The Ultimate Fighter - Team Rampage vs Team Rashad

[MetalBlade]

Right, so this is into it's third week, and we in the UK are about half a week behind the US. Unless of course you subscribe to ESPN (which I don't), then we get it the next day.
But the show is on FIVE US each Saturday night here. Why can't UFC strike a long term deal for a permanent home on UK TV after Setanta's demise? What is Sky Sports's problem with UFC? How much more popular does it need to become before they see the potential for raking in the pounds?

It's good that it's on FIVE US, as it means more people get to see it, but we don't get the supershows anymore. There are UFC103 highlights on tomorrow night on FIVE, but that's it. Unless, again, you subscribe to ESPFN.

Which I don't.

Anyway, back to the show. The teams have been picked, and the animosity between Rashad and Rampage is bubbling nicely under the surface. Rampage is as ever the easy-going, fun-loving, jive-talking rogue we all love. And Rashad is the straight-laced, arrogant, consummate professional we all love to hate.

You can't ignore that Rashad has picked his team with intelligence and has seen potential in each one of his fighters, which has been evident in the first two fights.
Rampage however, has gone with his heart and picked the fighters he likes, rather than the fighters he thinks will win. This will ultimately prove quite embarrassing and frustrating for Rampage, but hopefully not tonight, when his "boy" Kimbo Slice steps into the octagon for the first time in anger.

Let's face it, Kimbo is THE main reason to watch this season, whether like me, you wanna see him prove Dana wrong and annihilate all comers, or like the majority, you wanna see Dana validated in all he's said about this "garbage fighter", and see the YouTube Superstar Kimbo get his comeuppance at the hands of a legitimate fighter.

Well, it appears that Kimbo is possibly the quietest, most mild-mannered member of the show at the moment. He seems keen to learn, and has been dubbed a "sponge" on more than one occasion by his training team, due to his enthusiasm in learning new fighting techniques.

But the question is, can a rough-and-tumble streetfighter really become an unbeatable fighting machine almost overnight? One thing this show has historically shown us, is that if a fighter gives into the fact that this is a sporting competition rather than a talent show, he will leave the show having had some of the best fighting training anywhere in the world, which win or lose, has served many former competitors well.

So depending on the level of professionalism shown by Kimbo, and his performance in the octagon tonight, whether he wins or loses, we may yet see Kimbo at the MGM Grand.

[Steala]

I considered myself a Rampage Jackson fan before this season began, but now, I'm not so sure. He's a sore loser, and while that's not enough for me to dislike the guy, his act is growing a bit tired on the show. I think Rashad has taken up permanent residency inside of Rampage's head. Rampage just isn't a good coach. The dude needs to stick to fighting...you know, in between practicing his B.A. Baracus lines in the mirror.

I would say the opposite of Kimbo Slice, though. I was never a fan of his street fight videos and pretty much agreed with Dana White's line of thinking on him, but he kind of won me over in defeat. One thing he did in the latest episode put me off but he actually seems like a pretty humble dude and I hope he makes it to the big show someday - and I think he will a few months down the line. Dana may not think he has much of a future in the UFC, but he's not dumb. He knows when he has a cash cow, as evidenced by Brock Lesnar getting a title shot so early. Imagine, in 12-14 months time, a PPV headlined by Lesnar vs. Slice. I'm sure the thought of it has Dana making jam in his pants.

[MetalBlade]

Well, I'm of The opinion that Dana likes a lot of what he sees in Kimbo. Especially, as you say, the humility that he has shown in defeat, and the relaxed attitude he has shown in the house. Far from being the overbearing personality of The show, Slice
Has instead taken to training and learning like an eager student who realises the benefits this show offers.
I think Dana has pictured in his mind what a huge event Kimbo vs Brock would be, and is using this show to train Kimbo to the highest standards, whilst at the same time exposing his new baby to the mainstream in order to reap maximum benefits from the inevitable showdown.
Admittedly, he was quite hopelessly outclassed by his more fight-savvy opponent in his debut octagon outing, falling for the exact same arm trapping manoeuvre twice in as many rounds. But it's not all bad, and Kimbo I'm sure knows that Dana has other plans for him, win or lose.
As Rampage said, how do you get the moon off you?
I'm actually finding Rampage extremely amusing, even though his method of coaching leaves a lot to be desired.

[Steala]

Well, it was primarily the latest episode where Rampage got my goat. I don't know if you have seen it yet but let's just say if you played a drinking game while watching it and drunk every time Rampage said a particular word, you'd be shitfaced before the second commercial break...but he thinks it's hilarious every time he says it.

I'm not even sure why the moon, "Big Country" Nelson, was even allowed on the show. Normally a person with that much experience is not considered for the Ultimate Fighter - it's usually for fighters with a limited amount of fights under their belt (with the exception of the comeback season, obviously). It just seems bizarre.