If the purpose of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is to groom up-and-coming talent for a specific weight class then what’s the point to bring in fighters who aren’t even going to compete in that weight class once the show wraps?
Here’s a snip from TUF 6 welterweight finalist Mac Danzig:
“I decided that before I even went on the show. I really have no business fighting the top five guys at 170, or even the top ten when it comes down to it. It’s not that I can’t beat them, but if you put me in with Matt Hughes or Georges St-Pierre ten times, I’m gonna win a number of those times, but realistically, with all skills being the same, those guys are extremely skilled and much bigger than me. I walk around at 170, those guys walk around at 190, so it’s not a good idea for me. I really want to make a run for a title, and 155 is my weight class. I feel that within a couple of years I can be a world champion at 155. [It’s] the toughest weight class there is by far, and that’s where I’ve got to be. I’m looking forward to jumping in the mix with those guys and I think that’s where the exciting fights are.”
It was no secret even before the first show aired that Danzig was not a 170-pound fighter. He joins Joe Stevenson, Rashad Evans, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian, Din Thomas, Melvin Guillard and a host of other talented fighters who competed on the show at certain weights only to drop down afterwards.
More than likely there’s more going on behind the scenes. Furthermore, fighters such as Mike Swick often make the decision several fights into their official UFC careers.
Whatever.
It should be fun to watch Danzig scrap with the other lightweights competing under the UFC banner. There is certainly no shortage of talented fighters in the division.
Note: Danzig will take on Tommy Speer during the TUF 6 Finale this Saturday, December 8 for the six-figure UFC contract and bragging rights as the welterweight winner of the 16-man tournament-style competition.
59 Comments »
Mac is right..
Tommy will send him back to 155 on saturday…
He is absolutly right and I hope he doesnt ewaste anytime at 170. Right after the finale he should imediatly drop down to 155 where he wont be physically overwhelmed everytime he gets in the cage. I could see him making a run at the 155 lb title in a year or 2.
It’s too bad that the UFC doesn’t have an Ultimate Fighter show for 155s, 170s, 185s, 205s and HWs once a year. There’s 52 weeks in a year, and so each weight class could have 10 weeks of air time. I realize that the networks’ seasons work a bit differently, and if that’s the case then the two weakest weight classes could be combined in one show. But that would enable the most competitive fights to happen because the smaller guys could fight in the division they belong in rather than with bigger guys because they don’t know when their next chance may be.
i still dont see him as a champ in any category
“with all skills being the same, those guys are extremely skilled.” Is this Danzig’s weak attempt to say Hughes and St. Pierre are better without really belittling himself or call himself a loser? lol….
is that blod on him outside??? in the pictur
The LW division is definitly stacked. But with a win over Speers in the finale, and one successful LW fight, I can see Mac reaching #10. Fighting for the belt in 2 years is not a stretch. MANY good fights await him in the LW division.
Swick fought at 205 on TUF1, 185 after the series, and just recently announced 170.
I’ve got no problem with guys doing this. Just think if Kenny Florian had waited until TUF season 5 or 6 or whenever to fight at LW instead of trying middleweight on season 1. Holy missed opportunities Batman.
Mac Danzig is a stud of a fighter. But at least he is honest and knows that he should not be in the octagon with guys like Hughes and GSP. You have got to admire him for being honest in that regard.
How can anyone cry over the fact that he is dropping in weight ? Boxers do it all the time for big money fights moving up or down in weight. It’s a common practice.
After Danzig beats up Speers and earns a nice UFC contract, he is perfectly in the right to fight at any weight he wishes. Quite frankly, he would be better fighting at 155.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think taping lasts 6 or 7 weeks and these guys have 1-2 days to make weight?
How do you expect a fighter to make weight and be ready to fight in his optimum weight class with a 2 day notice?
I can’t imagine maintaining a fighting weight for that long. It makes sense that these fighters would maintain as much strength as possible and cut no more than 10 while on the show.
Again, correct me if I am wrong about taping length and weight cut time, but it makes sense to me that any TUF fighter would fight one weight class up from his actual professional fighting weight. I can see the point if it were 2 weight classes.
