How to Revive the Ultimate Fighter.

I have long commented how boring the Ultimate Fighter program has become. I personally record them, fast forward through the show and only watch the fight at the end.

 I think the heart of the drama should be the technical, physical, and psychological challenges that a fighter must deal with and how the coach and fighter overcome them. Or doesn't.

I could care less about the antics in the house and I'm getting to care less and less about getting to know the fighters since most of them are nobodies going nowhere.

 My solution is make the show a lot more technical. I'd like to really get to see the analysis of a fighter's strengths and weaknesses and live through the drama of having to unlearn favorite patterns and learn to fight a new way. Fighters are often told that their approach, which has gotten them to a  certain point, needs to be largely changed to get to the next level.  Fighters need to either trust their coach and do it, or understand it, or negotiate it. Often, fighters have developed  a style which has served them well base don some personal profound psychological or physical issues. Can they unlearn them and change?

I thought  I'd mention this since I just read an article which addresses this question of how to improve the now incredibly dull and predictable Ultimate Fighter.

Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm I Fight Analysis

This is a great fight analysis of the Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm I by Coach Firas Zahabi.
It is so good, I'd like to see Firas go head to head with Joe Rogan. Until this video, I thought Joe Rogan  was the best fight announcer and analyst.  But Firas raised it to another level with his analysis of the fight.

NOTE & UPDATE - The great video has been taken down so I'm now posting a substitute video by Firas.  For those of you who aren't in the know about why videos get taken down, there is a global law that website owners can avoid getting sued if, when a copyright holder sends them a "take-down" notice, they take down the offending piece.  The website (ie Youtube) doesn't have to verify that there was an infringement or take sides, they just take it down. In this case, the video had about 8 still photos from the fight in which Firas diagramed how Holly kept her arms and hips in a position so that she did not fall prey to Rhonda's usual throws and arm-bars. It was great. Much like the best NFL football analysis where they diagram right on top of the actual play.  But apparently, the UFC decided to claim that those stills were copyrighted and issued a takedown notice to Youtube.  So Firas put up a substitute in which he has fighters assume the positions of Ronda and Holly. It's still insightful but not so cool.  UFC: Stop being such an over the top greedy business. Still shots should be OK even if video clips are not.




The UFC 193 fight of November 14th, 2015 Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm was an exceptional fight. 

Coach Firas Zahabi describes the key details of why and how  Holly Holms did not fall prey to the techniques that Ronda has typically used to destroy her opponents into the clinch.  He does not spend time on whether Ronda was arrogant or other psychobabble  crap about the fight.

It's a technical discussion, clearly presented, about how Holmes countered Ronda's power clinch which demonstrates the skill and preparation that Holmes must have shown going into this fight and her ability to execute during the fight. Basically, she lowered her center of gravity and adjusted her hip and other positions rapidly and consistently so that Ronda's go-to moves were neutralized.  Easy to plan to do, tough to actually be prepared enough to actually be able to execute on. But she did! 

Coach Firas Zahabi is at Tristar Gym.  

BTW, Holms trained at Greg Jacksons Martial Arts.  I think her game plan was perfect. Ronda's game plan seemed to be her usual. Overpower with striking, get in close, judo throw into arm bar and finish.  But, Ronda failed to outbox Holly with boxing and couldn't overpower so the plan simply failed. 

 It's amazing how one dimensional Ronda's fight plan appeared to be.  
Did she throw any round house kicks? No.   
Did she she do any front kicks or side kicks? No.
How about kick fakes, knees, or leg kicks? No. 
Did she try any level changes and two leg take downs? No.  
Did she use any new muy thai where she took her head and body off the center line? No.
What about stance changes from her usual right handed stance? Nope. She came as expected with left side forward.