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Season 1 was incredibly electric. The coaches were powerhouses Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. The line-up, packed with studs, included, among others, Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Rich Franklin, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Nathan Quarry and Chris Leben.
It also featured the fight of the decade-the brawl between Griffin and Bonnar that resulted in both warriors earning six-figure contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That fight, and the show, had the MMA world buzzing with excitement.
"Season 1 was awesome," says UFC President Dana White. "Any time you do something that turned out to be as successful as Season 1, there are going to be big expectations for Season 2."
And they were up for the challenge. Like a California earthquake, which typically builds in intensity, Season 2 rumbled across the nation, carrying the momentum from Season 1.
Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin took over the reins as coaches. The fighters included Rashad Evans, Brad Imes, Josh Burkman, Melvin Guillard and Luke Cummo. Broadcast again on Spike TV, the show generated some impressive ratings. Despite the solid sophomore season, however, the powers-that-be felt Season 3 needed a tweak here and there.
"We made a couple of mistakes in Season 2," admits White.
One of those mistakes, he says, is that the fights went three rounds, which means they lost some of the reality portion of the show.
"When we shoot, we get thousands and thousands of hours of tape," he says. "We shoot every day. It is 24/7, so there is a lot of footage and plenty of storyline. We could not show [as much of] that in Season 2 because the fights went three rounds."
TUF 3 Facts
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So, in Season 3, scratch one round off the fights, which means they will be able to air more footage from the house and get some reality back.
"And, of course, when I say 'reality,' we'll show more of what is going on in the house," says White. "This will enable the viewers to get to know the personalities better."
You can expect to see a few more changes, but White says he couldn't divulge them prior to the show. One of the things "TUF 3" officials did divulge came via a bombshell several weeks back when they announced that the coaches for the two teams are Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz ... two fighters who have a relatively long history of not liking each other. For reality and conflict, this is a slam dunk.
"It was my idea to get Ken and Tito," says White. "Ken hates Tito, Tito hates Ken, I hate Tito and Tito hates me. As painful as it all sounds, it seems to make sense for television."
To be sure, it makes sense, and in the long run it will probably make a lot of dollars, as well. But the arrangement almost didn't happen. Initially, Shamrock had no interest.
"When I asked Ken if he would be interested, he initially said no," says White. "Then I told him we got Tito. Then he was interested. He wants to fight Tito so badly, and [by agreeing to coach] that proves just how badly he wants to fight him. He agreed to do the show because it created an opportunity for him to fight Tito."
Despite the tremendous animosity the two coaches have for each other, White says he's not worried about the coaches upstaging the 18 light heavyweights and middleweights.
"At the end of the day, even with all the hate and animosity and how badly they want to fight ... no," says White. "They are professionals, and they know they are going to fight in June. They are there to coach these guys, and the show is about the kids."
Insane, Grueling
Selecting the fighters is a twofold, lengthy process that involves White and Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films, which produces "TUF." While White focuses on the fighting skills of the candidates, Piligian evaluates their personalities. Once they get a candidate, the interview process begins.
"The guys who we are interested in go through such a comprehensive interview process that it is insane," says White. "They are interviewed over and over again. They are locked in rooms, they cannot go anywhere, they cannot take any calls and it goes on for days and days."
But it doesn't end there. They also have to go through physical tests, drug testing and background tests.
"It is not an easy process," he says. "The guys who you see have made it through a grueling process."
But that grueling process, he says, can lead to a fulfilling career that White equates to "American Idol."
"In most reality shows, you get a bunch of people you have never seen before," says White. "Once they go away, they go away. With 'The Ultimate Fighter,' like 'American Idol,' [however], you can follow the career of these people after they are done. Some go to PPV while others fight on Ultimate Fight Night Live. In the case of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' you can watch them grow as athletes."
And grow they do. Fighters from "The Ultimate Fighter" have compiled a record of 15-3 (as of press time) against UFC fighters, he says.