Didn’t Troy Mandaloniz say he was around 190 when they were looking for someone to fight Danzig so he didn’t take the fight because he didn’t think he could make weight?
Thats a lot of weight to cut in two days. Some of the guys like Billy Miles and Matt Arroyo looked even larger then him. They have to be pushing 200lbs. That has to effect them on that show. I think it might actually be an advantage to be like Mac for the purposes of that show and not have to cut weight at all.
I find it kinda funny how some guys figure that if they drop weight they will do better. Sure if you walk around at the weight you fight at, you have a disadvantage. But with Swick going from 205 to 185 and now to 170 and once he looses a couple here he will drop to 155?
I think they use weight as an excuse when in reality the skill of their opponents are so strong so why not just accept that you can’t compete with the competition that has been put in front of you.
Sounds like Mac is already thinking he is going to loose by talking that he should drop weight. He has fought ok at this weight and why is he talking about dropping weight even before he has tested himself against the premier of the talent in the weight division?
[quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.
absolutely no problem with competing on the show at 170 with no plans to fight at 170 in the future. Was he supposed to wait 2 years until the next LW show? If he’s good enough to compete at 170, I have no problem. The Swick one bothered me the most. They couldn’t have found another LHW and had Swick go at MW? That one’s on the UFC, though. I’d never hold it against the fighter.
“why is he talking about dropping weight even before he has tested himself against the premier of the talent in the weight division?”
he’s not really dropping weight; he’s returning to the weight class he originally fought in. Danzig was never a ww. he gained weight to make it on the show. now that he is on the verge of his big break, he’s going back to where he’s comfortable.
and Danzig can challenge for a lw title. Danzig is different than all theses other guys from the shows. Danzig in time could have gotten a legitimate contract with the UFC based on his experience alone. he’s “legit”; not some Kendall Grove reality tv star.
I think Tommy Speer will do well in WW and Mac Danzig is going to do well in LW.
[quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
maybe BJ but no way Florian.i think Mac would mop the floor with Florian
Sherk said a similar thing, hughes and gsp(his only losses) were too big and strong for him, sherk I guess feels he needs to be stronger than his opponents to win.
Mac vs KenFlo or Nate Diaz? I would like to see.
[quote comment=”228247″]Sherk said a similar thing, hughes and gsp(his only losses) were too big and strong for him, sherk I guess feels he needs to be stronger than his opponents to win.[/quote]
And what’s the best way to make himself a lot stronger in a short amount of time?
[quote post=”4139″] i still dont see him as a champ in any category
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.
maybe BJ but no way Florian.i think Mac would mop the floor with Florian[/quote]
am i the only one that wasn’t impressed with any of mac’s performances on TUF? in each of his fights, all he did was take obvious opportunities that were practically handed to him that any average fighter would take. he could sure run his mouth though. he thinks he’s God’s gift to earth and he’s a grumpy sumbitch. i just don’t see why you think he could beat florian or even come close with any top talent in the UFC for that matter.
[quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
I don’t think Mac would have made the final for TUF 5. In fact, maybe he could have handled Maynard, but I think J-Lau would take Mac out pretty quickly if they matched up. If he can’t beat Lauzon, Gamburyan, or Nate Diaz, he’s not going to get close to the 155 belt.
totally right…what good is it to have the new middleweight show if those guys are going to drop to 170…we need depth at 185, not 170
Cutting a lot of weight before a fight seems like a bad idea to me.
[quote comment=”228267″][quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
I don’t think Mac would have made the final for TUF 5. In fact, maybe he could have handled Maynard, but I think J-Lau would take Mac out pretty quickly if they matched up. If he can’t beat Lauzon, Gamburyan, or Nate Diaz, he’s not going to get close to the 155 belt.[/quote]
I agree this cast was lame, how someone like tommy made it to the finals….yikes, testament to a lousy cast.
