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I don't know much about James Johnson, but freakish athletes WITH prior combat training could be in the future. Imagine if a guy like Dwight Howard dedicated himself to training jiu jitsu and a striker's martial art. Hopefully there's more stories like this in the future and more pure athletes who become interested in the sport. One day I hope true world-class athletes begin choosing MMA over certain other sports. Imagine the controversy that would cause with boxing reporters and the general media.

Season two was a great follow-up to the first. The rules were the same and the only thing the show was missing was the presence of Willa Ford. Zuffa again recruited a lot of the top American talent out there along with just a few head-scratchers. It aired 4 short months after the season 1 finale and had Matt Hughes coaching against Rich Franklin. It was an odd choice of coaches for sure.

Episode 1: Immediately Kerry Schall is gone due to injury.Eli Joslin leaves because he is camera shy. Kenny Stevens is the weak link and cannot make weight. Right away it looks like a weak cast.

Kerry Schall: Kerry was already 34 years old and had many battles in his career. In fact, he was Fedor's 7th professional fight in 2001. 18-8 was his record and he wasn't quite a pioneer of the sport, but he has been there since 1997. It's hard to criticize a veteran who took a shot at stardom in the late stages of his career when he was obviously unfit to fight. Surprisingly, he was asked back to the finale where he lost to Keith Jardine. Many thought that would be the end for Schall, however; he has proven to be a true fighter going 4-3 since the show ended. In 2008 he made his last push fighting in larger shows against good competition and is now fighting for smaller shows in the midwest. He is yet to have a bout in 2009. Record: 22-11.

Eli Joslin: This is an example of a raw fighter who made the show due to his football pedigree and brawling style. At 1-0 he was easily one of the least experienced members. The first day of practices he was overwhelmed by talented guys like Seth Petruzelli and Keith Jardine. His camera-shy excuse was weak since he came onto the show bragging about his previous KO win. He had one more win in 2006 and has not fought since. Record: 2-0

Kenny Stevens: It's normal for fighters to move UP in weight classes to join TUF. Stevens is one of the few who tried to move down and it was not pretty. Stevens was 8-2 and a decent prospect coming in with a "nock them out or be knocked out" fighting style. He has just never fought at 170 to my knowledge. He now fights at 205 and 185 and has gone 2-5 while losing to some bigger names. Kenny still trains with Rich Clementi in Louisiana and fights once or twice a year for Clementi's steelcagefighting promotions. Record: 9-7 (all wins by KO)

Episode 2: Teams are chosen and Josh Burkman steps up to fight Melvin Guillard. Burkman by UD.

Melvin Guillard: Guillard talked himself up quite a bit during the first two episodes. His physique, top notch wrestling, and heavy hands made him the #2 favorite to win the show behind Joe Stevenson. There's a lot of obvious things that could be said about his attitude and maturity and they are all spot on. At the same time, he is young and hams it up a bit for the show. 16-4-2 was his record before coming onto the show where he was embarrassed by Burkman exposing his weak ground game. Guillard came back to defeat Marcus Davis in the Finale via cuts and looked to have a bright future if he worked on his grappling. Since the show his career has been up and down. He tested positive for cocaine and had two embarrassing losses to Joe Stevenson and Rich Clementi. Melvin also accused Stevenson of HGH use. He is now 6-3 (5-3 UFC) and seems to have matured after spending 6 months in jail in late 2008. Record: 22-7-2

Episode 3: Burkman broke his arm and is out. Jason Von Flue replaces him. Brad Imes defeates Rob MacDonald.

Rob MacDonald: You could watch the entire season of TUF and never hear anyone mention his name. It seemed like he had no interviews or face time either. This is probably due to the fact that Imes submitted him quickly early in the season. For some reason the UFC still granted him a contract and used him for all three fights. His win came over Rotharmel who hasn't fought since. He was submitted early by Eric Schafer and Jason Lambert who both exposed his apparent weaknesses. Rob was 3-0 and a raw prospect coming in who just failed to devote all of his time to training. He has fought mostly good competition since the show and has gone 2-4 fighting about once a year. His latest fight was a 2009 loss in the WEC. Record: 5-4

Josh Burkman: 13-3 prior, 5-5 since (all UFC).
Burkman came into the house as the strongest wrestler of the bunch with a lot to learn. He quickly called out standout Melvin Guillard in the first episode which resulted in a very exciting fight. Burkman pulled out the victory and was instantly on the radar. However, Burkman broke his arm in the bout and was forced off the show. He defeated Sammy Morgan in the finale in devastating fashion and has fought top UFC competition ever since.Burkman is currently riding a 3 fight losing streak and is most likely no longer with the UFC as he seems to have peaked as a mid/lower-tier UFC fighter.

Episode 4: Joe Stevenson over Marcus Davis (submission due to elbows)

Marcus Davis: Everyone knows what has become of Davis since his time on the show. He was an older raw boxer who claimed he was retiring after this loss. It actually did not seem like that bad of an idea after being 32 year old man with a 3-2 record (split dec loss to Thiago Alves). Even after the Stevenson domination he was handled by Melvin Guillard. At that point, his career looked finished. Unlike many, Davis would evolve and dedicate himself and show his true spirit and character by joining Team Sityodtong. The next 5 months were the most important of his career as he trained hard to fight outside of the UFC again in April 2006. He tore through some weak competition and strung together 5 wins in 5 months to get invited back. The rest is history. Davis fought twice more in 2006 for the UFC and improved his record with 7 straight wins in 8 months. Since then he has become one of the UFC's most popular fighters overseas and is always extremely active. Record: 16-5 including 6 fight streak in UFC.

