The Ultimate Fighter 7 Mixes It Up

On the surface, the biggest change to this season of The Ultimate Fighter appears to be the addition of 16 more fighters, bringing the total to 32. However, the most significant change isn’t the number of fighters as much as it is how they will be showcased. The first two episodes will feature a whirlwind of action, as every single fighter will be forced to enter battle from the start. In past seasons, it would take a few episodes to get into the action. By that time this season, half the original cast will be gone.

The upside to this idea is that it means (hopefully) that the lesser deserving fighters will be weeded out early, leaving only those who want and deserve to be there. The 16 initial fights spread across two episodes also has the possibility of pulling in new fans who might have been previously disenchanted by the slower pace of the opening episodes.

Unfortunately, the negatives of opening the season in this manner outnumber the positives. First, it’s entirely possible that some of the better fighters could be ousted before they even see the house. Previously, the better fighters got some formal training from the legendary coaches before they were thrown into the octagon. Now, they’ll be forced to showcase their abilities from the start, ring rust and all.

Even worse, the UFC has promised us “highlights” of the first 16 fights. This might be sufficient for the casual fan that doesn’t understand the flow and pacing of a mixed martial arts fight. But for veteran fans, or even those who have been around since TUF 1, this highlight format will be wholly unsatisfying.

The idea behind the new format is to open with 16 exciting fights, one after another. It’s a nice concept, but if fans can’t enjoy the entire fights and top contenders get knocked out early, the change won’t have been worth it.

Once the season gets past this opening hurdle, it should resemble many of the other seasons, containing a vast continuum of fighter experiences. The usual 0-0 fighters will be there, but you’ll also get a fair share of IFL and World Fighting Championship guys. It’s far too early to pick favorites to win, but a few to at least keep an eye on include Brandon Sene (IFL experience, Gracie Black Belt) and Gerald Harris (IFL experience, 4-1 MMA record).

I’ll be back in touch throughout the season to update the progress of the fighters and, of course, our two coaches.