Lightweights to be the focus of TUF 12
Lightweights get the nod for TUF 12. Light Heavys left out again.
In my capacity of Co-Host and Producer of Shambala Sports Radio on FiveKnuckles.com and Owner and Host of This Week in Combat Sports, I have to take the time and see if I can book guests and set up interviews for both entities. Today was one of those days. I bet you are wondering why I am telling you this?
I did an interview with light-heavyweight Justin McCorkle recently in regard to his experience of trying to get onto “The Ultimate Fighter.” His journey started several months ago with a tryout for Season 11 of the popular reality show.
However, with the overabundance of middleweight talent for Season 11, the light-heavyweights were told that they would be on the short list for the series’ twelfth season. The rumor running around the net, was that “Season 12″ would be a 2 division season featuring the lightweights and light-heavyweights.
Well, as I mentioned at the top of this piece, I have been trying to book guests for upcoming Shambala Sports Radio on FiveKnuckles.com shows and fighter interviews for This Week in Combat Sports. Just got off the phone a little while ago with a manager of a couple fighters that are booked on a local MMA event that will take place on April 24.
I know I am being a bit vague. But I don’t want to jeopardize anyone else’s chance of being on the TUF show.
Anyway, within the conversation with said manager, I mentioned the interview with McCorkle and his weight class. The manager responded by telling me unequivocally that light-heavyweights will not be part of “Season 12.”
Apparently, the producers of the show told him that there were just not enough light-heavyweight fighters. The reason the manager knew this information was that one of his lightweight fighters was on the short list for “Season 12″ with the lightweights now being the focus.
I have a feeling that most of the light-heavyweight fighters who have been waiting are going to be pretty upset when they find out. A lot of these guys have refrained from fighting to avoid injury and jeopardize their chance to compete on the show. This means if the fighter is a full time fighter, said fighter is not making any money.
Hopefully, we will get an official announcement out of the UFC very soon on the matter. I also have an email out to Justin McCorkle to see if what this manager told me is true or if the news has been relayed to him. I am sure there will be more on this story very soon… As I am writing this final paragraph, Justin McCorkle has informed me that he’s heard the news, and as you can guess, not happy. But who can blame him. Hopefully, McCorkle will be able to continue to ply his trade as a MMA fighter.
Popularity: 5% [?]
