Let the action begin.

The camera rolled on February 6, which was the first day of filming for the new MMA reality show, College Cage Series.

The six-episode television show will cover the tryouts, training and fight finale of up-and-coming fighters competing for college scholarship money.

The show is the brainchild of fight promoter Shane Corbin, who realized that aspiring fighters don’t have the same collegiate scholarship opportunities as other athletes. While many students pay their way through school with the help of baseball, football or basketball money, gifted MMA competitors have to fend for themselves.

Corbin is setting out to change that.

“Basically, this is a tryout program that the College Cage Series puts on to qualify guys to turn pro, to fight on a better platform and a higher level, and compete on our bigger shows and win a lot of money for their scholarships,” he said.

The tryouts were divided into 155- and 170-pound divisions. Competitors fought for spots (two fighters per division) in the College Cage Series finale, which takes place on March 19 on a card featuring professional fighters such as Antonio McKee and Rodrigo Ruiz.

Five judges, including Corbin, legendary referee Big John McCarthy, trainer Juanito Ibarra, UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie and boxing heavyweight James “Lights Out” Toney, watched intently as competitors fought three one-minute rounds: one minute each of grappling, standup and then MMA. Afterward, the fighters listened to critiques from the judges, who voted on which fighters moved to the next round of competition and, through elimination, to the finale.

Although the competitors were amateurs, some serious talent showed up.

“The guys who won have a lot of potential,” Gracie said, and added that the educational aspect of the show would be good for the sport.

McCarthy agreed. “The one thing about the College Cage Series that’s different is the other fighting shows,” he said. “They’re trying to bring in the educational aspect to it, bringing to the schools.”

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..., This seems like such a great idea that it is surpri

February 14, 2010     

This seems like such a great idea that it is surprising that no one to this point has given previous young fighters a chance like this. For fighters to have to compete in terribly produced and low profile shows around the U.S. until past their learning prime, kills many fighters ambition. Hopefully the show will highlight the hunger for greatness that alot of these young men have.
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