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TUF 13 Dissected With a Hot Butter Knife

Those of you who read my column (both of you) will know that originally I wasn’t thrilled with Lesnar and dos Santos coaching TUF 13, mainly because I don’t think Lesnar deserves such a potential greased slide back into a title shot. In addition to that the coaches should be able to roll and spar with their team, which is difficult when you’re a hundred pounds heavier. That said, as soon as TUF 13 started I got the old juice back.

The show didn’t look as slick to me, perhaps because it lacked the necessity for prospects to fight their way into the show. Also, the coaches didn’t pick their teams in front of the cast, but with Dana. Change is good, but if something isn’t broke, why fix it?

Somehow it was as if the thing was shot with a hand held, which could be a good thing.

Off the bat Brock surprised me with his professional attitude, especially while picking teams with dos Santos in Dana’s office. I’m not sure why it surprised me. After all, I don’t know the man. I suppose it’s his former disrespectful cage persona that sticks with me; one we can easily think is the real Brock Lesnar. It’s not. One thing about Lesnar, the UFC champ of one-liners, is you know he’d be a hoot to hang with: “Let’s see if we can make chicken salad from chicken shit”? But then I’d laugh at his jokes even if they weren’t funny.

Everyone who loves the UFC and TUF already knows Lesnar, so this season is a chance for fans not only to see a new crop of potential UFC contenders, but to get to know a potential future UFC heavyweight champ in dos Santos, who loves nothing more than to give fans what they want: stand up wars and stellar KO power.

Junior dos Santos astonished with his greatly improved English, and the fact that he’s only a shave smaller than Lesnar. It’s the first time I’ve seen them side by side. I have to hand it to Dana: now I can’t wait to see that heavyweight rumble. And hey, if Cigano can learn English, Lesnar can learn to strike.

I know nothing about the welterweight fighter cast at this point (my bad), except for the order they were picked. I’ll be going though their records over the next few days. Junior’s opting to pit his #1 against Lesnar’s #8 was smart. Too many coaches and fighters go the macho route, wanting the toughest match up, forgetting this is a reality show where strategy, as well as fighting skills, should be employed to win or place high, so that a future in the UFC is possible.

The premier fight was a ground and pound yawner but the winner, dos Santos team member Shamar Bailey, sports one of the best shoulder tattoos ever (among other things a chain link fence), and his opponent, team Lesnar's Nordin Asrih, is a Muslim with a German accent. As the UFC continues to explode worldwide, don’t be surprised one day to see in the cage an albino from Iceland fighting out of Kenya and speaking in clicks and pops.

GSP got far ahead of Koscheck in wins in their TUF season but ultimately it didn’t really matter, so Brock shouldn’t worry too much. It’s only the first fight. The coaches are there to teach, and in the end it isn’t about them. Cigano has the advantage of Big Nog, his mentor, having previously been a coach. Big Nog should have a lot to impart to his protege. Look for that to be a factor in Junior dos Santos’ favor.


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TUF 13 Dissected With a Hot Butter Knife Those of you who read my column (both of you) will know that originally I wasn’t thrilled with Lesnar and dos Santos coaching TUF 13, mainly because I don’t think Lesnar deserves such a potential greased slide back into a title shot. In addition to that the coaches should be able to roll and spar with their team, which is difficult when you’re a hundred pounds heavier. That said, as soon as TUF 13 started I got the old juice back. The show didn’t look as slick to me, perhaps because it lacked the necessity for prospects to fight their way into the show. Also, the coaches didn’t pick their teams in front of the cast, but with Dana. Change is good, but if something isn’t broke, why fix it? Somehow it was as if the thing was shot with a hand held, which could be a good thing. Off the bat Brock surprised me with his professional attitude, especially while picking teams with dos Santos in Dana’s office. I’m not sure why it surprised me. After all, I don’t know the man. I suppose it’s his former disrespectful cage persona that sticks with me; one we can easily think is the real Brock Lesnar. It’s not. One thing about Lesnar, the UFC champ of one-liners, is you know he’d be a hoot to hang with: “Let’s see if we can make chicken salad from chicken shit”? But then I’d laugh at his jokes even if they weren’t funny. Everyone who loves the UFC and TUF already knows Lesnar, so this season is a chance for fans not only to see a new crop of potential UFC contenders, but to get to know a potential future UFC heavyweight champ in dos Santos, who loves nothing more than to give fans what they want: stand up wars and stellar KO power. Junior dos Santos astonished with his greatly improved English, and the fact that he’s only a shave smaller than Lesnar. It’s the first time I’ve seen them side by side. I have to hand it to Dana: now I can’t wait to see that heavyweight rumble. And hey, if Cigano can learn English, Lesnar can learn to strike. I know nothing about the welterweight fighter cast at this point (my bad), except for the order they were picked. I’ll be going though their records over the next few days. Junior’s opting to pit his #1 against Lesnar’s #8 was smart. Too many coaches and fighters go the macho route, wanting the toughest match up, forgetting this is a reality show where strategy, as well as fighting skills, should be employed to win or place high, so that a future in the UFC is possible. > Check out the UFC apparel & hats and Punishment MMA clothing & merchandise online through ProFighting-fans.com! The premier fight was a ground and pound yawner but the winner, dos Santos team member Shamar Bailey, sports one of the best shoulder tattoos ever (among other things a chain link fence), and his opponent, team Lesnar's Nordin Asrih, is a Muslim with a German accent. As the UFC continues to explode worldwide, don’t be surprised one day to see in the cage an albino from Iceland fighting out of Kenya and speaking in clicks and pops. GSP got far ahead of Koscheck in wins in their TUF season but ultimately it didn’t really matter, so Brock shouldn’t worry too much. It’s only the first fight. The coaches are there to teach, and in the end it isn’t about them. Cigano has the advantage of Big Nog, his mentor, having previously been a coach. Big Nog should have a lot to impart to his protege. Look for that to be a factor in Junior dos Santos’ favor. By Renko Styranka ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer The Ultimate Fighter logo used with permission from the UFC