Episode 5: Rashad Evans beats Tom Murphy via unimpressive UD.

Tom Murphy: This is one of the strange cases of this TUF season. He is another guy you wouldn't know existed if you watched the season in its entirety. Rashad Evans' wrestling proved to be too much for him in their fight, but he was given a contract anyways with his 2-0 record. His first and only fight was an impressive win over Icho Larenas in early 2006. Ever since then Tom has been off the MMA map completely and has only competed once (2008 win). The UFC has offered him multiple fights, but he has turned them down to improve his overall MMA game. He is a highly talented Gracie-trained fighter and is a total fan of the sport. It would have been nice to see how he would have done - unfortunately, it may be too late. Murphy now runs St. Albans RailCity MMA in Vermont. At 35 it just seems unlikely. Record: 4-0.

Episode 6: Jason Von Flue defeats Jorge Gurgel.

Jorge Gurgel: Even back in the day it seems like Gurgel was prone to being a blackbelt brawler. He is actually the original creator of Andy Wang syndrome. At least it would make sense if he had KO power or a defensive counterstriking gameplan. However, that is not the case and leaves fans face-palming. At the same time, he wins enough to keep doing it and provides entertaining fights for the promoters/fans. He had a scary 9-1 (all by submission) record coming in and ran an already successful gym out of Cincinnati and looked to be a dangerous competitor. However, Gurgel has gone 4-4 since TUF and has let a lot of people down having never beaten anyone notable (except maybe Heun). Record: 13-5.

Episode 7: Seth Petruzelli beats Dan Christison

Dan Christison: An enormous heavyweight who made a lot of the smaller guys very nervous when he entered TUF. There were high hopes for Dan as he was one of the more well-known fighters this season coming in with a 7-3 record against some bigger names. For some reason his skills did not translate well and he had a pretty terrible fight. Christison unfortunately dropped his second UFC fight in an awful performance vs Frank Mir. After that he had an unsuccessful stint in the IFL, but hit a 7 fight win streak against weaker competition in smaller shows. Dan now works with Greg Jackson and is a very active fighter who just never quite cut it against the top tier fighters. Record: 16-7.

Episode 8: Luke Cummo defeats Anthony Torres

Anthony Torres: The Crush was another self-proclaimed up and comer at 4-0 who ultimately fell short. He was on the wrong end of a beating against Luke Cummo and was not invited back to the UFC until late 2006. After his first win he was not asked back until 13 months later only to lose in the first round to Jess Liaudin. He then tested positive for steroids and was cut from his UFC contract. He fought once more in early 2008 losing a split decision in a smaller org. According to wiki, he is now a federal corrections officer.

Episode 9: Rashad Evans beats Mike Whitehead

Mike Whitehead: Matt Hughes made Whitehead (9-4 against good competition) sound like the next Couture when he spoke about him on the show. However, in his fight against Rashad Evans the bright lights got to him and he froze in the octagon. It was a poor performance in which he spent most of the time on his back doing nothing. His first fight after the show was a loss to Keigh Jardine and he was then cut from his contract. The UFC gave up a bit too early on this 27 year old, though. He now trains at Xtreme Couture and is riding an impressive 11 fight win streak (4-0 IFL). Whitehead's streak ended at 13 when he faced Babalu at Affliction 1. Since then he is 2-0 with a notable win over Kevin Randleman and is viewed as one of the best LHW fighters outside of the UFC. Record: 24-6.

Episode 10: Luke Cummo over Sammy Morgan via KO

Sammy Morgan: Being another one of the more experienced fighters (16-6 with some huge wins) who seemed to think they had an advantage in every area, Morgan was in for a big letdown. During episode 10 he put on a very entertaining fight against Luke Cummo, but lost via a surprising KO in the second round. After losing to Burkman in the Finale he won 2 fights via submission and was invited back into the UFC only to lose another unimpressive bout to Forrest Petz. Morgan's game seems to have regressed to the Jorge Gurgel syndrome (except much uglier with less cardio) and is now used as a sacrificial lamb for Strikeforce. He has not fought in 2009 and is 3-6 since the show. Morgan now helps run a gym and makes clothing. Record: 19-12.

Episode 11: Rashad Evans over Keith Jardine

Keith Jardine: Jardine stayed under the radar during the entire season(8-1-1 prior) and did not get much face time at all. Evans took him to a decision late in the season, but Keith bounced back with a memorable TKO over Kerry Schall via leg kicks. Those same leg kicks led him to a victory over Chuck Liddell and three others in the UFC. He has had some disappointing losses, but was immediately elevated him to top 10 rankings everywhere. A win versus W. Silva likely would have led to a title shot as well. Keith now trains at Team Jackson and is known as a tough fighter who is just a bit inconsistent. Record: 14-5-1.