"If you look at these guys when they show up on the set and evaluate them afterward, they are different fighters when they leave," he says. "For five to six weeks, they eat and sleep MMA, and they train with the best coaches and they have a nice variety of guys with which to train. They are better fighters at the end of the show. Look at Rich Franklin; he is a world champion."
| Seeing Stars In addition to building MMA stars, "The Ultimate Fighter" is also building actors, as well. Dana White, UFC president, says you can see some of their fighters in "Blade," a scripted TV series. This features Chuck [Liddell]. "That is another direction [establish acting roles] we are going, and guys like Randy [Couture] and Andrei [Arlovski] could also get roles," he says. |
Concerns and Goals
With Season 3 upon us, "TUF" officials will not dispute that there are some high expectations for the show. You could say that "TUF 3" is like a world champion defending his title. Does White have any concerns? After all, they have an entire MMA nation-and more-looking their way.
"We are pretty confident," he says. "Once we've made the decisions [on whom to select], it is what it is. What we have found to be true is that reality is much better than any script we could ever write. In this sport, what happens, happens."
Through it all, he says, their main goal is to develop stars.
"At the end of the day, our No. 1 reason to do this is to build stars," he says. "We are a PPV business, and we are trying to build PPV stars. We always knew what the model [formula] was. The question was could we implement it and execute it so we could get these shows on the network and drive viewers. That was a big obstacle to get over."
They not only have gotten over it, they have shattered it. All you have to do is look at the ratings.
"We were among the top 10 of shows on January 16 (Ultimate Fight Night)," says White. "We were No. 9. We are a ratings monster for Spike. So, we have not only impacted the MMA world, but we have also impacted the TV world and mainstream TV. It's big, man. It's big."
And it's on Spike TV, starting April 6.
1 Minute With Ken Shamrock
Q: When you got the call to coach, what did you think?
Ken Shamrock: When Dana White asked me to coach, I was not sold until he told me that Tito Ortiz was one of coaches. That is a great setup. There is no secret that there has been bad blood between us for a long time. As coach, I'll have an opportunity to pass my knowledge on to the reality fighters and build our fight. It's a beautiful thing.
Q: Will you guys steal the show from the fighters?
Shamrock: When you have coaches like Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell, some of the show is going to focus on them, but the core of the show is the fighters and their desire to win that contract. Of course, I'm not going to say that it could not happen. Fists could fly.
Q: When did the conflict between you and Tito start?
Shamrock: It originated when Tito fought Guy Mezger [in UFC 19], and there was a questionable stoppage of that fight. Tito was throwing some punches to the back of Guy's head when John [McCarthy] stopped the fight. It did not look to me that they were doing any damage. Anyway, Tito put on a shirt that said, "Gay Mezger is my bitch." After the fight, I got upset. I felt he disrespected Guy. He had already won the fight, so there was no reason to do that. Then he flipped us off. That is when I went over the fence.
Q: As coach, what are your goals on the show?
Shamrock: I want to teach them discipline, I want them to train consistently and I want them to know that they have a golden opportunity that they can turn into something that can last their lifetime. They will find out, however, that it's not a free ride. There will be some dues to pay in the gym in the form of blood, sweat and tears.
Q: As coach, what is your biggest challenge?
Shamrock: Overcoming the relatively short amount of time I have to work with them. In this amount of time, I have to learn their personalities and their capabilities.
1 Minute With Tito Ortiz
Q: What was your reaction to the coaching offer?
Tito Ortiz: I was full bore for it. I thought it was an awesome idea. No problems. It's good TV, and there is lots of animosity. In fact, if Ken weren't the other coach, I would not do it.
Q: What kind of coach will you be?
Ortiz: I am a former high school wrestling coach, and I intend to use my coaching ability. I watched the last two seasons, and I don't think the coaches provided enough motivation for the fighters. They just showed them how to fight. If it was not their [the coaches] way, it was the highway. I will bring intensity to the training and talk about the importance of the mental side of training.
Q: What are your goals on the show?
Ortiz: I want to be the winning team, and I may get some guys into Team Punishment.
Q: As coach, what do you see as the biggest challenge?
Ortiz: I want to make sure that I do not break them. Of course, I will watch for injuries and then show them Graceland. I want them to walk with their heads up high.
Q: What is your biggest concern?
Ortiz: After we beat Ken's guys, I have to give up some of my guys. I am here to win, I am competitive and I hate to lose.
