The Ultimate Fighter 8 is a season some UK fans may have missed, since the UFC had departed then Virgin Media channel – Bravo for Setanta. TUF 9 – UK vs USA gained further exposure for MMA airing on freeview channel FIVE USA. If like me you missed it, you are now fortunate enough to be able to purchase the 5 DVD box set.

This eighth series of the mixed martial arts reality TV show will be remembered aside from the bouts for the crazy out-of-control actions of wild southern-boy Junie Browning. It’s astounding his antics never got him thrown off the programme. You’ll see why he got kept in towards the end of the series.

Unlike many seasons of TUF, TUF 8 doesn’t feature much tension between the opposing coaches. Big Nog is a real gent, likewise here his opposite Frank Mir.

Both coaches known as world class grapplers, you get the impression Dana White and co purposely picked contestants boasting a great ground game. Look out for season stand-outs Krzysztof  Soszynski (former pro wrestler), Ryan Bader, Phillipe Nover and Efrain Escudero.

5 disc set contains 12 episodes over discs 1-3, Finale show on the fourth. DVD 5 rounds off the package jam-full of bonus footage, including fighter profiles, deleted and a peek behind the scenes.

The Ultimate Fighter Finale is loaded with fights featured during the series. “Crazy Cuban” Rolando Delgrado has an impressive outing, tapping out former Team Nog team-mate John Palakowski. A total one-sided affair.

Team Mir members collide – Shane Nelson against George Roop. This bout is a good back close fought contest, between 2 young lions.

Light-heavyweights Kyle Kingsbury and Tom Lawlor’s match-up lacks the excitement seen with the lighter fighters, it’s more a battle of wills, brawn versus brawn.

Eliot Marshall puts on a clinic, demolishing Jules Bruchez. Fantastic official debut, tapping out Bruchez in the first. Very impressive.

Next we see one of the season favourites, Krzysztof Soszynski paired up with Shane Primm. Krzysztof – former pro-wrestler, was taught the Kimura and Arm-bar submissions by Bad News Brown on a wrestling training camp in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A persistent “Polish Experiment” sticks to what he knows best, snatching victory using his patented Kimura, finishing the fight.

Wanna be Ultimate Fighter Junie Browning, a TUF entrant who got himself noticed for all the wrong reasons puts in a very good performance in the octagon with David Kaplan. Browning looks great in the stand-up, outclassing Kaplan on the ground too, taking the win via Arm-bar, forcing his opponent to give up.

2 non TUF 8 bouts are included. Canadian Jason McDonald versus Wilson Gouveia. The Brazilian destroys the Canadian, decking him, then pounding from top position, raining down elbow strikes, causing the referee to the end it.

Second non TUF fight features hotly tipped rising welter-weight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in a rematch with another fighter progressing the ladder Kevin Burns. Stylistically you have Rumble the wrestler vs grappler Burns. It’s pretty much even until round 3, when Johnson pulls out of nowhere a Cro Cop style KO head kick.

If you don’t want to know which fighters reach the finals then don’t read any further!

Light-heavyweight Ultimate Fighter decider sees Ryan “Darth” Bader collide in the cage with Vinicus Magalhaes. Ironically Nogueira’s man in the final is All American wrestler Bader facing American Mir’s Brazilian 4 time world BJJ champ Magalhaes. In theory this should be a clash of those 2 styles, but the difference maker unpredictably comes from Bader’s fists, knocking out his rival in round 1. Amazing performance.

Lightweight final: Phillpe Nover and Efrain Escudero, both from Big Nog’s team. Both exciting top rate competitors here, both very worthy of reaching the final. Efrain featured in both grudge matches in the series – Nelson and later Browning. Relentless wrestler Efrain puts on a great performance, gaining the prestigious title of The Ultimate Fighter, winning the final, however it’s not completely one-sided, Nover puts in a valiant effort attempting to submit Efrain from underneath.

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir is out now on DVD, available direct from www.fightdvd.co.uk and all good retailers.

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UFC DVD review by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Source: wrestlingtruth.com