Tag: Rankings/List

Let’s face it, whether you are sick of it or not, The Ultimate Fighter is a big part of UFC history and a way that the company has spread its product to new fans.

That’s true even after over 20 seasons on the air.

The show has produced UFC champions, legendary fighters and memorable fights that give it a place dear in all of our hearts. It’s had its ups and downs, but has nonetheless been beneficial to both the company and fighters.

So which seasons had the best fighters?

That is what we must examine right now. Excluding international versions such as TUF Brazil, Latin America, China, Smashes and Nations, we need to take a look at the American portions of the show and see which seasons contributed the most talent.

Without further ado, here are the six best TUF casts in the show’s history.

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If you don’t give it up for The Fireball Kid, everyone will know you’re not a real MMA fan.

I’m exaggerating a little bit, for comedic effect. But no embellishment needed on this statement: Takanori Gomi is one of the best MMA lightweights of all time.

Back when so many modern fans were in the short pants, Gomi was becoming the first (and, it turned out, only) lightweight champion in a little organization known as Pride. He also held that title in Shooto. And he did it because of his hard-hitting, hard-chinned style, which netted him 13 wins by way of knockout in a 35-10 (1) record.

Now, though, the 36-year-old Gomi is fading. He entered the UFC at the age of 31 and has amassed a 4-5 record since that time. This Saturday, he’s a substantial underdog against Joe Lauzon at UFC on Fox 16.

Gomi has to feel good about the fact that none of this really matters from a legacy standpoint. And why’s that? In part because of these five moments we’re about to go through. Some are good, some are bad, all helped to shape a Hall of Fame-level run.

Are there more than five moments to be found? Sure. But finding the Mount Rushmore of his moments, if you will, makes this all the more exciting. They are ranked based on the impact they had on Gomi‘s overall career.

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The UFC is not exactly a hotbed of walkout artistry. For the most part, UFC brass prefer (and have openly admitted to preferring) a more “businesslike” approach to the cage.

But I ask you: What’s better for business than entertainment? Why are people tuning in to consume your product? Why must we oppress freedom of expression? I thought we lived in the United States of America, after all. It seems I was mistaken. Pardon me very much.

Because of this unconscionable blindness, we have to look to the old days of Pride, Dream and, to a lesser extent, the modern days of Bellator—which is embracing a more theatrical approach to stagecraft—for the true pioneers and innovators in this critical area. This would include Genki Sudo, the unquestioned GOAT in this field.

With all that said, though, a few fighters still find a way to let their fun flag fly on the way to the Octagon. It never fails to draw laughs, a few chills and plenty of attention.

Tom Lawlor fights Gian Villante this Saturday at UFC on Fox 16 and in the undercard main event, no less. Will he have a few tricks up his sleeve? One can only hope.

In any case, Lawlor is not the only one with some flair. Here are the five active UFC fighters who do it best.

The actual song is important, but it’s not the only metric. There has to be showmanship, or showwomanship. There has to be a mood set. It has to get the crowd lit. Get it? Got it? Great. Here goes.

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Saturday will feature one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history.

And depending on who you are, it may serve as one of the more intriguing rivalries of the past few years.

But besides the polarizing reboot of TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao, this weekend should deliver beyond the bantamweight title fight.

With No. 1 contender rights on the line in the women’s bantamweight division and rising lightweights in search of a defining victory, the always-enticing free card will be a good watch from start to finish.

But in case you need more convincing, here are five reasons to tune in to UFC on Fox 16’s main card and jam-packed prelims.

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For the third time in five days the UFC is breaking out its Octagon. This Wednesday, July 15, the promotion will host UFC Fight Night 71 in San Diego.

The event features a dozen fights, including a six-fight main card topped off by a clash of heavyweights with opposing approaches to mixed martial arts.

Submission specialist Frank Mir will take on the hard-hitting Todd Duffee in the headliner, while lightweights Tony Ferguson and Josh Thomson will square off for the co-main event.

The full UFC Fight Night 71 main card is as follows:

• Frank Mir vs. Todd Duffee
• Josh Thomson vs. Tony Ferguson
• Holly Holm vs. Marion Reneau
• Scott Jorgensen vs. Manny Gamburyan
• Kevin Lee vs. James Moontasri
• Alan Jouban vs. Matt Dwyer

There is some solid talent on this agenda, as well as some competitive matchups. The Bleacher Report staff picks team is here to provide some insight each one.

Scott “Hot Potato” Harris, Riley “Ketchup” Kontek, James “Mustard Seed” MacDonald, Sean “Sugar-Free” Smith and Craig “Apple Cider” Amos will now share our forecasts with you for the six contests listed above. 

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