Perhaps one of the most compelling things about the UFCs reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, is the ultra-intense rivalry between coaches. Though the current seasons coaches B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar are getting on like a house on fire, generally speaking The Ultimate Fighters coaches have often been involved in some of the most legendary rivalries in the sport Ronda Rousey Vs. Miesha Tate, Matt Hughes Vs. Matt Serra and Rampage Jackson Vs. Rashad Evans have all coached against each other on TUF. Clearly the collective tensions of competing to coach a tournament-winning fighter while fighting each other at a later event doesnt make for a friendly environment. Tito Ortiz, who had already coached in the highly entertaining TUF 3 (won by the UKs Michael Bisping), coached the eleventh series of the reality show against former friend turned enemy Chuck Liddell. However, in the shows penultimate episode it developed that Tito had incurred an injury which would prevent him taking part in the highly anticipated rematch against Liddell. Dana White, who in interviews after the event explained that he suspected that Tito never had any intention of rematching the Ice Man and faked the injury, was furious and immediately replaced Ortiz with former 185-lbs Champion Rich Franklin. The UFC made a poor attempt to sweep the whole debacle under the rug and were made to look all the more amateurish for not acting with transparency. One of the darker days in the history of The Ultimate Fighter and certainly a moment the UFC would love us to forget about.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
