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Opinion & Analysis
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Staff Editorials
GOODMAN COLUMN: Ranking The Ultimate Fighter Winners
Jed I. Goodman, MMATorch Columnist
Mar 17, 2008, 03:13
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The Ultimate Fighter: Season 7 is only two weeks away. During Season 6, I wrote about the quality of fighters...or lack there of. The only true fighter with experience, Mac Danzig, won the competition. This season, in order to "liven up" the show, they are bringing in 32 middleweights to fight for the 16 spots available. There are already whispers being heard about the talent. During recent interviews, the coaches were asked about the potential for the fighters after the show. They conceded that, although some are promising, none of them could conceivably beat Anderson Silva. In fairness to the fighters, if you look at the current middleweight scene in the UFC, none of those fighters could beat Silva either.
I am very excited about the upcoming season, but will reserve comments until the show begins. For now, let's look back at the former TUF winners, to see where they stand in the current MMA scene, as we countdown the most successful TUF winner. (My rating system is based on wins and loses, quality of opponents and overall relevancy in the sport).
10. Travis Lutter
Season Winner/Weight Class: 4/Middleweight
Current Weight Class: Middleweight
Overall Record: 9-4, 1(T)KO, 7 Submissions
Record After TUF: 1-1
Most Recent Fight: 2/3/07 Lost to Anderson Silva (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: 4/19/08 vs. Rich Franklin
Analysis: By winning TUF Season 4, Lutter was given the honor to fight for the middleweight title. However, he failed to make weight and his fight was sadly turned into a non-title contest. Looking out of shape and booed by the crowd as he walked to ringside, Lutter fought well for himself early on, but eventually lost by triangle choke. Lutter lost a great opportunity that will always have him thinking “what if” he was in fighting shape. Now one year later, Lutter is back, fighting another Silva victim, Rich Franklin. Both are very hungry and the winner will be in the top of the heap of the underdeveloped middleweight division.
9. Kendall Grove
Season Winner/Weight Class: 3/Middleweight
Current Weight Class: Middleweight
Overall Record 8-5, 1(T)KO, 6 Submissions
Record After TUF: 3-2
Most Recent Fight: 1/19/08 Lost to Jorge Rivera (TKO)
Upcoming Fight: TBD
Analysis: Since winning Season 3 Grove's career has been up and down. After 3 consecutive victories following the show, Grove has now had back to back knock out losses. He currently does not have a fight scheduled, but I would suggest a less threatening fight to build his confidence up and get him back into the hunt.
8. Diego Sanchez
Season Winner/Weight Class: 1/Middleweight
Current Weight Class: Welterweight
Overall Record: 18-2, 5 (T)KOs, 9 Submissions
Record After TUF: 5-2
Most Recent Fight: 3/01/2008 best David Bielkheden (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: TBD
Analysis: Sanchez came out of Season 1 as very promising prospect, beating Kenny Florian by TKO in the first round on their TUF: Season Finale fight. He went on a 5 fight winning streak before losing a decision to Josh Koscheck, a rematch from their TUF: Season 1 fight. After losing his next fight to Jon Fitch, Sanchez took some time off, believing he lost because he wasn't strong enough. He returned this month, beating Bielkheden by submission due to strikes. Although, he looked more muscular and dominant in the fight, I would still like to see him move down to the lightweight division where he could be a strong force.
7. Joe Stevenson
Season Winner/Weight Class: 2/Welterweight
Current Weight Class: Lightweight
Overall Record 28-8, 6(T)KOs, 12 Submissions
Record After TUF: 5-2
Most Recent Fight: 1/19/08 lost to B.J. Penn (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: TBD
Analysis: At only 25 years old, Stevenson is a seasoned veteran with 36 fights under his belt. Although he won the TUF: Season 2 as a welterweight, Stevenson eventually moved down to lightweight. After 4 straight wins Stevenson received his first title shot against BJ Penn in January. Often criticized for his training dedication, Stevenson came into the fight looking great, but still lost by rear naked choke. Joe “Daddy” does not have his next fight lined up, but if Sherk beats Penn in May, perhaps a title fight between the two will happen next year.
6. Michael Bisping
Season Winner/Weight Class: 3/Light Heavyweight
Current Weight Class: Middleweight
Overall Record: 14-1, 9(T)KOs, 4 Submissions
Record After TUF: 4-1
Most Recent Fight: 11/17/07 Lost to Rashad Evans (Split Decision)
Upcoming Fight: 4/19/08 vs/ Charles McCarthy
Analysis: Bisping looked solid during TUF: Season 3 and had 2 big victories after the show, but ran into a few problems when he fought Elvis Sinosic, before a come from behind TKO in the second round. Next, he fought fellow TUF: Season 3 fighter, Matt Hamill, to a split decision victory, a win many felt was unjustly deserved. In his most recent fight, Bisping suffered his first official defeat, a split decision loss to Rashad Evan. Bisping will next step down to middleweight division, for the first time, to fight McCarthy (a great decision, in my opinion). If he can pick up a few solid victories, a shot with Anderson Silva seems likely next year.