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The Cast of "TUF 3"
Light Heavyweights
| Kristian {mosimage}Hurricane Katrina was a nightmare for New Orleans resident Kristian. His father died in the catastrophic storm and most of Kristian's possessions were destroyed. The 33-year-old stayed in the ravaged Gulf Region to help rebuild homes. Now he is looking to start a new life by joining "The Ultimate Fighter 3." Kristian studied English Education at the University of New Orleans. The former high school teacher describes himself as a hunter, thinker and fisherman. He is an avid reader of everything from Chinese poetry to the classics and received a scholarship in college to study poetry in Prague. At 21, he began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu and currently holds a 40-3 professional MMA record. His nickname is "The Weather Underground." | Matt {mosimage}Matt comes to "The Ultimate Fighter 3" with an incredible athletic resume. The 2004 inductee in the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame was the first U.S. wrestler to win gold medals in freestyle and Greco-Roman competition in the 1997 World Games for the Deaf. The three-time NCAA national champion attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester. Matt has been featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" and was featured on the cover of NCAA News as a junior at RIT. In 1997, he was named USA Deaf Sports Federation Athlete of the Year. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Matt is a graduate of Loveland High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals fan trains with Rich Franklin, a coach from "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 2 and the UFC middleweight champion. |
| Michael B. {mosimage}If World War II had not occurred, Michael would probably be living as a count in Poland, as his family ancestry traces back to royalty in his native land. Instead, the 26-year-old is living the self-described "working class" life in England, but he is aspiring to become an Ultimate fighter. Born in Cyprus, Michael attended Blackburn College, majoring in electrical engineering, and he has two children, ages 3 and 5. He began learning jiu-jitsu at 8 years old and lists Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture as his favorite UFC fighters. When he's not practicing mixed martial arts in Liverpool, he works as a DJ on the weekends. His nickname is "The Count." | Tait {mosimage}Joe Rogan's ("Fear Factor") personal bodyguard has worked in security for such celebrities as Adam Sandler on the set of "The Longest Yard." The 34-year-old current resident of Los Angeles has appeared in commercials for both Nissan and Coke. A graduate of Alpena High School in Alpena, Michigan, Tait moved to New Mexico to attend St. John's College in Santa Fe so he could study classical literature. He began training in jiu-jitsu while in New Mexico and currently has a professional MMA record of 3-1. |
| Josh {mosimage}No stranger to the world of MMA, this 28-year-old Medford, Oregon, native trains with Team Quest and UFC fighters Nate Quarry and Randy Couture. Josh is a graduate of Grant's Pass High School in Medford and studied computer science at the University of Southern Oregon. Josh also spent six years in the Army and was stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Over the years, he has built an impressive MMA record of 17-4 with one KO. At the same time, he has also built an excellent professional career, applying his computer science degree as a hospital network engineer. But Josh decided it was finally time to pursue his dream of becoming an Ultimate fighter, so he quit his job to train full-time. He started fighting at 330 pounds, and he has dropped more than 100 pounds to fight at 215. His oldest son was diagnosed with brain cancer at birth, and having watched his boy endure multiple surgeries already, Josh stays completely focused and driven to do whatever is necessary to become a success and take care of his family. | Noah {mosimage}At the last minute, Noah booked a flight and traveled all the way from his native Yankton, South Dakota, to Boston to make the open tryouts for Season 3 of "The Ultimate Fighter." Even though he's attending the University of South Dakota and studying to become a special education teacher, he thinks his wrestling background and two years of jiu-jitsu experience will earn him a shot at the six-figure, multi-year UFC contract. Noah is 24 years old, runs his own lawn mowing business and holds an MMA record of 22-4. |
| Jesse {mosimage}Only 21 years old, his parents would rather see him attending college than training in mixed martial arts, but Jesse has decided he wants to be a fighter-and an Ultimate fighter at that. Jesse was a two-time All-State wrestler at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona, and went on to wrestle two more years in community college. He has an excellent ground game and is learning to become a good striker while training with Drew Fickett. Jesse is a southpaw, holds an MMA record of 2-0 and wants to become as successful as Rich Franklin in the Octagon. | Mike {mosimage}This 34-year-old tattoo artist from Denver is a 2005 gold medalist in jiu-jitsu at the 2005 Pan-Am Games. Mike excelled at football as both a tight end and defensive end at East High School in Denver. Following high school, he traveled the country training elephants, and he prides himself on being an amateur animal activist. Mike is married with two kids and currently has a professional MMA record of 3-1. He owns a tattoo studio in Denver (Twisted Sol), and he's had the business for more than 10 years. He currently has 14 employees. |