Episode 12: Joe Stevenson over Jason Von Flue and Brad Imes over Seth Petruzelli.

Jason Von Flue: Jason Von Flue was not an original cast member(and was 10-4-1 prior), but came into the house as an immediate underdog when Burkman injured his arm. He took out Gurgel in a decision and got mangled in the process. After being referred to as "Frankenstein" he went on to lose to Joe Stevenson in an extreme mismatch. Von Flue won his first fight in the UFC via submission but was soon after dominated by Luke Cummo and Joe Riggs. Strikeforce saw the same potential in Von Flue in which they saw in Sammy Morgan. He has now lost 5/8 to some notable up and comers. TUF has given him enough notoriety to be a popular name in which good fighters can beat down for credibility. Von FLue is still a journeyman fighter and an instructor at New Era JJ and Fresno Kickboxing Academy. Record: 14-11-1.

Seth Petruzelli: AKA many people's hero who is most well known for his KO over Kimbo Slice. I always liked Seth's karate-style striking and he was my darkhorse to win as he had a semi-impressive 8-2 record coming in. He defeated Dan Christison early in the season and barely lost to Brad Imes later. The UFC was unkind to Seth by giving him Hamill and Gouveia as his only two fights before cutting him.Seth was only 1-0 since leaving the UFC and was inactive for a year before the Kimbo fight. He was recently injured and has not fought since. Petruzelli remains an interesting free agent who still only fights part time. Record: 10-4.

Finale: Joe Stevenson over Luke Cummo and Rashad Evans over Brad Imes.

Luke Cummo: Every season has a guy who no one knows much about and ends up surprising everyone(3-2 prior). Cummo could strike with anyone on the show and also had superb submission defense. He upset Anthony Torres and Sammy Morgan on his way to the six-figure contract. Joe Stevenson stood in his way and Cummo ultimately lost a hard fought battle via decision and his weakness was exposed. Since then he has shown flashes of greatness, but has never improved his main weakness: takedown defense. Any strong wrestler who can hold an opponent down has an instant advantage over Cummo. Thus, he has gone 4-4 in the UFC since the show ended. Goulet, McCrory, and Fioravanti used this technique and won decisions over Luke. Cummo has disappeared from the MMA map as he is now more of a father and trainer than a full time MMA fighter. He may ake a comeback in 2010 and it may or may not be in the UFC at 170. Record: 6-6.

Brad Imes: When Brad Imes goes 3-0 on the show, you know it was a weak season for heavyweights. During the show he proved to be able to give lower-level competition fits with his size. Rob MacDonald went down easily, but Petruzelli gave Imes all he could handle. Brad went on to lose in the finale and put up a decent enough fight to excuse the loss. However, Imes put on awful performances against Herring and Christison and was let go. He is now most notable for his two back-to-back gogoplata victories over poor competition. Imes is now 9-4 since the show and is looking to improve his record and is hoping to make it back to a bigger promotion though he has not fought in 2009. Record: 12-5.

Joe Stevenson: Joe came in as one of the most experienced fighters and an early favorite to win the show(23-6 prior). Many of the fighters trash talked and were arrogant, but Joe worked hard and defeated Marcus Davis and Jason Von Flue before beating Luke Cummo via decision in the finale. After the impressive run of TUF Stevenson was arguably put up against the toughest fighter (Neer, aside from TUF 4) any winner has faced. After dropping a decision against Josh Neer, Stevenson dropped to 155 and went 4-0 and earned a title shot. Stevenson has recently joined Team Jackson since he lost to Penn, Florian, and Sanchez as he is making another run at the title. Record: 30-10.

Rashad Evans: Evans is the most successful alumni from season 2 Rashad was an early favorite to win the show even though he was incredibly undersized(5-0 prior). This class was noticeably weak as two heavyweights dropped out during the first episode. Rashad was one of the few up and comers in the division and proved to be a natural athlete who had the most potential in the house. Evans, a strong wrestler, decisioned his way through three opponents and earned the winning split decision in the finale against Brad Imes. Rashad has piled up many unimpressive decision victories over Bisping, Bonnar, and Hoger, but his KO over Salmon is burnt in the minds of MMA fans everywhere. Evans' KO over Liddell legitimized his progression as a mixed martial artist. Team Jackson has helped him evolve as a fighter and become one of the biggest names in the UFC. Record: 13-1-1.

Event as a whole: B+

Since it was on cable: A

Jason Dent vs. Cameron Dollar

Dollar actually surprised me a bit taking it to Dent throughout the entire first round. Dent was FAR from impressive on the show and guys like Mark Miller and Richie Whitson seem more deserving of a shot in the UFC in my opinion. Dollar's inexperience cost him this fight as he should have continued his over-aggressive striking assault.

Dent: Needs to train hard and improve his striking. Next opponent - UFC newcomer or Rob Emerson

Dollar: Needs experience outside of the UFC before coming back. Or Roli Delgado

Nick Osipczak vs. Frank Lester

Lester is a true fighter with the heart of a lion. His skills simply do not match his heart yet. Osi was decent on the show and this was an even match-up which slightly favored him because he's more well-rounded and technically sound. Lester actually did well in scrambles and obviously worked on his game since the show. The better fighter won, though, and Nick used one stright punch and knee to set up the RNC.