5. Mac Danzig
Season Winner/Weight Class: 6/Welterweight
Current Weight Class: Lightweight
Overall Record: 17-4-1, 4(T)KOs, 9 Submissions
Record After TUF: 1-0
Most Recent Fight: 12/08/08 beat Tom Speer (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: 4/19/08 vs. Mark Bocek
Analysis: The only 'true” fighter of TUF: Season 6. Mac Danzig has huge potential in the UFC. I had the opportunity to interview him before his TUF: Season Finale fight against Tommy Speer and can say he is very grounded, with a good head on his shoulders. He fights next on the big Canadian card in April. With a few high profile wins Mac will be a lightweight contender for sure.
4. Nate Diaz
Season Winner/Weight Class: 5/Lightweight
Weight Class: Lightweight
Overall Record: 8-2, 2(T)KOs, 6 Submissions
Record After TUF: 3-0
Most Recent Fight: 1/23/08 beat Alvin Robinson (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: 4/02/08 vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Analysis: The younger brother of Nick Diaz, Nate, is an accomplished BJJ fighter. His looks are deceiving and his ability to take punishment and still come back are second to none. He is next scheduled to fight on the awesome Fight Night 13 card. They are grooming Nate for a title shot next year.
3. Rashad Evans
Season Winner/Weight Class: 2/Heavyweight
Current Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Overall Record: 11-0-1, 3(T)KOs, 2 Submissions
Record After TUF: 6-0-1
Most Recent Fight: 11/17/07 best Michael Bisping (Split Decision)
Upcoming Fight: 6/07/08 vs. Chuck Liddell
Analysis: Evans a former two-time All-State wrestler already had 5 MMA wins when he joined TUF: Season 2. After winning the show, he dropped down to light heavyweight and continued piling up the victories. Although he was winning, Evans was criticized for his supposed lack of killer instinct since his fights would always go to a decision. That changed when he got his highlight reel knockout against Jason Lambert. Evans was close to tasting his first defeat, a high profile fight against Tito Ortiz, but got lucky when the fight was ruled a draw because Ortiz was deducted a point for holding the fence. His last victory, against then undefeated Bisping, was his first PPV headline. He is next scheduled to fight Chuck Liddlell in June. With a win, he will be probably paired up with the winner of the Forrest Griffin/Rampage Jackson fight. Evans said he would prefer his fellow trainer partner, Keith Jardine, receive the title shot first (provided Jardine beats Wanderlei Silva in May).
2. Matt Serra
Season Winner/Weight Class: 4/Welterweight
Current Weight Class: Welterweight
Overall Record: 9-4, 1 TKO, 4 Submissions
Record After TUF: 2-0
Most Recent Fight: 4/07/07 beat George St. Pierre (TKO)
Upcoming Fight: 4/19/08 rematch with George St. Pierre
Analysis: Matt Serra was a veteran UFC fighter with a decent record before he joined TUF: Season 4, which featured the unique of concept of having veteran fighters get a chance to come back, win and fight for the title. Serra shocked the world with his first round knock out of George St. Pierre, a fighter many said was the best pound for pound. Serra was scheduled to fight his fellow TUF: Season 6 coach, Matt Hughes, in December, but was forced to withdraw due to a back injury. Now healed, he will be fighting St. Pierre again, this time in St. Pierre's native home of Canada. Although Serra is the champ, he is considered a huge underdog. In a future column I will talk about why I think Matt Serra can make history happen again. For now, Serra has already made history by becoming the first TUF winner to win a title. Win or lose against St. Pierre, he will probably fight Matt Hughes next in a battle the MMA world has been waiting almost a year for.
1. Forrest Griffin
Season Winner/Weight Class: 1/Light Heavyweight
Current Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Overall Record: 15-4, 3(T)KOs, 7 Submissions
Record After TUF: 6-2
Most Recent Fight: 9/22/07 beat Mauricio Rua (Submission)
Upcoming Fight: 7/5/08 vs. Quinton Jackson for the Light Heavyweight Title
Analysis: Forrest Griffin is my pick for the number 1 TUF winner. Since winning TUF: Season 1, Forrest has become one of the most popular fighters in the UFC. His fight with Stephan Bonnar, at TUF: Season Finale 1, was a legend making performance that Dana White said was largely responsible for the MMA boom. After suffering a setback loss to Keith Jardine, Forrest had a strong 2007 with a victory over Hector Ramirez and a huge upset victory over PRIDE favorite, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, in September. Forrest is set to fight fellow TUF: Season 7 coach, Rampage Jackson, in July for the light heavyweight championship. He may be the underdog, but expect an explosive and exciting fight that will be one of the biggest ever for the UFC and the sport of MMA.
Other TUF fighters still relevant:
Season 1 :Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian, Nathan Quarry, Chris Leben
Season 2: Keith Jardine, Marcus Davis, Jorge Gurgel
Season 3: Kalib Starnes, Ed Herman, Matt Hamill
Season 4: Jorge Rivera, Rich Clementi, Scott Smith, Patrick Cote, Din Thomas, Chris Lytle,
Season 5: Gray Maynard, Joe Lauzon, Manvel Gambaryan, Cole Miller
Season 6: Tommy Speer, George Sotiriopulus, Jon Koppehnahver
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