Hey everyone this is Ryan McGillivray from TUF 13 just going over a recap of the premiere episode and some inside thoughts. I will be doing this after each episode throughout the season so I hope everyone enjoys.
The episode starts with all of the fighters entering the training centre, and the first thing we see is the man, Dana White. After the three month try-out process, in that single moment, everything hit me. That I had finally made the show, and that my career was on the line.
We waited patiently for Dana’s first words as most guys were trying to figure out why there were only 14 fighters. As soon as he told everyone we didn’t have to fight into the house you could feel the tension in the air cut in half. I was very relieved and excited that my hard work had paid off and I was in the house.
For me the biggest reason was, in such a short time frame to fight only three times instead of four is much easier on the body and makes the process seem much shorter.
We only had a moment to enjoy the relief of being in the house. Immediately after the announcement we were in our gear ready to impress the coaches.
I was with Brock first and was excited to get everything started. Brock had a lot more cardio evaluations and was pretty tough though I was feeling really good. I knew he was looking for wrestlers and since I have no wrestling background I could tell he may have dismissed me.
With little to no break we were over to Junior’s team where I felt I had more of an opportunity to show my skills. We did a lot more live sparring for his evaluations. I was very happy with how I was doing and felt confident.
They paired Shamar Bailey and I up in a straight wrestling drill. He has years of training in wrestling and I have none so I did the best I could though I have to admit I got worked haha.
I apparently impressed Junior enough to be picked 4th overall and 2nd pick by Junior. That felt really good and boosted my confidence a lot. I was hoping to get picked for Team Dos Santos the whole time and was thrilled to be there. They have amazing coaches and I fit in really well there.
We drove straight back to the house and got our first tour. It is an awesome house and is very big. I kept asking for a map to try and find the third bedroom. They don’t show the third bedroom but that was where I ended up.
I had met Shamar through the tryout period and had some history with him and felt we got a long quite well. It was a short time so I hadn’t got to know everyone yet to decide what I thought of them.
We had the pick for the first fight. Given Nordin’s long flight and that Shamar in many ways was most ready to fight it seemed like a great match-up for us.
The fight went much as I expected with Shamar getting takedown after takedown and establishing control. There wasn’t a moment in the fight where I was worried for Shamar.
Some people, including Dana, thought the fight was boring and in some ways it was not the most exciting fight ever. But in Shamar’s defense I hope people understand the pressures.
He was the first fight out of anyone, only a few days into being there and with a lot on the line. He executed the coaches’ game plan to a T and did his thing in there.
Ryan McGillivray’s TUF 13 blog will be posted on ProMMAnow.com following each Wednesday night episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos. Be sure to follow Ryan on Twitter @KidMcGillivray.
Thanks for this Ryan. love to hear the fighter’s perspective. Keep up the great work, you seem like a real class act and a great representative of Canada.
Shamar looks strong in with you guys, but you were holding your own (especially since you have no wrestling background). Do you think you’re better suited for 170 or 155 down the line?
I appreciate the support. I walk around in the 195lbs.-200lbs. ball park. I had to kill myself to be around 180lbs. for the show and felt the affects. I did fight once at 155lbs. but it was much earlier in my career and I also could barely stand up in the 3rd round. I think I will be a 170lbs. for life haha.
Haha gotcha. Good luck buddy.
“I had to kill myself to be around 180lbs. for the show and felt the affects.”
I’ve actually wondered about that. I guess you have to stay a lot closer to your fight weight since you have a short timetable for the competition.
Who was the weirdest guy in the house Ryan?
Great to see Ryan on the show! It’s always fun to see what the fighters have to say about their experience in the crazy ass TUF house.
good stuff Ryan…looking forward to next week!