Will Ryan "The Kid" McGillivray be the next Ultimate Fighter? Photo credit: SpikeTV

Back in November, ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) ran a profile on Canadian welterweight Ryan McGillivray (11-4-1) who had just tried out for The Ultimate Fighter season 13.

At the time, just like a whole lot of other hopefuls, Ryan was waiting to hear back from Spike TV and the UFC to see if he made the show.

Sometime later I attempted to contact Ryan and never heard back, so it was then I assumed he must have got picked for the show and had already left to start filming. This news was later confirmed.

Now here we are nearly five months later and The Ultimate Fighter season 13 will premiere this Wednesday night on Spike TV featuring Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos, and yes of course, Ryan McGillivray too.

Ryan talked to us about what the process was like waiting for the news to know if he had been cast for the show, and how he felt when he got the call.

“I found out that I was going to be on the show six days before we flew out to begin taping the show,” Ryan explained. “I was unbelievably excited and grateful that I was chosen to be on the show. It is a very long process, the tryouts are over three months, and a lot of uncertainty. Even though in our sport you’re never wasting time training, there was a lot of training without knowing if I was on the show. I was thinking everything was worth it and couldn’t believe the opportunity. I immediately started to try and get my life taken care of for when I was gone.”

Ryan owns a gym in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. So he had a lot to take care of before he could just take off. Luckily, he has a great team who was able to pitch in and help.

“I have an amazing team at Legends Training Centre in many ways,” Ryan said. “We had a lot of guys watching the gym and filling in. The unsung hero in all of that was my family, most of all my father. He spent countless hours at the gym while I was gone.”

The coaches this season are former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and top heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos. Ryan explained his thoughts when he first learned who the coaches would be and which team he was hoping to get picked for.

“I found out who the coaches were maybe a couple weeks before I was selected,” Ryan said. “I feel that both coaches bring an amazing amount of knowledge and experience in their own area. Both teams had amazing coaching staffs that most fighters can only dream of working with. I was hoping to be on team Dos Santos, mostly because he has such amazing stand up. At the end of the day I was just happy to be on the show, and think both coaches are very talented.”

Without giving away too much – you’ll have to read Ryan’s TUF 13 blog for that – Ryan explained what fans can expect to see this season on The Ultimate Fighter.

“The show is a great chance to see the fighters on a personal level and meet one of your favorite future fighters,” said Ryan. “For both fans and people who don’t follow MMA, gives you a great insight into the ins and outs of the show. And of course some great fights.”

Finally, Ryan gave us his prediction on the Lesnar vs. dos Santos fight when the two step in the cage against each other on June 11 at UFC 131.

“I think if Junior can stop the first couple take downs or get right up he will be too much for Brock,” Ryan explained. “He is very close to the same size and is too experienced in my opinion. ”

For the next ten weeks, beginning this Wednesday, March 30, following each episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos”, you are going to want to come right here to ProMMAnow.com and read TUF 13 cast member Ryan McGillivray’s thoughts and comments in his official TUF 13 blog.

Mark you calendars now, and don’t miss it!

UFC fans be sure to follow Ryan on Twitter @KidMcGillivray and check out this piece the Toronto Sun ran on him today: Ryan McGillivray is all bite, no bark.

15 thoughts on “Introducing ProMMAnow.com TUF 13 blogger Ryan McGillivray”
  1. Seen this KID fight in Canada — he’s a beast, a real beast. If he doesn’t win the whole show. I expect him to be in the semifinals at least.

    Looking forward to the show and this. Hope Ryan is on Team dos Santos.

  2. Sheldon Westcott is a way better fighter then the kid is And I just found out he also tried out. When I learned he was cut and mgillvery made it I was amazed Ryan isn’t even that good of a fighter in the Edmonton areawhere is Sheldon is dominant and I could think of ten other guys in the weight class from Edmonton that are way better but I hope he represents the city well and if he makes it far then the other guys will be next

  3. u must be high Edmontonfights. sounds like you’re just jealous Ryan made it. You must be from a rival gym is my guess. Obviously he had something Westcott didn’t — experience for one thing. Westcott barely even fights. Ryan owns his own gym and still fights full time. On top of that, isn’t Westcott like 30? Tuf doesn’t want a bunch of old dudes. They want future stars.