Osipczak: I underestimated him coming in. He belongs in the UFC at the bottom of the chain and needs more experience. Next - Newcomer or Peter Sobotta

Lester: Heart can only take you so far. Needs fights out of the UFC.

Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Tomasz Drwal

Not much to say here. Basically a meaningless fight as Mike C missed weight and both guys lacked intensity. I'm not sure why Drwal was going for takedowns when he had a big advantage striking. Either way Mike C looked uninspired (or injured) and eventually got hurt and finished in the first. Drwal was one of my favorite prospects, but he still has failed to deliver 100%.

Mike C: Don't know what was wrong tonight. Just an off night or injured? Next - Eliot Marshall

Drwal: Up the ladder a bit even though it wasn't overly impressive. Next - Eric Schafer

Brad Blackburn vs. Edgar Garcia

Really close fight. Round 1 Garcia, Round 2 Blackburn, Round 3 ??. Blackburn usually starts out nicely and fades. He has obviously worked his cardio and it helped him in this one. I was surprised Garcia chose to stand and strike with Blackburn. What surprised me even more was Garcia actually getting the better of it some of the time. Either way - it was a good fight for both guys and they both will be back.

Garcia - Deserves a win and should get someone he can beat. Next - Jesse Sanders or newcomer.

Blackburn - Who would have expected him to be 3-0 in the UFC? He was on a roll later in the IFL and has evolved as a fighter. His main weakness is the fact that opponents ALWAYS know his gameplan. Next - Marcus Davis (sweet huh?)

Melvin Guillard vs. Gleison Tibau

As much as Rogan and the crowd disliked the Blackburn decision - I have to say this one was much more questionable....and by questionable I mean total garbage. I'm not a fan of either guy and expected a good fight. What we got was a stalemate and a robbery. Both guys surely deserve to be in the UFC - this was just an unfortunate dud.

Tibau - A threat to everyone in the division when he is on. Next - Mark Bocek

Guillard - If he can fend off a guy like Tibau this much and actually land his shots - he is always dangerous. Next - Thiago Tavares

Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz

Very entertaining fight that was a must win for Daddy. His spot in the UFC was not in jeopardy after the losses to Florian, Sanchez, and Penn. All it did was prove he is not top 4-5 in the UFC yet. He finally changed camps and added to his game and it showed tonight. He dominated early and faded the last minute or so. Diaz was too content and patient on his back. Stevenson isn't one to usually make fatal mistakes unless he is gassed or hurt. Diaz did nothing to hurt Joe and was just the worse fighter that night.

Diaz - Two fight losing streaks are bad - it will take 4 in a row to get him the boot though. Next - Terry Etim

Stevenson - Back on track and better than ever with Jackson behind him. Climbing the ladder again. Next - Joe Lauzon/Cole Miller

Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner

Neither guy excited me too much coming into the fight and neither guy overly impressed me coming out. It wasn't the most entertaining fight and it wasn't terrible. It was just overshadowed by other fights after it. Unless they evolve I don't see either guy making too much of a push at 155.

Winner: As much as I dogged him, he deserves another chance. He has skills and needs to put it all together. Next - Junie Browning

Pearson: Tough guy who looked pretty well rounded. He is nowhere near ready to be thrown to the wolves. He is a TUF winner who needs to be brought along slowly. Next - George Roop

Chris Lytle vs. Kevin Burns

On paper this fight was to be a barn burner. It delivered 100% and was just a sneak peak at the great things to come later in the night. Rogan said it best calling this a "Chris Lytle type of fight". That's all that needs to be said. Burns is a warriors and would have had this fight had he not gassed out in the second. Props to both guys - it was a pleasure to watch.

Burns - Guy has serious skills and needs to work on cardio a bit. Next - Rory Markham

Lytle - Put him against anyone and it will be entertaining for sure. Next - Ben Saunders

Damarques Johnson vs. James Wilks

While this fight did not go the way I thought it would, it was still fun to watch while it lasted. Johnson showcased a good chin and a lot of heart hanging on as long as he did after being hurt. Wilks absolutely upped his game and trained hard and to me is the best prospect of the season by the looks of it. I completely underestimated his skills and look forward to seeing him in action in the UFC.

Johnson - A fan favorite and exciting fighter. Needs an easy fight. Next - Newcomer or Jonathan Goulet.

Wilks - Can't say enough about him. Impressed me to no end. Next - Newcomer or Ricky Story

Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida

On paper this is a fight of the year candidate. On screen this was a complete freak show that I couldn't turn away from. Oh, and that was before the fight even began. The first round was fireworks and was already passed all expectations. Round 2 slowed a bit, but also evened up the fight more. Round 3 was good and picking a winner was nearly impossible. Sanchez did more damage and was more aggressive with sub attempts and strikes and was close to finishing the fight at one point. I think he clearly deserved the win.

Guida - What hasn't been said? Iron chin and a warrior even though he looks to control fights without finishing. Next - Tyson Griffin II?

Sanchez - If he can get his weight cutting perfected he will be a monster at 155. I don't think he is 100% ready for a title shot, but he will likely get it. Next - Frankie Edgar or winner of Penn/Florian.

Flame on, or agree. Whatever floats your boat. Excuse typos and whatnot.

