Who is the best TUFer to not immediately sign with the UFC?

[Not A Real Fan]

Has there ever been a contestant who was not immediately signed to the UFC after the show ended or after their one-off at the TUF finale who nevertheless was signed by the UFC at a later date? Meaning they "flunked out" of TUF, went back to the regional scene, and then got signed by the UFC. Not as an injury replacement but as a fighter the UFC was genuinely interested in signing.

I ask this because being in the house is actually risky for a fighter's career. If the UFC is not impressed by you while in the house, it would appear they'll only see you as an injury-replacement type fighter and nothing more. It sucks for the 2-0 guy that their first impression was a bad one so early on in their career.

 

[DyslexicDave]

Joe Duffy is probably the best example of what you mentioned

 

[DyslexicDave]

A few others:

Drew Dober
Cody Pfister
Valerie Letourneau
Lyman Good

 

[EvilManny]

Saad Awad

 

[tbpredator]

Gerald Harris . Such a big fan of this guy . Would love to see him back , not sure what hes even up to now days

 

[Lew_Boy]

Gerald Harris . Such a big fan of this guy . Would love to see him back , not sure what hes even up to now days

His release from the UFC was bullshit. He was 3-0 in the UFC and they cut him for losing to Maiquel Falcao who was 25-3 at the time - I've seen fighters lose 4 in a row and not get cut. Pretty sure he retired and became a stand up comedian.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

Jimmie Rivera

 

[EndlessCritic]

of guys who were actually fucked and still haven't recovered their careers: Mike Wootten, Leandro Higo, and Ian Stephens.

 

[mattandbenny]

Best guys to lose the qualifying fight on TUF:
Joe Duffy got tapped by Kyle Watson on TUF 12.
Costas Philippou got tapped by Joe Henle on TUF 11.
Jimmie Rivera lost to Dennis Bermudez on TUF 14.
Lyman Good lost to Ian Stephens on TUF 19.
James Krause got TKO'd by Justin Lawrence on TUF 15.
Paddy Holohan lost to Josh Hill on TUF 18.
Drew Dober lost to Daron Cruickshank on TUF 15.
Jon Tuck lost to Al Iaquinta in the qualifying fight on TUF 15.
Leandro Silva lost to David Vieira on TUF Brazil 2.
Valerie Letourneau lost to Roxanne Modafferi on TUF 18.
Cody Pfister lost to Vinc Pichel on TUF 15.
Akbarh Arreola lost to Myles Jury on TUF 15.
Thibauld Gouti lost to David Teymur on TUF 22.


Just noticed on TUF Live there were 4 guys currently in UFC that failed to make it into the house - James Krause, Drew Dober, Jon Tuck & Cody Pfister. Also Akbarh Arreola who was recently cut.

 

[Old Man]

Marcus Davis

 

[iThrillhouse]

Its kind of criminal what happened to Gerald Harris' career

he could've been a star in the UFC.

one loss and he was tossed...what a waste

 

[greenskye23]

Lyman good ,gerald harris ,

 

[See O]

Surprised no one has picked ANY of the TUF 1 fighters.

Josh koscheck
Kenny Florian
Chris Leben

 

[CaloLutadores]

Not signed yet, but Saul Rogers should be here. The true winner of TUF 22.

Rivera, Duffy and Phillipou I think are the best example of what you say.

 

[Happiness]

Honestly, probably Lyman Good. Phillapou maybe?