With less than one month until its debut on Spike TV on September 17 at 10 p.m. ET, the full 32-member cast of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 has been revealed via SI.com.
This season will feature a mix of light heavyweight and lightweight prospects who will compete in a tournament-style format until one man from each weight class is left standing at the TUF 8 Finale on December 13.
Similar to last season, the contestants will be expected to fight their way into the house in the first episode of the show. UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Frank Mir will serve as opposing coaches.
Check out the full TUF 8 cast after the jump.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
- Ryan Bader
- Antwain Britt
- Jules Bruchez
- Lance Evans
- Karen Grigoryan
- Jason Guida
- Ryan Jimmo
- Kyle Kingsbury
- Tom Lawlor
- Ryan Lopez
- Vinicius Magalhaes
- Eric Magee
- Eliot Marshall
- Sean O’Connell
- Shane Primm
- Krzysztof Soszynski
LIGHTWEIGHTS
- Jose Aguilar
- Fernando Bernstein
- Junie Allen Browning
- Rolando Delgado
- Joseph Duarte
- Charles Diaz
- Efrain Escudero
- Brandon Garner
- David Kaplan
- Brian McLaughlin
- Wesley Murch
- Shane Nelson
- Phillipe Nover
- Ido Pariente
- John Polakowski
- George Roop
August 18th, 2008
93 Comments »
I’ve seen ” Phillippe Nover fight in the ring of Cmobat last year.. It was a short fight.. he fought a Rhino Team fighter.. won via Kimura from the guard..he looked solid on the ground..and I remember him..cuz 1 his name is almost spelled like mine..and when walked towards the ring…he had a samuri sword with him.. I’ve heard some mention of an Anderson Silva type fighter coming out of the LW batch..I wonder who it is??
Team NOG..!!! WAR MINOTAURO!!!!
Phil, you my friend, are referring to JOE DUARTE.
You all heard it here first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Attention: If you would like to find out a lil more on “The Hybrid”, also known as Joe Duarte, here you go:
copy/paste:
“”
Early message-board speculation is pointing to Joe “Hybrid” Duarte, a 24-year-old San Diego-based fighter who claims on his website that he’s been selected for Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir. Duarte is 3-0 in pro MMA, 9-0 in pro boxing, and 19-1 in Muay Thai. According to his bio page, he walks around at 185lb-190lb (remember, he’s a lightweight) and is “really, really, really RIDICULOUSLY strong,” thanks to his Chamorro ethnic background.
”
I found that snippet above, AND his last two fights here at this website, he is currently 3-0.
http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/07/03/is-joe-duarte-the-next-anderson-silva/
UlaFrano was in BIG trouble when he came out to fight Joe.. Duarte is a beast..and after peeping a few fight clips of his.. he is like a Silva/Chung Lee at 155..Crazy Thai skills he has.. with a powerful frame for 155. I’m very impressed with him. He is UFC fighter already.
and I thought “maybe theres more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking” I wonder why the UFC is adding to its two most stacked divisions?
Thanks for the heads up VM. I really wanted to know who Dana was drooling over. TIme to check this kid out. thanks again!
Nice Zoolander reference brendan.As far a the adding to stacked divisions, You can never have two many good fighters in any division.
Haha, Zoolander?!!?…Karen Grigoryan might be another one of ‘em Gamburyans and Parisyans. Of course I’ve got nothin’ about Armenians[I love the band, System of a Down!]…It’s just that I think they’re overrated, unlike the Brazilians, hehe!!
You called V1!!! JOE DUARTE.
Hey this is PUNKED gone wrong…
http://www.jokeroo.com/funnyvideos/tv_prank_gone_wrong.html
you would think they would do one for the heavyweight seeing as how they can give anyone with a good name with one win over a lower rank…a top contender label. they have to revive the heavyweights somehow…or they will lose stock in their name fighters in HW. MW division is lsowy bringing itself back up with retuning from being sidelined fighters and a few LHW dropping down to MW.
that was great
Yep, I’ve heard of Joe Duarte too. Haven’t seen him just heard about him. The name stuck with me because it reminds me of Joe Dirt trying to say Joe Dirte. That and he’s good.
am I the only guy that after last season, really doesn’t care? Great, Dana says he’ll be the next silva…guess we know who makes the final! I’ll watch, don’t get me wrong, and hope it’s good, but after last season, my hopes aren’t high!
