900 Fighters Tryout in Chicago For The Ultimate Fighter 9
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Oct 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm ET18 Comments
On the heels of a record 200-plus participants for open tryouts in the UK, the US casting call for “The Ultimate Fighter 9: US vs. UK”, held today in Chicago, saw 900 hopefuls tryout in hopes of making it into the 32 fighter elimination round.
The record comes despite a recent weight class change from middleweight to lightweight and a new stipulation that fighters must have at least three professional fight before being cast for the reality series.
Spike TV today announced the US tryout figure.
The Ultimate Fighter 9, which will being filming in early-2009 for a projected April debut, will feature Michael Bisping as coach of the UK team, while the winner of a January bout between Rich Franklin or Dan Henderson will coach the US squad.
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Dang 900 fighters!!! lets hope they get the best ones
how long before UFC is on tv like football, baseball ect?
Not long, hopefully. With EliteXC folding there’s definitely an opportunity for the UFC to get a broadcast deal.
Would a new broadcast deal still involve Spike.tv or would one Channel have exclusive rights to everything? I dont think CBS would be too quick to throw their hat into the ring from their Elitexc experience but the numbers from a business standpoint are alluring.
So does this mean If Rich wins, he will be moving down to 185 again? If Anderson really does retire, this could set Rich up to regain the belt.
Interesting thought, Joe. That would be very interesting. Rich just needs to make sure he doesn’t get a title shot until Silva retires then.
JustJoe & Dbiz, on BE they had a video earlier with Rich explaining that he has signed his contract and he is pretty sure Hendo signed his… And that he really didn’t care to coach TUF again but with certain insentives he would do it again nothing was stated about dropping weight for the TUF show but he wants to stay @ 205 for now..
That’s quite a lot of guys. competing for (I’m guessing) about 8 spots on the show.
Wow, 900 people. That must be a record or something.
They’re vying for 16 spots (8 at each weight class) but only 8 will actually make it into the house.
Yeah, Kris I was thinking about 8 spots in the house for the US. not the 16 spots for fighting their way into the house.
900……..isn’t that on the brink of American Idol numbers? Wonder if “The Contender” gets that many boxers trying out. WOW!!!! 900……I am almost positive some great talents will not make it.
900 wow I hope they find some good ones.
FR702, If they follow form on TUF coaches, The US coach (Franklin or Hendo) will be fighting Bisping after the show. So either Franklin (assuming he beats Hendo) is dropping to 185 for that fight, or Bisping has to go up to 205. Given the success Bisping has had at 185 I don’t see that happening.
Also interesting, the 3 pro fights rule would have knocked Amir out of his season, had they instituted it. I understand why they are making that rule, but they may be losing out on a winner by doing so.
agreed, alot of good fighters won’t get a chance because of that rule. I would rather see some experiance in the cage though. Bring back the good ol’ days of TUF.
@DBiz, considering the number that made it to the tryouts, had they left it open without the 3 pro-fight restriction the turnout numbers I’m sure would be brain damage. Consider how many people out there, train, actually fight (amature and pro). The sport is close to the peak of it’s surge for average Joe participation. I suspect the numbers within the next year will start to level out and it will become like other sports. I’d love to see recreational mma like, football, soccer, baseball. How much fun would that be???
I would love it if MMA it had a rec league. I used to box and did temple kung-fu for a while there but i thought boxing was too bland and kung-fu was too rehersed. MMA is a good mix of physical and mental game, and something i could really see myself enjoying. It’s just the risk factor is far too high. Unlike alot of other people i quite enjoy my day job and could afford broken bones and black eyes all the time. If i could however fight guys who don’t fight with an intent to injure, and just there to have some fun and hone their skills. That could be quite fun indeed.