Comments on: Mike Dolce’s “Ultimate Fighter 7″ blog: Week 9

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:33:15 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with you. I have felt the same way since the first year. I want to see professionals, not a bunch of drunken morons. The guys at the top of the sport (the GSP, Hughes, Couture, etc.) are classy. The UFC series just reinforces some people’s negative opinion of the sport, and shows what the owners are willing to do to sell their sport. “Disgusting!”.

By: KJ

KJ — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:00:41 +0000

Agreed, Mike. That’s why I DVR the show and FF through everything except the fights. In large part because of the things you mention, other than the fights, the show itself is a waste of time.

By: james lindsay

james lindsay — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:36:03 +0000

I think the u.f.c is ultamately the best sport availble so I think they should all try VERVE you to tuff girl
hope to help you drink healthly

By: TUF Girl

TUF Girl — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:30:07 +0000

Mike – thanks for your insight on the show. I got hooked on The Ultimate Fighter because of the heart the guys have shown over the past seasons. But I never understood the need to destroy a nice house out of boredom – it’s actually annoying to watch. My friend has tried to explain to me that it’s “a guy thing”, but those aren’t the kind of guys I admire. Somewhere along the way, the focus of the show became to recreate the Leben vs. Koscheck vs. Southworth (is that his name??) fight from Season 1. I like watching the guys train and prepare – your drive and motivation to be the best is something I envy. So to see them acting like any guy at a sport’s bar just doesn’t cut it for me.

By: Dr. Dwight Reid

Dr. Dwight Reid — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:16:44 +0000

Mike,

It is a pleasure to work an athlete such as yourself , you are an inspiration to many young fighters. Thank you for showing the proper way to conduct oneself, especially in a society relatively void of people trying to live life the right way. We’ll see you back in Portland, it was fun watching you this season. Chin down, hands up, right?

Dr. Dwight Reid DC
Bridgetownchiropractic.com

By: Larry Vollmer

Larry Vollmer — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:07:47 +0000

Thanks for commenting, readers. I think the TUF format is becoming a little stale. By now, we know the house is going to get trashed and there is going to be boozing, confrontation, etc.

I’d like to see more of the fighters personality. I know Dana is rewarding the winning fighters with at least a 5K purse, but I’d like to see it switched up a bit.

I really enjoyed the show “The Contender” – the first season anyway. If a fighter won, then his team was treated to a night out in Vegas at certain venues. We got to see a lot of their personality, and it was nice to see some of these guys who had little to nothing get a taste of the good life.

I think these types of rewards brings the team format to a new level; we all know that the guys will be fighting each other eventually so the whole team thing doesn’t feel like it means much anymore. Something like this may add a new dynamic.

Just my two cents.

By: UFC Fan

UFC Fan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:01:19 +0000

I agree with what your saying about what an ultimate fighter should be, BUT, the main focus of the show is to get people to watch. Honestly they attract a larger audience by putting idiots on the show doing idiotic things. Sad to say but it does make great television.

By: chassan

chassan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:59:34 +0000

I think you make a lot of good points in this post and you show courage in speaking your mind. It’s also a shame that guys would waste their time there and show up to practice and fights drunk. That’s kind of a spit in the face to other guys, especially guys who would give up everything to be there.
Now I’m not justifying the drunken melee that took place but I kind of understand it. I work on ships and have been confined to areas for weeks/months at a time surrounded by people with no privacy, little activity and plenty of booze. I have come to this equation:
Guys + Booze + no activity + no girls = some sort of destrucition.
I have to ask this what is wrong with May. Obviously I don’t know him, but from reading your posts and other cast member posts they all have seemed to have given him plenty of chances while end up still getting frustrated with him. And from what they showed on him he has no class in winning (talking trash on the first episode to Rampage after he beat his best friend) in losing (making excuses and saying “9 times out of 10 he would have beaten him) And he’s obviously a shitty roommate and a shitty teammate (when he made his comment to riddle after his loss)

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:48:39 +0000

Great points. I was wondering though how you weren’t able to get a bible in when I remember matt hughes bringing a bunch of them in. I think Mac Danzig also had one on last seasons so that seems weird that they wouldn’t let you bring one.

The food thing is pretty stupid as well. I know that nutrition (for most athletes) is an integral part to being in peak shape.

As many others have stated I do appreciate your outlook on the booze and other parts of the house. I don’t agree with it and yes sometimes it can be entertaining which is what Zuffa is partly going for. It’s the same reason the real world is still on. once they figured out that 8 normal people in a house with jobs wasn’t interesting, they threw 8 beautiful into a house with more booze than the jack daniels brewery. I would like to see more about the fighters and them outside or even more training stuff. get a better sense of what your daily trainings are like. But again I know that for time constraints and episode constraints it can’t always happen.

The unfortunate part of this is that I think a lot of these new athletes are just like many other athletes that are skilled but just aren’t mentally prepared as you mentioned. Like Kids going to the NBA and throwing their money away or young NFL players that get into trouble, some of the guys on this show just aren’t quite there yet. We all know that you are and I’m glad to hear that you weren’t partaking in it. I could specifically see your disdain in one shot while you walked past the wrekage. BUT then again you’re now helping out with prepping the Light Heavyweight champion for his next fight. Hard work still pays off and its great to see it for you. Good luck.

By: TUFFan

TUFFan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:17:28 +0000

I agree w/ ya Mike, but in the end it’s about ratings. Alcohol boosts ratings because yes lots of people actually prefer to watch guys get drunk & stupid. Myself, I wish they’d show more of the training sessions, & I like the people like Diego Sanchez, that are insanely dedicated & vigilant about maintaining their body. If you were a race car driver, would you put some nasty shit in your car’s tank? I also think the show’s goals are at odds with each other – increase ratings for the show itself (w/ stupid drunken antics), & increase awareness of and respect for the sport of MMA (self disciplined hard working athletes). But that’s for Spike & Zuffa to debate about, I suppose.

Hope to see you in the finals, Mike. You definitely represent what the sport is all about, & by all accounts are an amazing hard working athlete. In the end the sport itself will sort out the committed fighters from the idiots.

Also I certainly hope they don’t give Jeremy a fight on a national stage just because people want to see him get his ass kicked again. He doesn’t deserve it. He needs to be practicing his “Jeremy Jitsu” on kids who also get winded after 2 minutes – in small venues where are no better fights are available.