I think you’ll find its Junie Allen Browning that Dana is talking about.
Heres a little highlight reel…
shitty music though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_7WLSQ2kbA&feature=related
wtf…
…?????
I put 2 posts up that aren’t showing….
Dana said that this new Anderson Silva kid is 24 year old. Duarte is 24. I do not know how old Junie is, I could not find. Does anyone know.
I also posted a fight of Junie’s…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJX5nu4gBks
Ca$S, do you know how hold Junie is??????????
he is 23 and from lexington KY biatches! ABOUT TIME! some of our guys got a chnce to prove themselves
The 24 year old lightweights are Joseph Duarte, Phillipe Nover (from Renzo Gracie), and Shane Nelson (from Penn).
THANK YOU GOOMBA!!!!! Right there is my CONFIRMATION that is indeed Joe Duarte. And for those saying that he is no Anderson Silva, well, NO KIDDING!!! How good of a fighter was Anderson when he was 24? NOWHERE near how good he is now. Fighters develop!
I think they are talking about Hybrid Duarte…He’s from the same island I live in and I remember in a local paper or blog that Hybrid mentioned he got some Muay Thai training at Sinister with Anderson Silva.
First of all, you guys watching the series or what? During the elimination for who’s moving in the UFC House, Joe Duarte already got eliminated. So, I don’t what are you talking about, saying he’s the next Anderson Silva!!! FYI, Joe Duarte got beat up by Philippe Nover.
Duarte’s video’s don’t suggest that he is like anderson much outside of the ten seconds he had a clench. I don’t think he will win if there is real competition for him on the show.
that is exactly what i was thinking. who is the “next a,silva” that dana eluded to? maybee it is nover indeed. ive never heard of him until you guys just mentioned seeing him fight. thats a very bold statement by dana imo, but we’ll see.
or duarte. thanks for the info and the link VM.
Anytime Bud!!!!!!
I think “The Next Spider” is all about the hype machine that Dana wants to get rollin’!!lol!
Don’t fall for the Dana hype machine.do you all remember all his HUGE announcements that were going to rock the work.Dana is just selling the show,he is a terrific salesman who could sell sand to the arabs.This Duarte guy may be good but no doubt about it,Dana will be exaggerating just to get ratings.
Is that the same Jason Guida that faught at the Adrenaline show in Chicago?
i would think so realdrew…that clay guida’s older bro it hink he has like a crazy/sick record like 26-20 i think. anyways i thought he was lightweight.
hes at 17-17 and has fought many credible fighters
not saying he hasnt fought anyone good just saying he has one of those crazy records…like travis fulton.
War Jimmo!!!!
I went to high school with that guy in Saint John NB, Canada. Never really cared for him, but hes as tough as nails, and should put on quite a show in the house.
I just watched a replay of one of his MFC fight this past Friday on HDNet Fantastic FInsihses.
You and I both. It’ll be pretty cool to see a local guy fighting on Spike. I just hope he is able to fight his way into the house.
If it is the same Jason Guida he stinks.
Yes thats the same guida that fought in the adrenaline show, and the guy their talking bout being the next silva is joe duarte, type his name in at youtube couple fights, he walks at 190 and drops to 155 so he is gonna be a monster
The UFC should really focus on finding talent in the weaker divisions like Middle and Heavyweight. With a stacked lightheavy weight division, whats the use of adding a TUF winner.
http://www.ufc-forums.com
because a lot of the fighters that stick around from TUF end up dropping a weight class. so light heavy’s will drop to middle and add more fighters to that perceived weak division.
that’s good argument JJ, never looked at it like that…
Thats true jj. Most of the fighters now, just do it to get the chance to fight for the UFC.
In ALLL honestly.. if you guys could be on the show.. who would you want as your coach??? i’d pick Big Nog… i think he’s more experienced that Mir, has been Ground game, and stand up… and LETS not mention that if the rumour is true that A.Silva will show up to help out Big Nog.. thats just a Dream to be on their team..War Nog
OH MY GOD.. If Silva appears on the show… and I’m a contestant.. I would pass out.. Come Anderson Silva!! I want to know who would rather be on Mir’s team..and why? If you can be on Nog’s.. I wonder if Nog will pull out a BJ Penn in picking teams.. as everyone to rasie their hands to whom ever wants nothing to do with Mir and wants train with Big Nog.. Out of 16 fighters, how many do you think would raise their hands?
