s make it happen: Season 18 should be meant to stock a Women’s 135 lbs. division, with the winner getting a crack at Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title. Stock this season with veteran fighters like Liz Carmouche, Shayna Baszler, Sarah Kaufman, and Alexis Davis, along with up-and-comers like Sarah Moras, Rin Nakai, and Sara McMann. Yes, it potentially means raiding Invicta FC for talent, but I have a suspicion that “Uncle Dana” has his eye on either purchasing or working out some sort of deal with Shannon Knapp to make Invicta a feeder promotion for the UFC’s women’s division. But I digress… If you take these talented women, give them two of the best fighters-turned-coaches available, and set them loose with the opportunity to take a crack at the “Face of Women’s MMA,” then I think you’re in for one Hell of a season!

Now I’m a realist. I know that in all likelihood, the UFC will ignore this and continue down the path they’re on. Being an honest man, I’ll tell you right now that I’ll likely watch it anyways.  With that said, this is an opportunity to not only reset the flagging Ultimate Fighter franchise, but also make the casual fan care about Women’s MMA. I think it’s a chance worth taking, and I hope someone, anyone with the UFC sees this and agrees with me.

As an addendum, there is a metric craptonne of “Sarahs” in Women’s MMA. Must be a violent name!  And as always, feel free to comment here, on my twitter @stormlandbrand, or by e-mail at justin@stormland.net!