The Ultimate Fighter 8 is the subject of a 13-page story in the December issue of Muscle &Fitness, on sale now: http://www.muscleandfitness.
Here’s a Q&A with author of the piece, Eric Velazquez.
What were your impressions of Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as coaches?
>> They are both very impressive but for different reasons. Nogueira comes across as a guy who has done nothing but push, pull and sweat his way to the top and he expects his fighters to do the same. It’s a very blue-collar kind of operation on that team and they do a lot of very explosive exercise to get and stay strong during the six weeks. Mir, on the other hand, is more calculated and cerebral with how he runs his team. He knows his exercise science and builds his programs accordingly, but without turning his team’s training sessions into weight room boot camp. He knows they have a lot on their plate already with the skill training and doesn’t want to break them down too much. So they have very different approaches but are both top notch guys.
What was Dana White like as a person and businessman on the show?
>> As everyone knows, Dana speaks his mind. He’s uncensored, but that’s what makes him so refreshing. He doesn’t spend time looking for the right answer. He just tells you the truth. When we asked why there’s never been anything like this done with regard to the nature of the training on TUF, he said straight out that the biggest complaint the guys have is that they bust their asses and so little of it gets shown. He knows how difficult this stuff is. No fighter in the world ever has to show up in top form and hold it there for six weeks. It’s hell for these guys and he is fully aware of it. You can tell how much respect he has for these guys with every word that pours out of his mouth.
What did you learn about reality TV and the TUF show from your experience there?
>> I learned that TUF is like no other reality show on television. Period. On other “reality” shows, people can “act” a certain way to give off the image they want portrayed on television. But in the Octagon, there’s no hiding truth. You’re either a winner, or you’re not. You’re either going to get up or you’re not. There’s no hiding in there. That is likely the reason why the last 15-20 minutes of every show are dedicated to fight prep — because that is, flat-out, as real as it gets.
Who was the most interesting person you encountered?
>> The most interesting person I encountered there was Frank Mir. He is the antithesis of how you expect a fighter to speak and carry himself. Not at all thuggish or withdrawn, Mir is quite the chatter when it comes to his craft. And he KNOWS his stuff. He KNOWS how to give an interview. Sitting there with him, he was mentioning how snorkel training is like negatives for your aerobic system, putting things perfectly into M&F-speak for our readers. It was great. He’s much much smarter and articulate than any fighter I’ve ever spoken to.
What was the best moment for you while you were there?
>> I went there expecting to train with one of the teams. When I saw what Nogueira’s team was doing — plyometrics, weight training, mitt work — I was excited at the idea of getting that kind of workout in. I’ve boxed and lifted weights for years, so I knew I’d feel really comfortable with all of that. Then, the producers let me know that I’d be working with Mir’s team. “Okay,” I thought. “His training can’t be that much different.” Mir tells me that it’s a jiu-jitsu day and I nearly turned around and left. I have absolutely no experience in any martial arts and had zero desire to get contorted. But I did it anyway — and I loved it.
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