16
hehehehehehehehe…I love it. Ithink this season will be one of the better TUF seasons.
i agree philQNY, the guys who get on big nogs team are so lucky. what a dream, to train with the nog himself and anderson silva? awesome. i think though, that team is gonna be really sore and bruised for their stay in the TUF house.
i think its all luck of the draw when it comes to the coaches. someone mentioned b.j.penn and his team didnt do so well even after he “hand” picked them. but we saw who was the better man when b.j. owned jens. i dont know, i dont think frank mir would be the lesser coach, he’s probably not the better fighter, but coaching is very different. just because you have big nog or a.silva as your “coach” for a short period of time, does’nt mean they can make you fight like them. you can only work with the talent you are given
oh for sure, i wasnt expecting nog and silva to train their 8 dudes to the level they fight at. just sayin, itd be so sick to train with anderson
Id rather be on Mir’s team, hes got Robert Drysdale with him, who would smoke nog and silva in jiu jitsu anyday of the week!
I’m brazilian so if I was one of the 16 figher’s.. I would be upset if I was not on Nog’s team.. not to take anything away from Mir.. granted he is a former UFC Champ.. but my roots are Brazil.. Nog can corner me in Portugese..Espanol..English.. Mors Code…Thelepathy…Shit I still want to go and train at his school.. just to take one of his classes would be an honor.
from a fans perspective, it would be great to roll with nog or silva, but from a fighters perspective, mir might be the beter choice. we’ll see. i personall cant wait for sept 17 and for the new season to start. it seems like forever since the last season. like PHIQNY said once “i get old around a ufc andmma calendar”. lol!
b.w. : Yo whad up bro.. us maniacs..shit I don’t even look the yr in 365 days.. I divided how many UFC/GoodMMA fight cards into 12 months.. and every event is like touching a base in baseball.. maybe I’m just not all there.. but ever since will left the 2 UFC ppv’s per year are thing..I feel like I’m getting old fast! but loving every event as that comes along except for 86!
if your not “all there”, then im as loony as 3$ bill.
REGARDING COACHES TO SEASON: I was wondering the same thing about Nog, who would be his coaches. I was thinking Anderson and Anderson’s main corner man, can’t think of his name right now. Always wears a hat and has a shaved head and veins pop out everywhere on him…
But in reality, Nog is the head coach and the two other coaches are Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida. Now that just doesn’t sound fair to me!!!! You have the HW champ, the MW champ and the uncrowned LHW champ. Now THAT is a team! They should bring in Rafael Feijao as well so he can sit around laughing at all the LHW and kick their faces in!!!!
And Feijao’s english is good..if I had to rank in order the Black House Ingles skills
1. Big NOg
2. Feijao
3a. Lyoto Machida
3b. Anderson Silva
id rather be on mirs team because i dont see a coach on team nog that was good and spoke perfect english.. i dont wanna learn something from someone who doesn’t speak my language ya know? yeah i know anderson silva and machida and the other noguieras appeared on as coaches but they all speak portugese and need translators therefore i’d go with mirs team just because i would learn more from the no language barrier
Not to mention that mir does know alot. Just watch a wec event that dude explains things perfectly. He would be like tito on the show, just a great coach who knows alot and can explain things. Doesn’t hurt to have an assistant that is amazing at bjj
it’s the same guida. he was ridiculously out of shape for the affliction card, but he did take the fight on very short notice.
does anyone know how these guys are selected, is it just a feeling that joe silva has or is based on their record….
they actually go and check out their fights
A lot of it probably has to do with their managers. If you are an up-and-coming fighter and you have a manager he better be working on you getting on the show.
I think the same goes for sponsers. The Tapout guys said that they were responsible for getting Diego Sanchez on TUF #1.
joe duarte is a beast! for sure the next big thing in mma. finally, a fighter from guam.
GO Ido Pariente!