| Kalib {mosimage}The current No.-2-ranked middleweight in Canada has an impressive professional MMA record of 8-0-1. Kalib currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is part of the renowned Revolution Fight Team. When he is not competing in mixed martial arts, Kalib is participating in spoken-word competitions and is an avid reader of poetry and linguistics. He lists Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn among his favorite authors. Kalib grew up in Nakusp, British Columbia, and attended Nakusp Secondary School where he played soccer. He began his fighting career when he started Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his late teens. He is currently single with a 3-year-old daughter. | Danny {mosimage}Born in Amman, Jordan, Danny (his real name is Muntaser), of Jordanian and Egyptian descent, moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was 2. His family moved around quite a bit and he ended up attending and graduating Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, where he played soccer. Danny began taking tae kwon do in Brooklyn and was a black belt by the age of 8. The tae kwon do child prodigy began teaching the sport at age 12 and currently travels the country teaching. The four-star black belt works and trains at Victory Martial Arts in Orlando, Florida, where he currently lives. The 28-year-old currently holds a 2-1 MMA record and 14-1 pro kickboxing record. Among Danny's other talents are break-dancing and kickboxing. |
| Soloman {mosimage}The pride of Racine, Wisconsin, Soloman was a superstar athlete at Racine Park High School, where he was an all-state linebacker in football and a feared wrestler in the 171-pound division. The youngest of seven children, he attended Triton Junior College in Illinois and studied science. He has been competing in mixed martial arts for four years and currently holds a 10-2 professional MMA record. Soloman has three kids and works laying cement for a concrete company in Racine. A big sports fan, Soloman roots for the Raiders and his hometown Brewers and Bucks. | Ross {mosimage}Known as "The Gladiator," the 28-year-old from Stokeontrent, England, near Manchester, took up mixed martial arts seven years ago. The graduate of Trentham High School is a black belt in karate and currently owns The Gladiator Gym, where he teaches kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Ross made it on the "The Ultimate Fighter 3" after impressing UFC President Dana White and other UFC top brass at an open-casting call in London. He currently holds a 4-6 professional MMA record. The hard-kicking Brit is single and has a young daughter. |
| Ed {mosimage}The 25-year-old member of the legendary MMA squad, Team Quest, out of Portland, Oregon, trains with UFC legend Randy Couture and "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 1 participant and rising star Chris "The Crippler" Leben. He also trains local police in Portland on the latest and most effective mixed martial arts moves. Born in Vancouver, Washington, Ed graduated from Columbia River High School and was an all-state wrestler in the 168-pound division and a standout defensive lineman on the football team. He currently holds an impressive 14-2 professional record. When he's not training, Ed teaches kids mixed martial arts at the Team Quest gym in Portland and bartends in the evenings. He lives with his girlfriend. | Rory {mosimage}Born in Brooklyn, Rory grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey, and was a star wrestler at Marlboro High School. Rory studied biological engineering at the University of Georgia and is currently attending the School of Nursing in Athens, Georgia. The 30-year-old began learning jiu-jitsu six years ago and currently holds a professional MMA record of 9-5, including bouts in Japan and South Africa. The avid reader of such novels as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy recently was roommates with Athens, Georgia's most famous MMA fighter, "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 1 light-heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin. |
| Mike S. {mosimage}Born and raised in Hicksville, Long Island, Mike was a 2005 quarterfinalist in the prestigious boxing tournament, the New York Golden Gloves. He is a graduate of Hicksville High School, where he was All-Long Island in ice hockey, and attended Farmingdale College, where he earned an associate's degree in criminal justice. He has been training in mixed martial arts for four years and currently holds a 3-0 professional MMA record. The 27-year-old Islanders fan and fishing enthusiast currently runs a Tiger Schulman gym in Great Neck, Long Island. | Kendall {mosimage}The 23-year-old, nicknamed "Spider," was born and raised in Maui and attended Baldwin High School, where he was an All-State wrestler in the 170-pound division and a standout wide receiver on the football team. His brother Chad was an All-WAC wide receiver at the University of Utah and his cousin, Kaluka Maiava, is a freshman linebacker on the powerhouse USC Trojan football team. After high school, Kendall moved to Las Vegas to pursue his dream of being an Ultimate fighter and currently has a 7-3 professional MMA record. The outdoor enthusiast surfs and plays paintball in his spare time. -Bios courtesy of the UFC |
