UFC Gets Heavy, Real Heavy (VIDEO)

Written by Ryan AnthonycloseAuthor: Ryan Anthony Name: Ryan Anthony
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About: 25 year old Tennessee resident and small government conservative. I first discovered my love of writing while working for a high school newspaper; that was eight years ago. Now I'm studying for an Associate's Degree in journalism. My favorite topics to cover for Parcbench include contact sports and television.See Authors Posts (34) on August 25, 2009

I can only wonder if Spike’s marathon level of UFC‑related programming (which includes Fight for the Troops, Champion vs. Champion re‑runs, Ultimate Iceman) is to prepare their viewers for UFC: Heavyweights, the new season of UFC President Dana White’s reality show.

Coming this September to the male‑themed cable network formerly known as TNN; UFC: Heavyweights’ main attractions include Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans and recipient of fourteen‑second EliteXC schooling Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.

This season mixes things up to freshen the show. For example, those with previous experience ‑ and I’m not talking only three fights here, but established careers ‑ in mixed martial arts will be more than welcome.  The practice of elimination rounds to kickstart the season, brought on by one too many slackers with flippant attitudes toward their dream, has been temporarily 86′ed.

This means, of course, that sixteen fighters came to Las Vegas and sixteen brought their bags in the house.

Sensible, if I may say so.

With proverbial notches in the belt, all questions about whether an aspiring fighter is not only ready but willing to throw away his couch potato lifestyle of PS3 and chips to reach for glory are moot.

Perhaps UFC President Dana White could have avoided a few headaches by making this change several seasons ago. No one likes seeing a fighter whose heart isn’t in it, and no one likes seeing a man cry either. As I put away my involuncalltary flashback to Gabe “Godzilla ” Ruediger, Season Five contestant; victorious fighter in recent Ontario beat‑em‑up Call to Arms; student of marketing acumen practiced by The Bachelorette’s Wes, I have to reflect on whether the same lack of emphasis will be placed on a fighter’s making weight for future UFC engagements.

After all, they’re already at the top, but that may change with the introduction of a super heavyweight division.  Were this to take place, half the dozen‑episode season’s fighters (such as Scott “Punk Haole” Junk) would be eligible according to guidelines already existing in other promotions such as King of the Cage.

Speaking of other martial arts promotions, if I hadn’t known International Fight League (IFL) players were among those trying out for the new season, I’d also ask if there were any entertainment wrestlers lined up to appear and try for a chance at the big time.  It doesn’t sound so far fetched, wrestling and MMA are close cousins.  That is, if you don’t count the costumes, fake body slams and cheesy face/heel storylines.

MMA fighters with previous experience in the square circle, such as Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar, should know. Five of these new contestants are previously experienced with the UFC, an unseen amount since the fourth season.

Whether their time has been a positive or negative contribution to mixed martial arts is a question of debate: for example, consider Wes Sims, 22‑12‑1 freestyler from Ohio. At UFC 43: Meltdown, Wes disqualified himself by stomping a downed Frank Mir; he would four years later go on to court controversy at TKO 34, doing the verboten deed of kicking a referee in the chest. That having been done, I’m surprised he can find work in any promotion with rules and regulations.

But ‑ on the other hand ‑ the Ultimate Fighting crew does seem to be giving The Project, aspiring UFC bad boy, a chance. If Junie Browning couldn’t get kicked off Season 8, no matter how hard he tried, that does not surprise me.

As a slight aside, before learning that Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, I was absentmindedly asking myself if there was any chance of his appearing on the scene ‑ alongside the four other football players of Season 10’s cast ‑ as a stand‑in. Let me make clear, I completely support Vick’s bid for NFL redemption, and believe there’s no morality in making the Eagles pay for what he already has: to ignore the virtue of forgiveness does a disservice to mankind as a whole. Still, I can’t pass up an opportunity for a wisecrack. I have to imagine that the half nelson bulldog should be second nature to him about now.

After watching Rampage beat the living snot out of his fellow heavyweight and friend Keith Jardine at UFC 96, with everything from left hook to double hammer fist at the fight’s end, it remains to be seen if the former PRIDE fighter was delivered his comeuppance or made good on his televised threat to knock Evans clean out.

I’ll be waiting for next month’s premiere; should time permit I may respond with episode‑by‑episode write ups.

I’m sure you’ll be waiting too, if Ultimate Fighting is your thing. Until then . . .