Finaly Israel represents!
it would’ve been nice to have a palestinian in there too so they could go toe to toe with each other
I honestly hope Vinicius Magalhaes gets KTFO like Dan Simmler did in his bout against Matt Riddle. Magalhaes is the biggest scumbag on the face of the earth. I think every brazilian should feel the same about him. Piece of s***
what is the story behind your hate??? I’d love to hear so I can hate him too! LOL
would you say that in front of him?
As far as coaches goes this year it is win win for the cast. No matter who they get, they;re getting a world class BJJ Blackbelt. Plus Frank mir is going to explain things alot easier than Nog whose English is limited.
I still can’t figure out how Big Nog and the spider will give instructions in the middle of a fight, coaching is one thing, but being a corner man is something else. I’m thinking maybe they’ll use a translator, Nog’s english has improved dramatically ever since he came to the UFC, but I’m sure he still thinks in portuguese and that’s a problem when you have to speak fast during a fight in a different language…
Nog is going to train the guys to get DOMINATED!!! for 1 round, and pull off a sub to win them the fight! Just messing with you linx!
LINX. thats kinda what i talked about in a post above. big nog might be the better fighter, but mir is no slouch and will be able to articulate his points across alot better and quicker.
LMAO, for a second I thought you were serious!
I personally expect big things from Junie Allen Browning out of the lightweight division…
no joke he has fought alot in AFL RFL and caged inferno…he is a hometown fav for me ill be cheering for him.
I think you’ll find its Junie Allen Browning that Dana is talking about.
Heres a little highlight reel…
shitty music though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_7WLSQ2kbA&feature=related
I would not be surprised! The fighter recieveing two back to back knee’s is a good friend of mine, I know first hand how explosive Allen can be. One thing that has me wondering is the age. Dana said 24; Mr. Browning is 23 I believe… Ill be one of the many cheering for him
I am picking Soszynski at lhw. He’s a big lhw that cuts alot.
Is it just me or is anyone else really NOT GIVING A DAMN about this season, this seasons coaches, and especially the heavyweight title fight between Mir and Big Nog??? Dana has been doing so well in marketing the UFC and for Mir to get his ass beat by Vera (who isnt even close to as rounded of a striker as BIG NOG) and submit a learning Lesnar, and then get a title shot?? This fight has absolutely no marketability behind it. If theyre putting this at the end of the year they better either pray GSP and BJ sign the deal for December. Or Chuck runs through Rashad and fights Grifffin for the title in decemeber. Big Nog and Mir i would never buy in a million years
Jason Guida will make it into the house. Then get slaughtered.
WAR MIR.
this season better not suck….the last couple of seasons TUF has only had 2 or 3 solid fighters…they need more solid fighters on the show….no more of the abecrombie kid from last season and people that dont know how to fight/do have any actual fights/experience….agree or no?
I hear you guys with exciting fighters being in this series but I’m still not feeling TUF anymore.
I’m not even excited about Mir and Nog.
I’ll try my hardest to follow this season
I just set my DVR to record the season and watch it when I get a chance.
Magalhaes said inumerous times that he hates being brazilian, that Brazil is a piece of s*** country and he always wanted to be born on the USA. I’m not saying that Brazil is the best country, it’s far from that, but, as a brazilian, I will not take this kind comments nicely. I hate this guy with passion
wow that guy should make for some interesting drama on the show, wonder what team hell be on lol? im guessing mir…
Nog will take as assistant coaches, Daniel Valverde (jiu-jitsu), Amaury Bitetti(jiu-jitsu and MMA) and others I don’t know. Minotouro and A. Silva might be guest coaches
lance Evans, is he related to Rashad?
i’m sure this has been addressed before, but why are gsp and anderson silva on the banner in the background with the coaches? they were on last season’s banner too.
good question and i dont have a clue. i would never even notice stuff like this in the background if it wasnt for guys like you. i think my attention span is to short.
Ok, I’m always like these other guys right about this time. I’m saying “I probably won’t get into this season” or “I’ll just tivo it and get to it if I can”. So…I’m probably gonna sound like an idiot, but I’m kinda buying into the hype.
Also, I gotta give Duarte props. Call me sappy, but any fighter that has put himself on the line for his country, has my respect and just makes me enjoy rooting for him even more.
Man, it sucks to be the last guy on a thread.