There have been a lot of crazy people and wild characters on the set of The Ultimate Fighter.
Shocked?
Probably not. Considering it’s a reality-television show designed to locate and publicize the best young cage fighters in the world, that likely doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
More than that, the UFC and the show’s producers have actually encouraged antisocial and reckless behavior. After all, the bigger the hijinks and the louder the trash talk, the more camera time you get.
And, in the reality-television business, camera time is the name of the game.
Of course, the craziest of them all is a little too raw to care about those kinds of games. Nate Diaz‘s anger, aggression and “only in California” cool were all too real. Perhaps that’s why fans seemed to love him so much?
Diaz, who takes on fellow TUF veteran Gray Maynard in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 18 finale this Saturday on Fox Sports 1, had his ultimate reality television moment opposite Karo Parisyan in the show’s fifth season.
Diaz tried to keep his head. But there is only so much tough talk and play slapping a man can take. Especially when that man’s last name is Diaz.
“Do you know who I am?” Parisyan asked as the situation escalated, his self-regard both perplexing and comical.
Diaz, in fact, knew exactly who Parisyan was. Karo had fought his brother Nick three years earlier. Diaz just didn’t care, putting his mean mug on and pacing back and forth.
“I’m going to pop him if he gets near me,” Diaz said to no one in particular. “How about that? I’m not trying to have no conversation with that dude. I don’t even like him, bro.”
Cooler heads prevailed. It was the one time in human history that cooler heads prevailing was the worst thing possible. Instead of a giant brawl, Parisyan eventually just got bored and left.
Luckily, since it was his show, Diaz got the last word.
“Learn how to act,” Diaz said. “You don’t come up grabbing people. Everybody knows that…F@ck that guy.”
It was the greatest moment in the show’s history, courtesy of its most colorful character. But Diaz is not alone. Here are 10 other standouts who helped make The Ultimate Fighter both beloved and reviled.
Have some to add to the list? Let me know in the comments.