This will be my first entry. My blogs will generally be fight/event reviews, but I am beginning with TUF season reviews. I will take a look at the progression of each fighter and attempt to get caught up on the careers of the now famous and forgotten fighters who were subjects on the reality show. I do realize this has been done before and most likely by better writers and more knowledgeable analysts, but I have to start somewhere. Lets get to it!

Season one is hands-down the most entertaining season. As if that were not enough, it also had the deepest class of fighters in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. Do not pay much attention to the weights though because many of these fighters were fighting way outside of their natural weight classes.

Episode 1: Dana White is younger, skinnier, and has much more hair. Willa Ford is the host and Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell are already legends. Jason Thacker wants to quit and teams are picked.

Episode 2: This season had "challenges" where the teams competed without actually fighting. Therefore, Jason Thacker and Chris Sanford were sent home.

Jason Thacker: What hasn't already been said? He was at the wrong end of every joke and one could not help feeling sorry for him as he obviously did not belong. He was extremely inexperienced and was overwhelmed in his lone MMA bout. The loss to Chris Leben was the beginning and end of his career. However, this kid had the balls to take on a challenge and step into the cage and give it his best shot. Record: 0-1.

Chris Sanford: He was one of the older fighters who came to the house somewhat out of shape. He was doomed from the beginning due to his age and ability. Sanford has legit jiu-jitsu and his body simply failed him. He did get invited back to the finale and lost via KO to Josh Koscheck. He fought one more time in a smaller show and ended his career at 5-1.

Episode 3: Bobby Southworth defeats Lodune Sincaid via KO.

Lodune Sincaid: Sincaid had as much hype as anyone coming onto the show. He sported a 6-0 record and was one of the more well rounded fighters on the show. However, Sincaid was too small for Southworth and was not quite athletic enough. He is one of the few early cast-offs who is still fighting and is a true MMA competitor. After the TUF finale (loss to Nate Quarry), he went on to beat Alex Schoenaur and James Irvin. He is still fighting to this day and overcame his mental health struggles. Record: 14-7.

Episode 4: Mostly drama free as Diego Sanchez defeats Alex Karalexis.

Alex Karalexis: Facing Diego Sanchez in the opening round is just plain unfair. Karalexis is a brawler who couldn't handle such a high level of intense jiu-jitsu and athleticism. There is not much to say about Karalexis. He is still fighting at the same level and style as he was in 2005. He has the ability to beat most mid-tier fighters, but cannot handle top competition. Karalexis went 1-2 in the UFC and got the axe in 2006. He is still with Zuffa in the WEC sporting a 4-2 record with the company. Record: 10-4.

Episode 5-6: Lots of drama leads to a fight between Josh Koscheck over Chris Leben.

Chris Leben: Leben seriously defied all odds and still remains a popular fighter in the UFC. He has seemingly gotten more serious although he still has numerous ups and downs (dramatic KOs and steroid use). "The Crippler" lost this bout by being laid on for two rounds and improved his takedown defense and jiu jitsu after the show completed. Leben was 10-2 coming into the house as the most seasoned fighter and took this opportunity lightly. Luckily, there are second/third chances and has gone 8-4 in the UFC since the show aired. Record: 18-6.

Episode 7: Stephan Bonnar defeats Bobby Southworth.

Bobby Southworth: Southworth entered the house as a slight favorite at 205 though he was much older. His strengths were his athleticism, size, and grappling. He had been fighting since 1998-99 and had big show experience against Vitor Belfort. To this day I do not totally agree with this decision versus Bonnar, however; the UFC has to be delighted that Southworth did not face Griffin in the finale. Just think would could have taken place in that bout. Mr. Southworth has had an up and down career since losing to Sam Hoger in his lone UFC bout. He is still under contract with Strikeforce and is 3-2-1 since his time with Zuffa. Record: 9-6.

Episode 8: Nate Quarry leaves due to injury and Diego Sanchez defeats Josh Rafferty.

Nate Quarry: It was always easy to empathize with Nate Quarry as he has gone through a whole lot in his career. He's also very likable and emotional and that was apparent when he was kept on the show as a coach even after he was hurt. "Rock" came onto the show with a 5-1 record in smaller shows and was an interesting middle-aged prospect. He got his chance in the UFC vs. Sincaid and has had his moments in the organization ever since. He was the first fighter from the show to earn a title shot in a highlight reel KO loss to Rich Franklin. His only other loss since then has been to jiu jitsu master Demian Maia. UFC record: 6-2. Record: 11-3.

Josh Rafferty: Rafferty is easily one of the most forgettable fighters from the season because he was soft-spoken and a mid-tier talent. His recent fights mirror his early career as a good fighter in smaller shows who just cannot make the push past any b-level competition. Prior to the show he was a young prospect with a 4-3 record and had fought some tough opponents. Rafferty failed to progress in a growing sport and was easily eliminated by the top "middleweight" and lost his lone UFC appearance by Alex Karalexis. He is still beating lower level fighters and struggling against decent prospects. Record: 9-6.

Episode 9: The Forrest Griffin defeats Alex Schoenauer in his first performance.

