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Originally Posted by Pashak  There is a thing I dont understand, it is supposed that TUF is a show where 16 fighters (more or less) compete, and the winner gets an UFC contract.
OK, but what I dont understand is that it is supposed that only the winner should get the contract, but actually there are like 5 fighters each time that receive a contract. Some of them received it despite of losing in their first fight.
So, then what is the real point?
Because in every show you see all fighters all worried saying that each battle is almost about life and death, that if they lose they are fucked but in reality even if they lose they still can get a contract.
The finalists say that they are one step away from having the contract, but reality is that both of them will get the contract, so then why they act as if only the winner gets it? |
Exposure. That is the real point of TUF, and the "Countdown to UFC" shows they run on Spike. If you watch two fighters you know nothing about, the match isn't nearly as interesting as watching two fighters that you know the background stories and personalities of. This is what TUF is all about. Bringing the fighters to the masses and building rooting interests.
MMA isn't like most sports where people can just root for the uniform of the hometown team. You need to brand the fighters to an extent to really make it work and grow the sport.
My wife know exactly two MMA fighters by name and by face. Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar, and it isn't because they are the two best fighters in the sport.