  4. Lol he’s like 26 and mgillivary has been fighting since he was 18 and only has like five more fights then Westcott who has been training for only four years and has only one loss with six wins and one draw Wich is a way better record and 5 of his wins have been in the first minute of the fight. Plus anyone can own there own gym especially when daddy funds it but like I said before I hope Ryan does do good cause it’s good for mma in Edmonton I just wish we had a better representative that’s all

  5. that’s a freakin joke man. who the hell would say that about one of their teammates.

  6. I hate to get in the middle of an online blood feud. However, I don’t have anything better do besides, well, work.

    1. I think it is a waste of time to argue about why someone gets a shot on TUF. The powers that be at Zuffa and Spike TV have their reasons and only they know why. Sometimes it is clear like with prospects like Ryan Bader, and other times it is random like with John Polakowski who had three fights against the same guy.

    2. Westcott currently has a contract with the MFC, so if he does well there, he will end up in the UFC anyway. Going on the show is fun and introduces young fighters to the fans, but most of the time a guy will get a better contract after earning a shot in the UFC the conventional way.

  7. “Edmontonfights” here’s where you are wrong.
    -Sheldon went through the same tryout process as Ryan and others from Edmonton and the “experts” such as Dana White, Joe Silva and others selected Ryan to move on
    -Ryan was also called back for a second look and was the only Canadian in this round of 60 people.
    -He was then chosen to be on the show
    -Then after hours of grueling evaluations he was picked 4th all around and on Team Dos Santos was his 2nd all around pick.
    The whole world heard it last night…Jr and his “experts” thought enough of Ryan to say on worldwide television how good he was and pick him second.
    So clearly the “experts” judging Ryan know more than you sitting at your keyboard. Im just saying…But dude fellow Canadian and supposed “fellow” LEGENDS FAMILY MEMBER not cool!
    No slight to Sheldon or anything other Canadian fighters but especially Sheldon because I have read blogs or forum posts where Sheldon specifically says he and Ryan are good friends, not sure why your are speaking for Sheldon when Sheldon doesn’t appear to feel this way.

  8. well this dude says he can think of ten other guys in Edmonton who are better than Ryan… first of all… that means nothing. did those guys have the drive and initiative to go try out for the show? maybe some of them… evidently though they were lacking something if they did. maybe you think you know more than joe silva and dana white who chose Ryan – you should write to them and tell them about your expertise on Edmonton MMA. I’m sure they would give two shits.

  9. First of all if people dont agree with this persons opinion thats ok, he has the right to express it.

    Second, the tryout process is not perfect and there are many amazing fighters who did not get a chance. Maybe some good fighters just weren’t what the show was looking for, didnt have enough fights, or maybe the guys had a bad day and just didn’t perform well at the try-outs you just don’t know.

    In this case Sheldon is a good friend of mine and a very talented fighter and will get his shot. The only thing i am insulted about is the fact that this gentleman cannot spell my last name haha. None the less thank you very much to those who do support me, it means a lot.

    Lastly, I am at Legends every day, and I would love to hear your suggestions on how I can become a better fighter just let me know thanks.

  10. Wow all I have to say even being a guy who trains at a different gym is who cares I think Ryan and Sheldon are both great fighters and there is Alot of talent in etown I think Ryan has been around for a long time now and he is a well established fighter and he deserves the chance he obviously earned it and I’m very excited to watch tuf and cheer him on bring it home buddy go kid go and for Sheldon I agree with Ryan you will get your shot too buddy it’s just a matter of time but I say we should all cheer Ryan on and win or lose he already made it farther than Alot of us ever will

  11. P.s I’ve never met Ryan but I do know Sheldon and from what he has said Ryan is a great fighter and a very classy guy and I know he wishes him the best as well do the guys from Arashido how could u not regardless of what gyms we go to he’s an Edmonton boy so we will be cheering him on the whole way.

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