[IVC_worship]

TUF is alot better than alot of what else is on TV.

[mtnbyk]

At this point I would say it's a hinderance, just for the fact that the WW division has been put on hold waiting for the Hughes/Serra fight. There are a couple of fighters more deserving of the belt than Matt Serra, who doesn't have to fight untill after this season is over. Thats around 8 months of inactivity because of the show.

[SuperHoss]

Originally Posted by A D

When Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were the end-all-be-all of football it was all about the 80yd hail marry 90 points a game mentality. Now what do we hear when we watch football? "Defense wins championships" Once the sport establishes popularity, most sports interested guys (and some gals) research their sport, they will learn that KO is not the only way to defeat your opponent. In 10 years the water cooler talk won't be about the hardest hitter, but instead who has the superior ground game.

Short term problems, long term benefits.

Prima facie evidence phailure....

Defense wins championships was the mantra forever. The 49ers had one of the top 5 defenses every year they won the title with Montana. The West Coast offense was revolutionary because it was not about "throwing bombs", it was about controlling the ball and the clock through short passes to explosive wide receivers instead of running the ball.

I hope you are right that in ten years the average MMA fans will be more knowledgeable and interested in a good ground game in the same way that NFL crowds embrace great defense. However, most fans still find scoring touchdowns to be much more exciting than defensive stops and KO's will always rule the MMA highlight reels.

For me personally, the Royce Gracie triangle of Dan Severn is probably the most exciting MMA moment I can remember. However, I am in the minority. It doesn't make it good or bad, people like different things and the KO is more primal and easier for the less educated fans to grasp.

[yeahbear]

hey you can bash the tuf all you want but the reality is that it has been a great traing ground for new fighters look at tuf one it produced keflo, diego, kos, swick, bonner, forrest, quarry, leban and so forth and I dont believe that is much debate that these guys are legit, you can talk all you want about running more traditional boring fighters out but the bottom line is if you win you are gonna stay around, they may not promote you as much but you will still be there.

[darthdufus]

I think it has been a HUGE help, the Griffin bonnar fight caused the surge of mma popularity in the US

[STARSCREAM]

Started as a help, grew into a hinderance

[Fr3aksh0w 000]

TUF and Dana White has done a lot for MMA. I can actually watch MMA fights for free thanks to TUF and Ultimate fight night. I would have preferred not to have ever seen a Chris Leben and Andy Wang bawl fest but who would have ever known that the real Ken Shamrock was a selfish prick who didnt give a damn about his team, and that Tito Ortiz was an excellent coach and leader without TUF.

[jdawgz41]

The show is a good thing but they really need to spend more time picking out better fighters

[chokefan]

I've looked at this thread a couple of times but I was kinda indifferent.

Serra's injured, won't fight at 79. TUF blows...

[submagician]

help