As the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter limps to its conclusion, one begins to wonder whether the show is in any way salvageable—even with Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen lined up as coaches for next season.
Staler than old bread, the TUF format is long overdue a makeover.
What exactly that would entail is anyone’s guess. However, something has to be done to win back those fans who have grown tired of tuning in to a show that has become formulaic and repetitive, particularly as the talent has steadily waned.
With that being said, fear not. We can always go back to those earlier, classic seasons of TUF to remind ourselves of just how entertaining the show was in its prime.
Over the years, the UFC has offered up many of its top fighters as coaches for the show. While some have excelled, others have demonstrated that some people just aren’t meant to coach.
What follows is a celebration—nay, lamentation of those fighters who coached themselves into a punchline.