UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA
"The Ultimate Fighter" likely saved the UFC from bankruptcy and maybe even the entire sport of mixed martial arts.
The success of the UFC's reality series, which launched in 2004 under Spike TV, has been evident through the years. From creating a generation of MMA fans to multiple UFC champions, TUF has been an important part of UFC history, especially in its early days when it was still fighting for public approval.
Fast-forward 20 years and 32 seasons later, and "TUF" doesn't the same cache it did back in the day. With the success of Dana White's Contender Series in recent years, which has appeared to overshadow "TUF," many have questioned if the show has run its course.
Brad Tavares, a cast-member of Season 11 of "TUF," thinks there's a place for both series and believes "TUF" can still serve an important purpose.
"I think there's a lane for both of them," Tavares told MMA Junkie. "What I see in the Contender Series, granted they do make it younger up-and-coming fighters, but I do notice about those guys fighting that they have some experience. They might not have a bunch of fights, but they have that experience, and they might've had a couple of big fights in LFA or Tuff N Uff or whatever feeder shows they have. When I think of 'TUF,' I think of myself. I had four fights. I was 22 years old. I was a baby. I spent my life, a big portion of my life, in the UFC. My fighting career, I grew up in the UFC. I feel like that's better for those younger guys, like it's kind of stages. I'd say for the younger green guys, where you can see the talent there, but they still have to evolve and form into a more complete fighter, I think 'TUF' is great for them. With the guys that are already kind of past that, I think Contender Series."
"The Ultimate Fighter 33" premiered Tuesday, celebrating 20 years of the show's history. Tavares, who is now on the tail end of his UFC career, is thankful for the show's existence. He strongly believes his appearance has significantly influenced his career for the better.
"I've been in the UFC for 15 years now, and I literally wouldn't be here without 'TUF,'" Tavares said. "That was my foot in the door. I feel like I would've eventually gotten to the UFC. It was always a goal I was chasing. But to get in at such an early age, and to have that platform to show the nation who I was, just this kid from a little island in the Pacific Ocean, not a lot of people knew who I was. ... It paved the way for me and for so many fighters."
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