i think tommy was underrated he has alot of heart and the point of the show is for them to get better and he will onlt get better from here and i think mac should stay at 170
[quote post=”4139″]I don’t think Mac would have made the final for TUF 5. In fact, maybe he could have handled Maynard, but I think J-Lau would take Mac out pretty quickly if they matched up. If he can’t beat Lauzon, Gamburyan, or Nate Diaz, he’s not going to get close to the 155 belt. [/quote]
Mac has displayed in is previous fights that he is an excellent fighter. He is a former KOTC champion, and to compare hime to Gambi or J Lau is ignorant. The have potential but are not at the same level yet. Mac may have a stale personality but give him credit as a fighter. HE has the talent to make some noise in the 55’s
I could careless about what weight class he fights at. What bugs me is that the reality show is suppose to find new up and coming talent. Mac had no business being on the show with all the fighting experience he has.
Don’t be so sure that Danzig can’t hang in the lw division…
I think he was very careful to just be honest and say 155lb is a better weight class, he can hang with the top 10 as soon as he gets there. In a few years with good training he could be champ.
I think Danzig would be a gatekeeper in the -155 division
[quote comment=”228272″]totally right…what good is it to have the new middleweight show if those guys are going to drop to 170…we need depth at 185, not 170[/quote]
seriously..they all drop weight then realize they need to drop more.. like come on..you should already know what you can cut
ya this year was the worst case ever!!!…i can find 20 guys at my work that can KILL half of thees guys…does that mean they should of been on the tuf show??… IMO they could of got way better cast..let the coaches pick the fighter from auditions..and plus then the coach will have a better understanding of the fighter.. i hope next year will be better..
[quote comment=”228325″]ya this year was the worst case ever!!!…i can find 20 guys at my work that can KILL half of thees guys…does that mean they should of been on the tuf show??… IMO they could of got way better cast..let the coaches pick the fighter from auditions..and plus then the coach will have a better understanding of the fighter.. i hope next year will be better..[/quote]
I thought there were worse guys on TUF 3. That season had some truly awful guys in the competition and there were only 8 in each weight class. I still remember all of the garbage that Nickels was talking before he fought Hamill. Then he went out against an injured Hammill and got destroyed.
I’ve never seen a TUF where more fighters have frozen up and forgotten how to fight than this season.
BTW is that real blood all over Danzig in the picture? I would think that would gross a vegan out pretty bad.
[quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
Agreed,, I feel he has talent and drive however BJ, Florian, Sherk and several other very talented fighters from the WEC would punish him big time.
[quote comment=”228325″]ya this year was the worst case ever!!!…i can find 20 guys at my work that can KILL half of thees guys…does that mean they should of been on the tuf show??… IMO they could of got way better cast..let the coaches pick the fighter from auditions..and plus then the coach will have a better understanding of the fighter.. i hope next year will be better..[/quote]
I like this idea. They could cut all the applicants down to the top 25 or 30, then have a whole show of the two coaches evaluating and picking the eight they want on their teams. This would at least help weed out some of the tools that get on the show because of their personalities instead of their fighting ability.
In response to ActionJackson
“am i the only one that wasn’t impressed with any of mac’s performances on TUF? in each of his fights, all he did was take obvious opportunities that were practically handed to him that any average fighter would take. he could sure run his mouth though. he thinks he’s God’s gift to earth and he’s a grumpy sumbitch. i just don’t see why you think he could beat florian or even come close with any top talent in the UFC for that matter. ”
I do not fully disagree with you but in Mac’s defense, he never really had to “turn it on” if you will because all of the competition he was facing was lackluster. He is a veteran fighter if you look at his past history with other organizations.
Mac certainly displays great head movement in fact you rarely see enough of it in MMA. It is a necessity in boxing and since striking is one aspect of MMA, head movement is important. There are not a ton of guys who have great head movement.
Mac also has great strength for a guy who will ultimately fight at 155 pounds and he has good defense.