Alex Schoenauer: Much like Rafferty, Alex is a true fighter with decent skills who never quite made it over the top. Aside from that, he was an interesting, educated guy who is actually a licensed boat captain. After his short appearance on TUF, Alex was 0-1 in the UFC helping Mike Swick earn his nickname of "quick" in a 20 second KO loss. Schoenauer is a true fighter, though, and put together a respectable record of 8-9 against mid-tier and top competition. He is mostly known for his time in the IFL and has not fought since the company went under in early 2008. Record: 14-9.

Episode 10: Kenny Florian defeats Chris Leben via cut.

Episode 11: Diego Sanchez beats Josh Koscheck via split decision.

Josh Koscheck: Here is the first example of the first one-dimentional talented wrestling athlete with tons of potential on TUF. Koscheck was successful at being able to lay and pray after training MMA for one year prior to the show. Right after the show the fans could see a work in progress that would be nearly unbeatable if ever completed. Koscheck continues to improve his striking and jiu jitsu which makes him one of the top welterweights in the world today. Koscheck's belief in his improved hands has gotten him in trouble lately, but every opponent must worry about his wrestling and power. His first bout versus Sanford was one of his only "easy" fights as he has piled up a great 10-4 record since the show. Record: 12-4.

Episode 12: Forrest Griffin defeats Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar defeats Mike Swick.

Sam Hoger: Sometimes arrogant, sometimes out of shape, always a tough guy to fight. Hoger was easily one of the least popular fighters on TUF 1 due to his attitude and theft issues. At the time, though, he was a top young prospect who had a well rounded game. He ended up fighting Bobby Southworth (the other semi-finalist loser) at the TUF finale and getting his first UFC win increasing his record to 5-0. Unfortunately, Hoger had reached his potential and went 1-3 in his next 4 fights and was sent packing in early 2007. All losses were to very good fighters and he recently came back to smaller shows going 2-0 since 2008. He is working on his MBA and is very educated and may have even started his own BJJ gym is I remember correctly. Record: 8-4.

Mike Swick: Another young veteran prospect who definitely made the most of his opportunity. It was unfortunate Swick's abilities were overshadowed by silly antics and obnoxious cast members. Mike was 5-1 with a loss to Chril Leben just before coming into the house. To me, Zuffa really dropped the ball never letting this re-match take place. After this loss, Swick was 4-0 in the UFC by mid-2006 while spending 5:08 inside the octagon. Swick progressed and re-invented himself and continues to do so to this day as a welterweight. He is now 9-1 in the organization and is deserving of a title shot versus the winner of St. Pierre and Alves. Record: 14-2

Finale: Forrest Griffin defeats Stephan Bonnar and Diego Sanchez defeats Kenny Florian.

Stephan Bonnar: These last four are fairly obvious. All of these guys have improved drastically and were a major part of MMA history. Bonnar will always be best known for his legendary bout against Forrest Griffin which "changed the face of MMA forever". Bonnar chose to slug it out with Griffin when he could have clinched and attempted takedowns since he had superior grappling. As a reward he will be forever employed by Zuffa one way or another and will always be remembered for his hilarious commentary within the TUF house. To this day his only losses have been to great fighters as he was 6-1 prior to the show. Keith Jardine is Bonnar's biggest victory to date in a career that may be looked at as mediorcre if it wasn't for his great personality and epic battle with Forrest Griffin. Record: 11-5.

Kenny Florian: He is a prime example of an inexperienced, underestimated fighter who improves at an alarming rate with every fight. Each time I've seen him fight he has a new tool which he has seemed to master overnight. Florian's training must be second to none. Prior to TUF he was an underdog with a 2-1 record who has been training part time for 2-3 years. Just like the others, he was overwhelmed in his fight against Diego Sanchez. Unlike some of the others, Florian seemed to train full time and fought twice more in the next 7 months to attain a 2-1 record in the UFC against lower level fighters. Florian only has one loss since then and is trying to become the fourth TUFer to win a UFC title (against BJ Penn) after his recent 6 fight win-streak. Record: 11-3.

Diego Sanchez: Along with Chris Leben, Diego Sanchez was a favorite to win the middleweight contract. The one difference is that Diego was already a great fighter who was above average in every aspect of the fight game. Along with the other greats, he has continued to improve and is looking to earn a lightweight title shot in the near future. Sanchez was 11-0 against some decent competition before his time on TUF and was known as a major threat on the ground. Sanchez has shown no signs of slowing down since his TUF finale win and has only lost to Fitch and Koscheck where he was undersized and injured. Record: 20-2.

Forrest Griffin: Charismatic, lucky, tough, funny, and relentless are just a few words to describe Forrest Griffin. Along with Southworth, Griffin was the favorite to win the show having already beaten top competition in the past as a part time fighter. Every single aspect was there for a superstar career. This man was destined to be the posterboy to bring MMA to the masses. Forrest was already 9-2 having fought the likes of Jeremy Horn, Chael Sonnen, Jeff Monson, and Dan Severn before even stepping foot into the octagon. His odd sense of humor and easy-going attitude won the fans over during the season and propelled him to a legendary fighter status a few short months later. Since the show he became the second TUF contestant to become a UFC champion. His ups and downs have been seen by all and he will always have a home with the UFC and will always be one of the most important fighters in MMA history. Record: 16-5.

