The Ultimate Fighter 5

Here we go again… Get ready fight fans The Ultimate Fighter is back, with the launch of season 5 Thursday night on Spike TV. This seasons initiative is to focus entirely on the LW division, in order to resurrect what once was perhaps the most exciting weight class in the UFC.

The coaches this season are former LW Champion “Little Evil” Jens Pulver, and none other than “The Prodigy” BJ Penn. The season begins with the emergence of a major theme, already witnessed by TUF fans in season 3, Ortiz vs. Shamrock; these two guys do not like each other the least bit. Their history goes back to a title fight in early 2002, the conclusion of which saw a seemingly overmatched Pulver come back to win the final three rounds, and take a majority decision to successfully defend his title. The Prodigy has wanted to avenge that loss ever since, and with the completion of this season he will get his opportunity to do so.

Now to the fighters… these guys are lean, fast, and promise excitement. Notables include; Nate Diaz (brother of WW contender Nick Diaz), Cole Miller, Cory Hill, and Joe Lauzon, who funny enough, KOed coach Jens Pulver in his UFC debut not 8 months ago. These guys are mostly young talent, with a ton of built up energy that piece by piece is beginning to leak out around the house as fighters start to anticipate match-ups and get on under each other’s skin.

The Fight

Our first fight of the season saw Cole Miller from Team Pulver call out Allen Berube of Team Penn; once this fight hit the ground, less than 2 minutes in, it was not difficult to see the mismatch. Miller, although on his back, immediately started to work for the triangle. As Cole moved his legs up around the shoulders of Berube, the Boston native had no answer, eventually giving up the triangle, and tapping half way into the first round. No one on either side was particularly surprised by the result, and even BJ himself joked to his fighter afterwards that he was doing fairly well! (based on expectations). Allen Berube is the first fighter eliminated in season 5.

Next weeks preview looked very heated as an unknown fighter appears to push Nate Diaz too far, provoking a challenge at the house while roommates scramble to keep things in order. Tune in Thursday April 12 at 10pm for your weekly fix of TUF season 5.

DD