As you probably know, Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and outspoken Chael Sonnen will host the Ultimate Fighter’s 17th season.
Given Jones’ reputation as a despised champion, and Sonnen’s unlikely rise—popularity due to his brash trash talk and spirited performances against middle weight champion Anderson Silva —the 17th spell of FX’s reality show should draw some respectable numbers, especially with a planned shift that will take TUF away from the doomed Friday night slot it currently employs.
But featuring Jones and Sonnen as opposing coaches will only go so far: specifically, a single season. Expect a big ratings boost from the 17th iteration of TUF, but what about when the dust has settled and the 17th season has reached closure?
What can we expect when the dust settles: more dwindling ratings and lack of interest?
Unfortunately, that’s probably the case. However, there are ways to save this show, and it all rests in the palm of Dana White and who he opts to enroll as future coaches.
I’m not the man with the master plan, but I’ve got a list of potential pairings that could see the show sustain the attention that Jones vs. Sonnen will muster.