Chrom Hall of Famer
Posts : 5966 Standard Cash : 23051 Reputation : 257 Join date : 2011-07-06 Age : 43 Location : Minnesota
| Subject: UFC unveils starting cast for 'The Ultimate Fighter 17' Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:58 pm | |
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- The cast boasts talent from 16 different U.S. states and territories, as well as international prospects from England, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. Seven fighters bring undefeated professional records to the show, and the cast has combined for 200 pro victories. One of them will prove victorious in the tournament and earn a six-figure UFC contract, though the UFC traditionally signs at least a few cast members to deals.
In December welterweight Colton Smith claimed the "TUF 16" title in a season that White openly admits was the worst in the eight-year history of the show. The season also turned out to be the least-watched in show history, but UFC officials are hoping for a turnaround in the new season, which sees the series shift away from Friday nights to a new Tuesday time slot.
Widely credited for the launch of the UFC's current popularity boom, "TUF" debuted in 2005 and has produced more than 100 UFC fighters and three eventual champions. It's also spawned international versions in Brazil and Australia, with additional countries expected to debut this year.
The two-hour season debut episode sees the 28 fighters compete in an elimination round of fights, and the 14 winners become official cast members. For the first time in the show's history, each contestant was allowed to bring friends and family to the first round of fights.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and outspoken MMA superstar Chael Sonnen serve as opposing head coaches on the series and will face off at an April pay-per-view event.
The full lineup of UFC hopefuls includes:
Dylan Andrews (16-4-1), 32, Gold Coast, Australia (by way of New Zealand);
Kito Andrews (9-2), 34, Sacramento; Luke Barnatt (5-0), 24, Cambridge, England; Leo Bercier (7-2), 31, Great Falls, Mont.; Ryan Bigler (9-3), 28, Yona, Guam; Kevin Casey (5-2), Hawthorne, Calif.; Adam Cella (4-0), 27, Fenton, Mo.; Zach Cummings (15-3), 28, Kansas City, Mo.; Andy Enz (6-1), 21, Anchorage; Nik Fekete, 32, Las Vegas; Kelvin Gastelum (5-0), 20, Yuma, Ariz.; Uriah Hall (7-2), 28, New York City (by way of Jamaica); Collin Hart (4-1-1), 23, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Clint Hester (7-3), 25, Atlanta; Jake Heun (3-2), 25, Salt Lake City; Mike Jasper (6-0), 29, Camarillo, Calif.; Nicholas Kohring (3-0), 22, Valley Springs, Calif.; Robert "Bubba" McDaniel (20-6), 29, Albuquerque;. Fraser Opie (10-5), 29, Milton Keynes, England (by way of South Africa); Mike Persons (3-0), 28, Manteca, Calif.; Jimmy Quinlan (3-0), 26, Metheun, Mass.; Scott Rosa (4-1), 26, Sparks, Nev.; Joshua Samman (9-2), 24, Tallahassee, Fla.; Gilbert Smith Jr. (5-1), Colorado Springs; Eldon Sproat (3-1), 27, Molokai, Hawaii ;Tor Troeng (15-4-1), 29, Umea, Sweden; Eric Wahlin (5-1), 29, Taylorsville, Utah; Timothy Williams (7-1), 26, Millville, N.J. source | |
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Gecko Title Holder
Posts : 2437 Standard Cash : 15525 Reputation : 163 Join date : 2011-07-11 Age : 44 Location : Washington DC
| Subject: Re: UFC unveils starting cast for 'The Ultimate Fighter 17' Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:33 am | |
| I heard Dana saying there's some monster fighter that all the other guys are afraid to fight on this season but then again Dana also said that phillipe Nover is the next GSP and where is Nover now? | |
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