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Former contestant Roxanne Modafferi reviews TUF 32: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko

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As a gamer who’s had the privilege of witnessing countless UFC fights and following the journeys of these fearless warriors, I can confidently say that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) has been an unparalleled experience. While many viewers tune in for the dramatic twists, I personally appreciate the show for its ability to humanize the fighters, making each fight card more engaging and personal.

A significant number of viewers tune into The Ultimate Fighter for the dramatic aspects typically associated with reality shows. However, an often underappreciated factor is its role in offering insights into the background and personalities of UFC fighters. This enriches fight cards as it allows fans to follow the careers of undercard fighters, creating a sense of investment as they progress and eventually compete on the main card. The familiarity gained from TUF makes it easier to recall fighters, even those with challenging names, such as “That’s the guy with the stylish hair from Uzbekistan on TUF who nearly hit his teammate while he was wearing only underwear.”

In the recent season, we had TUF 32: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko, a spectacle that was well worth your time. The characters were distinct and the fights were exciting. Initially airing on Spike TV, it was filled with drama, which made for entertaining viewing. However, when it shifted to FOX Sports (now ESPN+), the producers asked the cast members to minimize excessive drama to maintain a good image. Instead of promoting drunken antics like urinating on each other’s sushi, they focused on capturing footage from the fighters’ hometowns, training sessions, and family life. The fighters also shared their personal stories in interviews. Initially, the production quality was poor, resembling amateur home videos, but it has since improved significantly. What made TUF 32 stand out was that almost all the participants hailed from countries outside the USA.

TUF 32 best moments

Here are some things that stood out to me during The Ultimate Fighter 32.

  • Seeing Roedie Roet’s hometown footage of South Africa, where he grew up on a family farm.
  • Seeing footage of Lithuania and hearing Žygimantas Ramaška’s story, since we don’t often get fighters from that country.
  • Everything about Robert Valentine from Switzerland, who has Norse runes and the anime Naruto tattoos. He quotes, “the old Nordic gods are crying for violence” and also “victory or Valhalla.”
  • Robert Valentin knocking out his opponent with an elbow in the first round when he came in hard and fast.
  • A knee bar attempt amidst a crazy battle that didn’t turn out the way anyone thought.
  • Kaan Ofli’s story of being an Australian who relocated with his wife to Bali, Indonesia.
  • A complaint was made about a fighter throwing an unprotected elbow in training  (Ryan Loder and Edwin Cooper), which is a legitimate issue that most people aren’t aware of. People’s fights can get canceled through needless injury in the gym by careless training partners.
  • The fights at the end of the episodes were all good and exciting, with fighters going for finishes as much as they could
  • The coaches were cordial to each other and didn’t bicker, but obviously had a rivalry, which made Alexa and Valentina appear classy on TV.

Season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter showcased thrilling bouts and unforgettable personalities, making it a truly outstanding season.

Roxanne Modafferi participated in The Ultimate Fighter during its eighteenth season, offering a distinctive viewpoint on this reality series.

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2024-08-31 18:13

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