This will be my first entry. My blogs will generally be fight/event reviews, but I am beginning with TUF season reviews. I will take a look at the progression of each fighter and attempt to get caught up on the careers of the now famous and forgotten fighters who were subjects on the reality show. I do realize this has been done before and most likely by better writers and more knowledgeable analysts, but I have to start somewhere. Lets get to it!

Season one is hands-down the most entertaining season. As if that were not enough, it also had the deepest class of fighters in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. Do not pay much attention to the weights though because many of these fighters were fighting way outside of their natural weight classes.

Episode 1: Dana White is younger, skinnier, and has much more hair. Willa Ford is the host and Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell are already legends. Jason Thacker wants to quit and teams are picked.

Episode 2: This season had "challenges" where the teams competed without actually fighting. Therefore, Jason Thacker and Chris Sanford were sent home.

Jason Thacker: What hasn't already been said? He was at the wrong end of every joke and one could not help feeling sorry for him as he obviously did not belong. He was extremely inexperienced and was overwhelmed in his lone MMA bout. The loss to Chris Leben was the beginning and end of his career. However, this kid had the balls to take on a challenge and step into the cage and give it his best shot. Record: 0-1.

Chris Sanford: He was one of the older fighters who came to the house somewhat out of shape. He was doomed from the beginning due to his age and ability. Sanford has legit jiu-jitsu and his body simply failed him. He did get invited back to the finale and lost via KO to Josh Koscheck. He fought one more time in a smaller show and ended his career at 5-1.

Episode 3: Bobby Southworth defeats Lodune Sincaid via KO.

Lodune Sincaid: Sincaid had as much hype as anyone coming onto the show. He sported a 6-0 record and was one of the more well rounded fighters on the show. However, Sincaid was too small for Southworth and was not quite athletic enough. He is one of the few early cast-offs who is still fighting and is a true MMA competitor. After the TUF finale (loss to Nate Quarry), he went on to beat Alex Schoenaur and James Irvin. He is still fighting to this day and overcame his mental health struggles. Record: 14-7.

Episode 4: Mostly drama free as Diego Sanchez defeats Alex Karalexis.

Alex Karalexis: Facing Diego Sanchez in the opening round is just plain unfair. Karalexis is a brawler who couldn't handle such a high level of intense jiu-jitsu and athleticism. There is not much to say about Karalexis. He is still fighting at the same level and style as he was in 2005. He has the ability to beat most mid-tier fighters, but cannot handle top competition. Karalexis went 1-2 in the UFC and got the axe in 2006. He is still with Zuffa in the WEC sporting a 4-2 record with the company. Record: 10-4.

Episode 5-6: Lots of drama leads to a fight between Josh Koscheck over Chris Leben.

Chris Leben: Leben seriously defied all odds and still remains a popular fighter in the UFC. He has seemingly gotten more serious although he still has numerous ups and downs (dramatic KOs and steroid use). "The Crippler" lost this bout by being laid on for two rounds and improved his takedown defense and jiu jitsu after the show completed. Leben was 10-2 coming into the house as the most seasoned fighter and took this opportunity lightly. Luckily, there are second/third chances and has gone 8-4 in the UFC since the show aired. Record: 18-6.

Episode 7: Stephan Bonnar defeats Bobby Southworth.

Bobby Southworth: Southworth entered the house as a slight favorite at 205 though he was much older. His strengths were his athleticism, size, and grappling. He had been fighting since 1998-99 and had big show experience against Vitor Belfort. To this day I do not totally agree with this decision versus Bonnar, however; the UFC has to be delighted that Southworth did not face Griffin in the finale. Just think would could have taken place in that bout. Mr. Southworth has had an up and down career since losing to Sam Hoger in his lone UFC bout. He is still under contract with Strikeforce and is 3-2-1 since his time with Zuffa. Record: 9-6.

Episode 8: Nate Quarry leaves due to injury and Diego Sanchez defeats Josh Rafferty.

Nate Quarry: It was always easy to empathize with Nate Quarry as he has gone through a whole lot in his career. He's also very likable and emotional and that was apparent when he was kept on the show as a coach even after he was hurt. "Rock" came onto the show with a 5-1 record in smaller shows and was an interesting middle-aged prospect. He got his chance in the UFC vs. Sincaid and has had his moments in the organization ever since. He was the first fighter from the show to earn a title shot in a highlight reel KO loss to Rich Franklin. His only other loss since then has been to jiu jitsu master Demian Maia. UFC record: 6-2. Record: 11-3.

Josh Rafferty: Rafferty is easily one of the most forgettable fighters from the season because he was soft-spoken and a mid-tier talent. His recent fights mirror his early career as a good fighter in smaller shows who just cannot make the push past any b-level competition. Prior to the show he was a young prospect with a 4-3 record and had fought some tough opponents. Rafferty failed to progress in a growing sport and was easily eliminated by the top "middleweight" and lost his lone UFC appearance by Alex Karalexis. He is still beating lower level fighters and struggling against decent prospects. Record: 9-6.

Episode 9: The Forrest Griffin defeats Alex Schoenauer in his first performance.

