What show do fighters and fans want?

[Pain.Is.Beauty]

Tl;dr Do viewers want another "reality" fight show or nah?

I want to know Would fans watch a show about unknowns (no contract whatsoever) doing their thing and following their story?
I want to help create better tv programs for fighters, fans and MMA in general.
I'm sitting in this meeting for a new a MMA tv show and personally I hate these repeat ideas.
Watch people and create drama.
Call it "reality."

If you would watch that reality show say Yes, if not say No.

Any input is great..
I just figured who better to ask than sherdog.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

I'd be down for a second season of Fight Master. Bellator could use another bigtime prospect like Joe Riggs.

 

[Pain.Is.Beauty]

I'd be down for a second season of Fight Master. Bellator could use another bigtime prospect like Joe Riggs.

Thanks for the feedback!
I'm very surprised to read it didn't fare well. (If someone knows otherwise link it)

Fighters fighting against each other for 100,000 seams pretty solid.

Reality fight tv isn't easy, Tuf is lacking in ratings and they Are actually fighting on the show.

I proposed a different angle, one that might have a more functional purpose versus just people watching.
I think people like to learn and be entertained at the same time.
Anyone into that vibe?

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

Bully beatdown was pretty fun.

You should make one like that but with real criminals instead of fake bullies, and pat barry instead of mayhem.

 

[BisexualMMA]

I doubt anything would make me watch reality TV about fighting or anything else at this point.

I worked my schedule around watching TUF every week for a few years, but that ship has sailed.

It would have to be something extraordinary to get me interested.

I didn't bother finishing the first episode of "Looking for a Fight." I was kind of into it, but then they entered "Dana and buddies out on the town" mode spliced with annoying snippits of confessionals and I just shut it off.

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

If it`s going to be a reality show, then maybe focus more on the other side of the story. We've seen people train thousands of times. Why not focus on how hard it is to pay the bills and make time for your family, as a young fighter who`s getting into MMA. The medical bills, all the other bills, the cost of training, the time, the dedication, the strain it's put on relationships etc.. Make it something that non-MMA fans can appreciate and relate to as well

Or, make an american version of Ganryujima

 

[Philo-Publius]

Tl;dr Do viewers want another "reality" fight show or nah?

I want to know Would fans watch a show about unknowns (no contract whatsoever) doing their thing and following their story?
I want to help create better tv programs for fighters, fans and MMA in general.
I'm sitting in this meeting for a new a MMA tv show and personally I hate these repeat ideas.
Watch people and create drama.
Call it "reality."

If you would watch that reality show say Yes, if not say No.

Any input is great..
I just figured who better to ask than sherdog.

What about like an MMA version of "Hard Knocks?" Follow the inner workings of a particular camp (e.g., Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA Academy or American Kickboxing Academy) and maybe focus on high profile training camps. But, if you could do a reality show that followed the very biggest stars (e.g., Ronda Rousey or Connor McGregor) that would obviously score the biggest ratings.

Another idea you could steal from the NFL is NFL films (or in this case MMA films). Condense entire UFC cards into a production with narration and behind the scenes information. This would probably be particularly interesting with the original UFC tournaments.

You could also do a show where MMA fighters compete against one another in different games/sports. Kind of like on the Ultimate Fighter where the coaches will go head to head in some other sport (e.g., BJ Penn vs. Jens Pulver in Ping Pong), but obviously it would need to be a better production with better thought out games. That was sometimes one of the high points of the Ultimate Fighter series.

Also, Spike could use an MMA analyst show (like UFC tonight on FS1), but obviously geared towards Bellator.

 

[manboy<3]

There are millions of reality shows I would watch like

Gulag MMA - give Russian prisoners the chance to fight in an MMA tourny with the winner getting official Pardon from the president and an M-1 contract its could be called "Be like Aleks!!" or something like that

Crossover MMA - This show would find down on thier luck and poor Olympic level Atheletes from sports like Gymnasitcs, Shotput, Relay etc whose career is going nowhere but who at one point had huge potential and give them the chance of a 100k contract if they can enter a local MMA tourny and win it! Kind of Like GymKata but with real fighting I think this could legit discover some amazing future MMA fighters

MMA legend makeover - Drag out old and busted up legends from nursing homes etc and give them a makeover by giving them modern day MMA training and lots of supplements and putting them into a cage with an "Unknown" but tough fighter from the local circuit who preferably has a really strong punch and a gung ho "I aint scared" redneck attitude to really sell the fight. To keep things fresh this show would do 1 new celebretiy fighter every 2-3 episodes

I have some more ideas

Hood fight - Here sleazy white guys go to the toughest hoods in the USA and make each hood pick 1 local thug to represent them in MMA. the show could focus on how each hood selects their champion and stuff like respect, money and growing up really poor. The winner at the end of the season would get a big contract to fight Kimbo or Dada 5000 in a Bellator event

Rehab MMA - Guys who are drug addicts and are attending rehab are given a choice - Do more rehab or become and MMA fighter!! There are lots guys who were in rehab in the past but became top MMA fighters like Matt Brown and Chris Leben so I think this show could produce some real gems

 

[NHB7]

I don't need a reality show, I'd just like some Friday night fights.

Or I'll even take Tuesday night fights.

Tournaments would be nice too.

