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#4. Encourages fighters to showcase their personalities
Another reason why TUF is important is because the show encourages fighters to showcase their personalities. TUF is unique in that it’s a reality show. Reality TV has always relied on captivating personalities to increase ratings. The interview scenes help introduce the fighters to the audience. Interview scenes and interactions in the fighter house is what leads to the audience towards being invested in the competitors.
Participating on TUF is a great opportunity for fighters to gain exposure. Being seen on TUF week-after-week can be just as beneficial as competing on the undercard of a UFC Fight Night event.
Showcasing the personalities of fighters is a win-win for the promotion and the TUF competitors. The promotion gains more viewers and trends on social media and the fighters gain more of a following.
#3. TUF provides fighters a pathway to the UFC
TUF provides fighters with a pathway into the UFC. The UFC is viewed as the premier MMA promotion and rightfully so. The promotion has grown leaps and bounds since its inaugural event and now garners mainstream attention. With that in mind, it’s understandable why fighters strive to get the opportunity to compete in the UFC. However, it’s not that easy.
Many TUF alumni have received an opportunity to compete in the UFC even if they were defeated on the show. In some cases, competing on TUF was the only way they could get a UFC contract.
Uriah Hall is a great example of a fighter whose path to the UFC went through TUF. To this day, Hall’s spin-kick knockout of Adam Cella is one of the top knockouts in the show’s history. The knockout was so devastating that Hall became both the favorite to win and the most feared striker on the show.
Hall has been in the UFC for 8 years and has had his fair share of success. Although he wasn't the TUF winner or UFC middleweight champion, he knocked out Anderson Silva in his final UFC fight. One could argue that his win over Silva was more important than winning a title. The reputation Hall earned from his time on TUF can be credited for him being considered as an opponent for Silva.
Watch Hall's memorable knockout on TUF below:
