On Saturday, April 13, the UFC has an incredible night of important fights at the Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. The action will be intense and the stakes are very high.
Bantamweights Urijah Faber and Scott Jorgensen will do battle in an attempt to earn one more crack at UFC gold. Women’s bantamweights Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano are set to compete in a fight that serves not only as a title eliminator but also earns a coaching gig on TUF 18 for the winner. And if that’s not enough, we are crowning a new Ultimate Fighter winner.
With so much at stake, there is a lot to gain for many fighters all across the board. However, there is even more that can be lost.
Who has the most to lose on Saturday night?
Some would argue that the non-finalist members of The Ultimate Fighter have the most to lose. After all, in an era where the UFC hands out pink slips on a regular basis, it’s safe to say that any cast member who comes up short will be standing in the unemployment line on Monday.
While fighting for a job is a major feat, other pugilists can lose even more.
Headliners Faber and Jorgensen are hoping to earn title shots with a big win; however, both men have losses to reigning champions Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao, so a win on Saturday is far from a guarantee. For that reason, there isn’t enough on the line for either man.
If this was any other season of TUF, I would argue that Miesha Tate has the most to lose. After all, a win gives her a shot at redemption against a bitter rival who took her Strikeforce title, a UFC title shot and a coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter, which would greatly elevate her status in the world of WMMA.
However, Miesha Tate is the runner-up in our look at those with a lot to lose. That is only because of the incredible hype surrounding one man on the card: Uriah Hall.
And no, I’m not just talking about the fact that Hall would miss out on the chance of becoming an Ultimate Fighter winner. While that is a major accomplishment, too many TUF losers have had outstanding UFC careers for me to think of that as being a tremendous gaffe.
Aside from the guaranteed championship fight for the winner of Season 4, Hall is the only cast member to be discussed as a title contender before even winning the tournament.
With a win on Saturday, the Jamaican finds himself on the fast track to greatness. With a loss, all of his hype goes up in smoke, possibly forever. For that reason, the terrifying monster who haunted the TUF 17 house is the man with the most to lose.
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