 

[Philo-Publius]

There are millions of reality shows I would watch like

Gulag MMA - give Russian prisoners the chance to fight in an MMA tourny with the winner getting official Pardon from the president and an M-1 contract its could be called "Be like Aleks!!" or something like that

Crossover MMA - This show would find down on thier luck and poor Olympic level Atheletes from sports like Gymnasitcs, Shotput, Relay etc whose career is going nowhere but who at one point had huge potential and give them the chance of a 100k contract if they can enter a local MMA tourny and win it! Kind of Like GymKata but with real fighting I think this could legit discover some amazing future MMA fighters

MMA legend makeover - Drag out old and busted up legends from nursing homes etc and give them a makeover by giving them modern day MMA training and lots of supplements and putting them into a cage with an "Unknown" but tough fighter from the local circuit who preferably has a really strong punch and a gung ho "I aint scared" redneck attitude to really sell the fight. To keep things fresh this show would do 1 new celebretiy fighter every 2-3 episodes

I have some more ideas

Hood fight - Here sleazy white guys go to the toughest hoods in the USA and make each hood pick 1 local thug to represent them in MMA. the show could focus on how each hood selects their champion and stuff like respect, money and growing up really poor. The winner at the end of the season would get a big contract to fight Kimbo or Dada 5000 in a Bellator event

Rehab MMA - Guys who are drug addicts and are attending rehab are given a choice - Do more rehab or become and MMA fighter!! There are lots guys who were in rehab in the past but became top MMA fighters like Matt Brown and Chris Leben so I think this show could produce some real gems

I really like your Gulag idea, except why couldn't that work in the U.S. or anywhere? Maybe they get work release instead of a full pardon depending on the severity of their crime.

Your legend makeover idea has potential. It kind of reminds me of the Ultimate Fighter "Comebacks" season (which was pretty popular back in the day). Although, there are some broken down fighters who can't be fixed.

 

[Pain.Is.Beauty]

Bully beatdown was pretty fun.

You should make one like that but with real criminals instead of fake bullies, and pat barry instead of mayhem.

I like this idea more than I should!

 

[Pain.Is.Beauty]

I doubt anything would make me watch reality TV about fighting or anything else at this point.

I worked my schedule around watching TUF every week for a few years, but that ship has sailed.

It would have to be something extraordinary to get me interested.

I didn't bother finishing the first episode of "Looking for a Fight." I was kind of into it, but then they entered "Dana and buddies out on the town" mode spliced with annoying snippits of confessionals and I just shut it off.

Thanks for the feedback!
Would a show moving in a whole different direction (educational/ science) make you tune in or just simply better coverage of the fighters and their stories?

 

[BisexualMMA]

Thanks for the feedback!
Would a show moving in a whole different direction (educational/ science) make you tune in or just simply better coverage of the fighters and their stories?

Educational / science might interest me. Might be too dry for good ratings though.

Regarding "better coverage of the fighters and their stories." For that to appeal to me, and it has potential, it would have to be something completely different from typical reality TV. No or minimal confessionals spliced in. No funky montage of being out on the town. Just tell the story by watching them, not by having them look at the camera and say what they are thinking or plotting. In otherwords, probably something a lot harder to produce and probably too "slow" with not enough quick cuts to mass market.

I'd be interested in learning more about them and their stories if there is a story there to tell.

 

[Pain.Is.Beauty]

There are millions of reality shows I would watch like

Gulag MMA - give Russian prisoners the chance to fight in an MMA tourny with the winner getting official Pardon from the president and an M-1 contract its could be called "Be like Aleks!!" or something like that

Crossover MMA - This show would find down on thier luck and poor Olympic level Atheletes from sports like Gymnasitcs, Shotput, Relay etc whose career is going nowhere but who at one point had huge potential and give them the chance of a 100k contract if they can enter a local MMA tourny and win it! Kind of Like GymKata but with real fighting I think this could legit discover some amazing future MMA fighters

MMA legend makeover - Drag out old and busted up legends from nursing homes etc and give them a makeover by giving them modern day MMA training and lots of supplements and putting them into a cage with an "Unknown" but tough fighter from the local circuit who preferably has a really strong punch and a gung ho "I aint scared" redneck attitude to really sell the fight. To keep things fresh this show would do 1 new celebretiy fighter every 2-3 episodes

I have some more ideas

Hood fight - Here sleazy white guys go to the toughest hoods in the USA and make each hood pick 1 local thug to represent them in MMA. the show could focus on how each hood selects their champion and stuff like respect, money and growing up really poor. The winner at the end of the season would get a big contract to fight Kimbo or Dada 5000 in a Bellator event

Rehab MMA - Guys who are drug addicts and are attending rehab are given a choice - Do more rehab or become and MMA fighter!! There are lots guys who were in rehab in the past but became top MMA fighters like Matt Brown and Chris Leben so I think this show could produce some real gems

There's too much win in this post.

The problem is, "what the network wants." Vs what people Actually want.
Personally, I would come up with wild shows.
Professionally, however, I have to stay within certain guidelines.
Trussst I hate that factor but that's another story.

I like what I'm reading though. Creative. I dig it.
Out of all the fight reality shows which did you like best?

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

I like this idea more than I should!

They could get a reduced sentence if they win haha...Sorta like deathrace or the running man.

Maybe too much.