5 Lessons Learned From UFC Fight Night 51

4. Being TUF Champion Just Isn't What It Used To Be

The Ultimate Fighter 20's eventual champion is going to be the exception to the rule, as the current season features the best strawweights in the world, but aside from that, being TUF Champion sure doesn't mean much these days.

Efrain Escudero won season eight of TUF, and proceeded to wash out of the UFC, missing weight in his final bout. He came back for a second run in 2011, and went 0-2. Cut again, he came back for UFC Fight Night 51 - and lost to TUF Brazil 2 champ Leonardo Santos.

The win was almost a gift for Santos as the UFC appeared to protect their current champ at the expense of a former one, but it shows that being a TUF champion just isn't what it used to be. Too much talent bypasses the show, and what's left is more often than not unable to really excel in the UFC these days.

TUF 20 has solved that problem, but the UFC can't launch a new division every season.

 
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Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.