I fully anticipated season two of The Ultimate Fighter to continue where season one left off. After two episodes, I have to conclude that it's not a dissappointment in general, and there were enough high-lights and low-lights to warrant a review.
Ongoing, I hope to review each new episode of The Ultimate Fighter, which you can catch on SpikeTV at 11pm EST, and the various re-runs that will air on this self proclaimed "Men's Network." You can also find more information at UFC.TV and the official Ultimate Fighter website
First of all, it would be fair to say that I'm a mixed martial arts fan, but I am not a hardcore fanatic. Some fans out there would probably know better the history of the contestants through their on-going struggles to reach the major leagues. The UFC is regarded as the professional league of mixed martial arts in North America. It should be noted that there are many other leagues out there such as Pride Fight and King Of Pancrase.
Season one helped the UFC discover their poster boys, Stephan Bonner and Forrest Griffin. At first glance, season two contestants look to be poised to produce more up and coming stars. They looked tough and skilled with a few exceptions (whom we will discuss later), but overall, the quality looks to be better than season one. This quality was not apparent in the first episode but delivered in the second episode.
Not unlike season one, the introductory episode is muddled with controversy. For the first time in the reality TV series, not one but two contestants quit on their own freewill. Eli Joslin complained that he could not stand the pressure of being sequestered and filmed. Looking at the way he fared in the physical conditioning testing, I feel he was simply psyched out by his own realization of his deficiences. Kenny Stevens is truly the weakest link of all the contestants so I applaud the coaches for calling him out. What a pansy! To quit the contest because he felt he could not make weight is the coward's way out. If I couldn't make weight, then I would want the weigh-in to decide my fate. I would not quit with only a few hours before the weigh-in, always to regret not giving my all.
Article comments
1 - Ric Gillespie
Hardcore fanatic or not, I felt you did an excellent job in summarizing this season's first couple of episodes. Keep up the good work.
2 - Infamous0499
I just wanted to say all the UFC fighters today are great, they keep getting better, they suprise me everytime, i love it, i love the action, & everything between, & great job chuck did against jeremy horn. Thanks! Heather:)
3 - TD
Also agree with the great job summarizing TUF season 2. I can only admire fighters like Cummo who break the stereotype, and who seem to possess the true warrior mentality of sound living, superior skills, 100% will and effort, control of senses and emotions, and a degree of humility, respect, and conservative, if not noble behavior... The path of eastern discipline and "right living", if understood, is one of the highest, yet most difficult paths to follow-a razor's edge and a true warrior's path in all facets of life...