[quote comment=”228286″][quote comment=”228267″][quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
I don’t think Mac would have made the final for TUF 5. In fact, maybe he could have handled Maynard, but I think J-Lau would take Mac out pretty quickly if they matched up. If he can’t beat Lauzon, Gamburyan, or Nate Diaz, he’s not going to get close to the 155 belt.[/quote]
I agree this cast was lame, how someone like tommy made it to the finals….yikes, testament to a lousy cast.[/quote]
Tommy made it to the finals after some very hard fought battles. Then knocked out a very talented fighter to get there. I have seen him fight in the WEC as well and I feel he deserves this shot.
i am totally fine with a fighter going to a weight class that they feel is better suited for them, whatever makes for more exciting fights im all for.
All this is is Mac making excuses before the fight for why he is going to lose.
Wait did he say he could beat GSP a number of times ? HAHA
Heck the guy is an idiot but I liked him.
More comments like this make me wonder if his head is screwed on right….
[quote comment=”228256″][quote post=”4139″]
i still dont see him as a champ in any category
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.
maybe BJ but no way Florian.i think Mac would mop the floor with Florian[/quote]
am i the only one that wasn’t impressed with any of mac’s performances on TUF? in each of his fights, all he did was take obvious opportunities that were practically handed to him that any average fighter would take. he could sure run his mouth though. he thinks he’s God’s gift to earth and he’s a grumpy sumbitch. i just don’t see why you think he could beat florian or even come close with any top talent in the UFC for that matter.[/quote]
dude he has fought 21 fights before the show and he submitted grapplers. i bet you didnt see his fights before the show he lost 3 decisions and one ko to sakurai.
on top of his list of victories at pro mma he has had a very sucessful amateur career. to say joe lauzon is better than him? i cant say manvel or nate arent just as good but no way is joe as good as mac.
like it or not tommy speer is also an animal.
he beat his oponents on the show and he was 9-1 previously he is also in the learning phase so he has alot improvement in him. there was a time where matt hughes was not alot more than muscle and the same can be said about josh koscheck
Yeah I dont understand why they dont find actual welterweights for a show about welterweights, kind of a no brainer. What, are there no deserving welterweights out there who could have been on the show? I think the fights could be a lot better if the fighters didnt have to cut so much weight in a couple of days, or have to gain weight in order to fight. Does anyone know why they dont pick people who are true to the weightclass, like I said there must be tons of fighters out there in the welterweight division who could have made it on the show? Just curious
[quote comment=”228464″]Wait did he say he could beat GSP a number of times ? HAHA
Heck the guy is an idiot but I liked him.
More comments like this make me wonder if his head is screwed on right….[/quote]
Y cant a fighter speak the truth with out idiotic fans like you saying somethi9ng stupid like: He’s scared, or he’s making excuses. Grow up Klown. Fighters dont get scared. The only fighter that gets scared is Tito Ortiz!
[quote post=”4139″]Wait did he say he could beat GSP a number of times ? HAHA[/quote]
Yeah, maybe if GSP moved his hummingbird feeder….maybe.
[quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
couldn’t agree more with that statement. And he says if you put him in the ring with St. Pierre and Hughes ten times, he “wins a number of them”. Is he freaking kidding? Mac they would chew you up and spit you out very quickly.
[quote comment=”228494″][quote comment=”228464″]Wait did he say he could beat GSP a number of times ? HAHA
Heck the guy is an idiot but I liked him.
More comments like this make me wonder if his head is screwed on right….[/quote]
Y cant a fighter speak the truth with out idiotic fans like you saying somethi9ng stupid like: He’s scared, or he’s making excuses. Grow up Klown. Fighters dont get scared. The only fighter that gets scared is Tito Ortiz![/quote]
Your the clown buddy, I don’t see anywhere in J. Camerons post that says he is scared or making excuses. Learn how to read before you go off on a post. I think what J. Cameron was trying to say is that he is out of his mind and isn’t thinking straight.
[quote comment=”228286″][quote comment=”228267″][quote comment=”228214″][quote comment=”228146″]i still dont see him as a champ in any category[/quote]
I think BJ or Florian would tie him up in a knot.[/quote]
I don’t think Mac would have made the final for TUF 5. In fact, maybe he could have handled Maynard, but I think J-Lau would take Mac out pretty quickly if they matched up. If he can’t beat Lauzon, Gamburyan, or Nate Diaz, he’s not going to get close to the 155 belt.[/quote]
I agree this cast was lame, how someone like tommy made it to the finals….yikes, testament to a lousy cast.[/quote]
Agreed, what a lousy cast! Wow, that Blake was a powerhouse!!!!
