The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 audition nets record number of applicants
by Jesse Holland on Oct 28, 2008 12:21 AM EDT
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Monday's open tryouts for season nine of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) in Chicago, Illinois produced a record number of applicants after 700 amateur mixed martial artists stormed the Crowne Plaza Hotel in an attempt to prove their worth.
According to Spike TV, that number shatters the previous record of 500 hopefuls that turned out in Florida for season five.
Including the 200 aspiring fighters that auditioned in London on October 20, a total of 900 applicants will be considered for the 32-member cast, which will eventually be whittled down to 16 in the first few days of taping.
UFC President Dana White recently confirmed the participation of future coach Michael "The Count" Bisping, fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Chris Leben at UFC 89.
Bisping — TUF 3 winner and current British UFC posterboy — is a clear choice for the position, considering TUF 9 will be themed, "U.S. vs. U.K." White did not confirm the opposing coach, however, he did indicate that Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson are both under consideration.
Perhaps that decision will be made a little easier when "Ace" and "Hollywood" clash in the main event at UFC 93: "Dublin" on January 17.
Time will tell.
TUF 9 was originally set to feature a mix of middleweight and welterweight hopefuls competing for a "six figure" UFC contract in a tournament-style format.
However the 185lb weight class was recently scrapped in favor of lightweight in anticipation of the influx of middleweights that is expected to follow the dissolution of the middleweight division in the Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).
The production schedule has not been revealed at this time; however, the promotion is targeting a January 2009 start (and April debut) in order to wait for the conclusion of Franklin vs. Henderson.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com as more details become available for season nine of The Ultimate Fighter.
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lightweights? jeez can we get some heavyweights ffs??
by brendan on Oct 28, 2008 12:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
rich vs bisping would be a better matchup than bisping vs hendo in my opinion.
by weoweoweo on Oct 28, 2008 1:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rich gave an interview a day or 2 ago where he stated that he is not interested in becoming the next TUF coach, so the UFC had better hope that Hendo takes the job
by john on Oct 28, 2008 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
John.. who do think will give Bisping the most trouble in the Octagon?
by PhilQNY on Oct 28, 2008 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
THats a great question, I would have to say Rich because he is much more technical (striking) then Hendo and Bisping has some very good technique. It would be a very interesting fight, iMO
by john on Oct 28, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn 700 is a lot of fighters to pick 32 out of. This season should be good.
by medecine balls on Oct 28, 2008 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lets hope that it keeps getting better too. It sounds like Dana is making great efforts to start getting the best talent out there from this show.
by RyanHobbs on Oct 28, 2008 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
tuf is (yawn) boorrrringg!!
le’s see a come-backs tuf or a womens tuf
i think kimbo slice is a joke but get him on the show and i might tune in to see him get an ass kickin’ again.
by mikeybear on Oct 28, 2008 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Franklin is the most boring coach ever. Hopefully Hendo is the other coach.
by Flyingknees on Oct 28, 2008 2:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d like to see either Franklin or Hendo vs. Bisping in the finally. The problem is if Franklin or Hendo beat Bisping. Both guys lost to Silva. There is NOTHING sexy about Franklin/Silva 3. And I’d rather see Bisping take a crack at Silva before I see Hendo/Silva 2.
Both Franklin and Hendo are VERY capable of taking out the Count. And if so, Bisping may never have his shot at Anderson Silva. That’d be a shame.
by TabascoSAUCE on Oct 28, 2008 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
seems like a lot of Brits wanna follow Bisping’s footsteps.
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Oct 28, 2008 2:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
is it really a lot?? Think how mainstream the sport is, 900 dudes from both the uk and the states isnt really that much if you ask me!!
Look at pop idol and the x-factor, not that im saying the figures should be the same, obviously not, but in comparison i would expect the numbers to be higher for sure!!
Hell if I could fight id give it a bash just for the opportunity, all the same Im sure there will be some talent in there so its all good!!!!!
by mo on Oct 28, 2008 3:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
MMA is very established in the States and very green in the UK. That said it should be a good twist to what is becoming a very boring programme. The USA will almost certainly dominate us but it will do the sport the world of good for the UK scene. Ideally it would be nice for one of our fighters to make a good account of himself and get settled in the UFC.
UFC is very exciting but heavily dominated by Brazil and USA. Only a hand full of fighters in top tier from other countries – GSP, Fedor, Bisping.
by Billy Boy on Oct 28, 2008 4:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Im not watching that season, i cant stand bisping he annoys the shit out of me.
by jsoph on Oct 28, 2008 5:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I cant stand him either, but i still have to watch! This season suprised me already bc @ the beg i liked and wanted frank to win. With his lack of respect for BIG NOG and mma in general i am starting to really dislike him! He has no control over his team and their all just pathetic!
by BOW on Oct 28, 2008 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i felt the same way about mir at first but now i think hes a chump. that cheesedick has no sack. the way he acted toward NOGIERA was so disrespectful, especially when it was something serious like fuckin with peoples beds. i’d be pissed if someone did that to my bed. i would probably knock the shit out of someone if they did that to me now that i think about it! the fact that he cant put that fuckin animal, junie, on a leash doesnt help my opinion of him either. i hope all his fighters get their asses kicked during the semi’s. and i hope even more that NOGIERA strangles the life out of mir at the finale!
by allamerican on Oct 28, 2008 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m big a fan of Bisping, but I don’t think he’s ready for Hendo or Franklin, and the UFC’s problem is what happens if (when) Bisping loses.
I think they should put Filho or Robbie Lawler on against Bisping. Both would be great stories, and Bisping has a better chance against either. In the meantime Hendo can get his rematch against Silva (which he repeatedly calls for).
by Leeroy on Oct 28, 2008 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i would personally rather see bisping/franklin. i think that henderson would be way too much for bisping. franklin on the other hand is more of a well rounded fighter; like bisping. and i think if the two of them fought it would be a great fight. i also think that bisping/lawler sounds like a good matchup.
by allamerican on Oct 28, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate when they do a country vs country mentality. It goes against everything MMA stands for. It’s not about countries and background, it’s about sportsmanship and skill.
Now, we’re going to hear a “USA” “USA” chant for the whole TUF finale.
by tripleainto on Oct 28, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT ON THE SHOW FOR THE 155 POUND CLASS I KNOW ITS STACKED BUT IT IS A COMPETIVE WEIGHT CLASS. YOUTUBE FIRST MMA FIGHT LOOK UP LOUISIANA BADD BOY. DANA WHITE HOLLA BACK REAL TALK!!!
by Nick on Dec 26, 2008 11:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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