Review for UFC: The Ultimate Fighter - Season 3 (5 Discs) (UK)

Introduction

The Ultimate Fighter season three may be one of the most important seasons in the evolution of the show, it introduced the rivalry of the two coaches as just as an important feature of the series as the rivalry of the fighters.

By choosing bitter enemies Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock as the rival coaches of the 16 fighters, it was bound to share the attention with any fight they could muster in all of the 12 episodes of the entire show.

Sure MMA's premier reality show had provided coaching rivalry's before, with Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture facing off after the conclusion of the first series. But there wasn't a whole lot of bad blood between 'The Iceman' and 'Captain America.' And as for season two, well Rich Franklin and Matt Hughes weren't even in the same weight division.

Putting Tito and Ken in the same room as each other guarantees fireworks, and what better way to promote their rematch at UFC 61, Tito had walked away with the victory in their first clash at UFC 40, than to have them coach rival teams on the show? It was a model that allowed the rivalries of Penn and Pulver, Hughes and Serra, Bisping and Henderson and of course Rashad and Rampage to fester in later seasons of the show.

The model of the show also underwent changes, with UFC  president Dana White announcing in the first episode that they had done away with the challenges of the first two series, and the fighters would compete in the octagon for their team's control.

The model is simple, 16 men enter, eight middleweights and eight light heavyweights and they fight until four finalists remain. The four then compete in two matches on the finale of the show. With a six-figure contract on the line for each winner.

With knock-outs, submissions, the usual arguments and twists, plus the rivalry of the two coaches, season three would prove to be one of the most interesting yet and we don't have to wait very long for our coaches to lose their cool.

Video

The older series of the show always appear a little dated. Especially the menu screens. However this series is clearly an improvement on the first two, and don't let it distract you from the action which is presented in fullscreen 4:3 PAL.

Audio

Audio is presented in 2.0 Dolby Digital, and with subtitles to help, you won't miss a (cuss) word. Subtitles also available in Dutch and French.

Extras

The extras include fighter profiles for the four finalists, an extended version of episode one, fighter auditions and rejections. The extended edition of the first episode doesn't show a lot more than the actual edition. It just serves to flesh out a bit more of the fighters backgrounds and add to the tension between the coaches.

The fighter profiles are good. They are useful to watch, especially because a lot of the guys who came into the earlier seasons of the show didn't come in with big reputations. 

As for the fighter auditions, they provide a mix between the funny and the cringe worthy, with the fighter rejections going into the realm of the surreal. If you find the prospect of cardio training with turkeys funny, then this is for you.

Conclusion

The third instalment of The Ultimate Fighter proves to be an improvement of season two, although season one is still streets ahead. With the added tension between Messrs Ortiz and Shamrock helping to push the show up a notch, although it could have benefited from some better fighters taking part. 

It proved to be a good decision to do away with the challenges. Although they at times proved interesting, the teams fighting for control increases the rivalry between not only the teams but the coaches, who have enough animosity to go around anyway.

The animosity often spills over into arguments between the two, and there are also differing personalities and tensions between the fighters, leading to some very interesting elimination bouts.

There are also the usual twists and turns. With injuries playing a part and fighters returning. This all keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats.

The five disc set is certainly value for money, with a fairly exciting finale included but heavily edited. It would have been nice to see it played out in full. TUF alumni Keith Jardine and Kenny Florian are both featured in entertaining bouts and the two finals are also highly entertaining, look out for a classic in the middleweight finale.

Although not one for the faint hearted, any lover of reality TV will enjoy this, not just fight fans. For those who are just starting out in their love affair with MMA, TUF is essential viewing.