Alex Schoenauer: Much like Rafferty, Alex is a true fighter with decent skills who never quite made it over the top. Aside from that, he was an interesting, educated guy who is actually a licensed boat captain. After his short appearance on TUF, Alex was 0-1 in the UFC helping Mike Swick earn his nickname of "quick" in a 20 second KO loss. Schoenauer is a true fighter, though, and put together a respectable record of 8-9 against mid-tier and top competition. He is mostly known for his time in the IFL and has not fought since the company went under in early 2008. Record: 14-9.

Episode 10: Kenny Florian defeats Chris Leben via cut.

Episode 11: Diego Sanchez beats Josh Koscheck via split decision.

Josh Koscheck: Here is the first example of the first one-dimentional talented wrestling athlete with tons of potential on TUF. Koscheck was successful at being able to lay and pray after training MMA for one year prior to the show. Right after the show the fans could see a work in progress that would be nearly unbeatable if ever completed. Koscheck continues to improve his striking and jiu jitsu which makes him one of the top welterweights in the world today. Koscheck's belief in his improved hands has gotten him in trouble lately, but every opponent must worry about his wrestling and power. His first bout versus Sanford was one of his only "easy" fights as he has piled up a great 10-4 record since the show. Record: 12-4.

Episode 12: Forrest Griffin defeats Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar defeats Mike Swick.

Sam Hoger: Sometimes arrogant, sometimes out of shape, always a tough guy to fight. Hoger was easily one of the least popular fighters on TUF 1 due to his attitude and theft issues. At the time, though, he was a top young prospect who had a well rounded game. He ended up fighting Bobby Southworth (the other semi-finalist loser) at the TUF finale and getting his first UFC win increasing his record to 5-0. Unfortunately, Hoger had reached his potential and went 1-3 in his next 4 fights and was sent packing in early 2007. All losses were to very good fighters and he recently came back to smaller shows going 2-0 since 2008. He is working on his MBA and is very educated and may have even started his own BJJ gym is I remember correctly. Record: 8-4.

Mike Swick: Another young veteran prospect who definitely made the most of his opportunity. It was unfortunate Swick's abilities were overshadowed by silly antics and obnoxious cast members. Mike was 5-1 with a loss to Chril Leben just before coming into the house. To me, Zuffa really dropped the ball never letting this re-match take place. After this loss, Swick was 4-0 in the UFC by mid-2006 while spending 5:08 inside the octagon. Swick progressed and re-invented himself and continues to do so to this day as a welterweight. He is now 9-1 in the organization and is deserving of a title shot versus the winner of St. Pierre and Alves. Record: 14-2

Finale: Forrest Griffin defeats Stephan Bonnar and Diego Sanchez defeats Kenny Florian.

Stephan Bonnar: These last four are fairly obvious. All of these guys have improved drastically and were a major part of MMA history. Bonnar will always be best known for his legendary bout against Forrest Griffin which "changed the face of MMA forever". Bonnar chose to slug it out with Griffin when he could have clinched and attempted takedowns since he had superior grappling. As a reward he will be forever employed by Zuffa one way or another and will always be remembered for his hilarious commentary within the TUF house. To this day his only losses have been to great fighters as he was 6-1 prior to the show. Keith Jardine is Bonnar's biggest victory to date in a career that may be looked at as mediorcre if it wasn't for his great personality and epic battle with Forrest Griffin. Record: 11-5.

Kenny Florian: He is a prime example of an inexperienced, underestimated fighter who improves at an alarming rate with every fight. Each time I've seen him fight he has a new tool which he has seemed to master overnight. Florian's training must be second to none. Prior to TUF he was an underdog with a 2-1 record who has been training part time for 2-3 years. Just like the others, he was overwhelmed in his fight against Diego Sanchez. Unlike some of the others, Florian seemed to train full time and fought twice more in the next 7 months to attain a 2-1 record in the UFC against lower level fighters. Florian only has one loss since then and is trying to become the fourth TUFer to win a UFC title (against BJ Penn) after his recent 6 fight win-streak. Record: 11-3.

Diego Sanchez: Along with Chris Leben, Diego Sanchez was a favorite to win the middleweight contract. The one difference is that Diego was already a great fighter who was above average in every aspect of the fight game. Along with the other greats, he has continued to improve and is looking to earn a lightweight title shot in the near future. Sanchez was 11-0 against some decent competition before his time on TUF and was known as a major threat on the ground. Sanchez has shown no signs of slowing down since his TUF finale win and has only lost to Fitch and Koscheck where he was undersized and injured. Record: 20-2.

Forrest Griffin: Charismatic, lucky, tough, funny, and relentless are just a few words to describe Forrest Griffin. Along with Southworth, Griffin was the favorite to win the show having already beaten top competition in the past as a part time fighter. Every single aspect was there for a superstar career. This man was destined to be the posterboy to bring MMA to the masses. Forrest was already 9-2 having fought the likes of Jeremy Horn, Chael Sonnen, Jeff Monson, and Dan Severn before even stepping foot into the octagon. His odd sense of humor and easy-going attitude won the fans over during the season and propelled him to a legendary fighter status a few short months later. Since the show he became the second TUF contestant to become a UFC champion. His ups and downs have been seen by all and he will always have a home with the UFC and will always be one of the most important fighters in MMA history. Record: 16-5.