Latest news with #ContenderSeries'
USA Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA Brad Tavares explains why there's still a place for TUF despite Contender Series' massive success. "The Ultimate Fighter" likely saved the UFC from bankruptcy and maybe even the entire sport of mixed martial arts. The success of the UFC's reality series, which launched in 2004 under Spike TV, has been evident through the years. From creating a generation of MMA fans to multiple UFC champions, TUF has been an important part of UFC history, especially in its early days when it was still fighting for public approval. Fast-forward 20 years and 32 seasons later, and "TUF" doesn't the same cache it did back in the day. With the success of Dana White's Contender Series in recent years, which has appeared to overshadow "TUF," many have questioned if the show has run its course. Brad Tavares, a cast-member of Season 11 of "TUF," thinks there's a place for both series and believes "TUF" can still serve an important purpose. "I think there's a lane for both of them," Tavares told MMA Junkie. "What I see in the Contender Series, granted they do make it younger up-and-coming fighters, but I do notice about those guys fighting that they have some experience. They might not have a bunch of fights, but they have that experience, and they might've had a couple of big fights in LFA or Tuff N Uff or whatever feeder shows they have. When I think of 'TUF,' I think of myself. I had four fights. I was 22 years old. I was a baby. I spent my life, a big portion of my life, in the UFC. My fighting career, I grew up in the UFC. I feel like that's better for those younger guys, like it's kind of stages. I'd say for the younger green guys, where you can see the talent there, but they still have to evolve and form into a more complete fighter, I think 'TUF' is great for them. With the guys that are already kind of past that, I think Contender Series." "The Ultimate Fighter 33" premiered Tuesday, celebrating 20 years of the show's history. Tavares, who is now on the tail end of his UFC career, is thankful for the show's existence. He strongly believes his appearance has significantly influenced his career for the better. "I've been in the UFC for 15 years now, and I literally wouldn't be here without 'TUF,'" Tavares said. "That was my foot in the door. I feel like I would've eventually gotten to the UFC. It was always a goal I was chasing. But to get in at such an early age, and to have that platform to show the nation who I was, just this kid from a little island in the Pacific Ocean, not a lot of people knew who I was. ... It paved the way for me and for so many fighters."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ankalaev Vs ... Ulberg?
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) wanted newly-crowned light heavyweight champion, Magomed Ankalaev, to defend his 205-pound title at the upcoming UFC 317 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which takes place during International Fight Week next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. The logical choices for 'Big Ank' were former champions Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira; however, both combatants were forced to decline for different reasons. 'BJP' pulled the Thornton Melon card and went back to school, while 'Poatan' is off battling evil hackers with his X password. Advertisement 'Guys, is there anyone in the Light Heavyweight division who's willing to fight me?' Ankalaev wrote on social media. 'Alex Pereira don't want the Ank anymore. Let's leave him alone because I'm not a bully. Fake ninja he said he have to go back to school because he cannot read. Dana White, Mick Maynard, give me some fish.' Former UFC lightweight, Josh Thomson, has been playing matchmaker on YouTube. 'What you have is Jamahal Hill coming off a loss, Jan Blachowicz coming off a loss, Aleksandar Rakic coming off a loss, Khalil Rountree Jr. coming off a loss,' Thomson said. 'Dominick Reyes is number eight, he's got a win. You've got Carlos Ulberg, that's it, at number three. You have Jiri but Jiri can't fight. I mean, throw, I would say Ulberg, put him in there, see if Ankalaev will stand with him as well. Let's see, like, there's nothing else you can do. I mean, we're looking for that guy to bring an exciting fight to Ankalaev because right now, good luck trying to sell that.' Ankalaev has a reputation for turning in 'boring' fights that force fans to 'zone out.' Advertisement Ulberg jumped to No. 3 in the official UFC rankings after outworking Jan Blachowicz as part of the UFC London fight card back in March. The once-beaten Kiwi, who turns 35 in just a few months, blasted his way into the promotion by way of Dana White's 'Contender Series' back in late 2020. Since then, 'Black Jag' is 8-1 with five finishes, four by way of knockout/technical knockout. The resurgent Reyes, 35, got back into title contention by winning his last three fights. That said, knockout losses to former champions, Prochazka and Blachowicz, could hurt his chances if the decision comes down to Reyes and Ulberg. Hopefully the promotion can figure that out sooner, rather than later. More from
