Dana White finally found a way to teach the world about the UFC in 2005 with the advent of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality TV show on Spike TV. Using this reality TV show, White has shown the world all the training in various disciplines and strategy that goes into fighting in the UFC. He has taken what some viewed as cock-fighting and shown just how finely tuned and disciplined the athletes need to be in order to compete at a high level. He humanized an otherwise brutal sport.
The Ultimate Fighter has also turned out to be a great farm system for the UFC. Today's current roster of UFC fighters is littered with fighters who cut their teeth on the TV show first. Former light heavyweight champs Forrest Griffin, and Rashad Evans were both former winners. For UFC 100 the coaches from the most recent season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson are one of the main attractions to the fight card. Viewers were able to follow these guys throughout the entire season and now will have incentive to see them fight it out on Saturday.
While the rest of the fight card doesn't feature champion of the UFC's "showcase division" of light heavy-weight, it is still stacked from top to bottom. Headlining the night is former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar who looks to avenge an early career loss to Frank Mir. Welter-weight champ Georges St. Pierre defends his title against Thiago Alves in a matchup that is possibly the most anticipated bout of the night. The aforementioned matchup of Bisping and Henderson is expected to be entertaining even without a title on the line.
In all there are 11 matchups slated for Saturday night. While some will be "dark matches" (without television coverage) it still should be a night big enough to mark the 100th UFC event.
For more info log onto UFC.com or 100.UFC.com
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
UFC is trying to prove itself. I've heard this a lot. But to whom? This is what I never understood. Some people just don't plain like fighting sports.
And for the 18-35 male demographic, which I'll blindly assume is their biggest bracket, is legitimization really something they treasure? I've heard soccer fans say they don't care if soccer is popular in the US or not; they like it, and that's what matters.
2 - MMA
MMA is only gonna keep growing. brownsugar's son is a perfect example of how MMA has already won over the young demographic just like it captured my attention when I was a teen back in the early 90's.
3 - Mixed Martial Arts Fighting
Awesome site and great posting!