[quote comment=”228112″]Mac is right..
Tommy will send him back to 155 on saturday…[/quote]
Not to brag, but I called Tommy Speers back before the show even started. I was, however, rooting against him the entire time because he was on Hughes’s team.
Is it just me, or did Mac seem out of place this season anyway. He was the KOTC champ for god sake.He had 30 fights. They should have just given him a contract. A few guys here think hes going to be the next big thing, could be, but I dont think he has been tested yet. Of course he’s gonna look good against the other guys from this season, but what would happen if he were to fight a “B” level fighter like Ken FLo? We shall see.
[quote comment=”228493″]Yeah I dont understand why they dont find actual welterweights for a show about welterweights, kind of a no brainer. What, are there no deserving welterweights out there who could have been on the show? I think the fights could be a lot better if the fighters didnt have to cut so much weight in a couple of days, or have to gain weight in order to fight. Does anyone know why they dont pick people who are true to the weightclass, like I said there must be tons of fighters out there in the welterweight division who could have made it on the show? Just curious[/quote]
so if your a fighter trying to make it to the ufc and a casting call comes up for a different weight class than yours you wouldnt go out for it? what if ken flo or mike swick woulda went with that line of thinking?
what about the BIRD feeder haha
tweet tweet
[quote comment=”228156″]Mac Danzig is a stud of a fighter. But at least he is honest and knows that he should not be in the octagon with guys like Hughes and GSP. You have got to admire him for being honest in that regard.
How can anyone cry over the fact that he is dropping in weight ? Boxers do it all the time for big money fights moving up or down in weight. It’s a common practice.
After Danzig beats up Speers and earns a nice UFC contract, he is perfectly in the right to fight at any weight he wishes. Quite frankly, he would be better fighting at 155.[/quote]
Danzig could definitely be a big threat at 155lbs, he’s already tough as hell at 170lb and really strong… I think he may actually submit or knockout Speers in this fight even though I give Tommy the edge in this fight.
[quote comment=”228283″]Cutting a lot of weight before a fight seems like a bad idea to me.[/quote]
I’ve never understood “cutting weight” to make a weigh in. Whether it be boxing, wrestling, Judo (all three I’ve competed in) or MMA. I’ve never “cut” to make the weight class. I think the whole idea is wrong.
You should have to weigh in and weigh out of fights. Gets rid of all of the Sean Sherks out there that cut 30 pounds to fight in a class they can lay and pray their way to victory in.
If Sherk had to weigh out, he’d be getting pounded out by guys like GSP at 185 (where GSP should be as well) where he belongs. This “cutting weight” crap is BS, plain and simple.
thats interesting juji, i can definatly see where you are coming from.
[quote comment=”228813″][quote comment=”228493″]Yeah I dont understand why they dont find actual welterweights for a show about welterweights, kind of a no brainer. What, are there no deserving welterweights out there who could have been on the show? I think the fights could be a lot better if the fighters didnt have to cut so much weight in a couple of days, or have to gain weight in order to fight. Does anyone know why they dont pick people who are true to the weightclass, like I said there must be tons of fighters out there in the welterweight division who could have made it on the show? Just curious[/quote]
so if your a fighter trying to make it to the ufc and a casting call comes up for a different weight class than yours you wouldnt go out for it? what if ken flo or mike swick woulda went with that line of thinking?[/quote]
Jesus Christ, thats not what I said at all. I was asking why the UFC cant find people who actually belong in the weight class that they are fighting in. When did I say that ken flo or swick shouldnt have bothered to try out? Obviously if your a fighter you would do whatever you could to get a shot in the UFC. My question is, wouldnt it be better if a show about welterweights featured welterweights?
If Mac drops to 155, he has to fight Cole Miller. After he got so upset that Miller knocked Andy Wang into next year at the TUF 5 finale, Mac should put his money where his mouth was and fight Cole.