WEC and International Versions of "The Ultimate Fighter" Are in the Works

It’s tough to have a long-running television series of any genre, but reality television has it especially rough. The reality TV fad came and went, first gaining major acclaim with shows like “Survivor”, only to fizzle out with a steady stream of shows focused in inane or insane gimmicks filled with non-likeable, or brain-dead, or just plain boring participants. Heading into the twelfth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, the popular UFC reality TV show has displayed its staying power season after season. Season 10, for example, delivered some of the show’s best ratings ever, despite having a relatively weak cast. At the recent UFC Fan Expo in Boston, UFC President Dana White laid out some future plans for TUF, which include international versions as well as a version centered on the UFC’s sister-promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting.

White’s answer to a WEC version of TUF was very brief, while his plans for an international version were a bit longer. When a fan asked if a season of TUF devoted solely to the WEC was just a rumor, White cryptically answered “nope”. When asked about a possible international version of the show, White responded: “What we’re starting to do now is we’re working on ways to get the “Ultimate Fighter” in other countries. We’re going to start getting the “Ultimate Fighter” in each of these different countries, and try to figure out, when we have the finales, the finales will be different countries coming together and everybody fights.”

I love the idea of an international cast of fighters representing their home country, but I’m in favor of slowly implementing this idea, rather than rushing it right out of the gate. What I mean is this: I personally thought that Season 9, “Team US vs. Team UK”, was a great idea and one of the best seasons in recent history. The country vs. country dynamic was very entertaining, and it really helped fuel some very entertaining fights and some very entertaining in-house moments. But for the foreseeable future, I think the UFC should stick to a “Team US vs. Team X” format. I don’t want to come off as xenophobic, but I’m just not quite sure that mainstream MMA is ready for something like “Team Japan vs. Team Mexico”.

I think the fans are ready for international talent, but I don’t think we’re ready for a show that features only international talent. It’s just more fun when you have some hometown boys to root for. I’m not saying that mainstream MMA fans will never embrace a season of TUF with only foreign talent, but for now, I think the best course of action is to keep planting the seeds of an international-only season. Now, this is just me, but I think something like “Team Brazil vs. Team USA” would do some huge ratings. It’s not a matter of prejudice, but a matter of fact: almost all of the great Mixed Martial Artists are either Brazilian or American. The UFC has even booked several “Brazil vs. America” Pay-Per-Views, even if they don’t come out and admit it. I’d also like to see “Team USA vs. Team Canada”, or “Team USA vs. Team Mexico”, maybe even “Team USA vs. Team Japan”.

In regards to a WEC version of TUF, this is another fantastic idea. I’ll say this right now: if the UFC makes a WEC-only season of TUF, that season will give us some of the greatest fights of any TUF season ever. The lighter weight classes have always produced great fights, and with the added pressure to both impress mainstream fans and justify an all-WEC season, you’ll likely get some incredibly motivated fighters willing to lay it all on the line for every single fight.

So what do you think, fans and friends? Are you ready for an international season of TUF, or a WEC-exclusive season of TUF?