In the May 25 issue of Entertainment Weekly, television critic Ken Tucker wrote a flattering review of the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter. His piece wasn't quite as flattering to the actual sport of MMA, but the positive review is further evidence of the UFC's acceptance into mainstream pop culture.
Here's what Ken Tucker had to say about TUF 5:
"After watching four seasons of mixed martial artists who live in one house, scarf down pasta, and trash-talk before entering the "Octagon" fighting ring to box, kick, wrestle and generally pummel each other. I've got to say this fifth edition may be the best. If you're not watching Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 5, now a little more than halfway through its hammer-fisted season, you are missing one of the most exciting, goofy, addictive reality shows on the air. It's not too late to get on board. This season is the first time for the lightweight division (155 pounds and under), and these strutting bantam roosters are just more nutty and ornery than any bunch that's preceded them -- they seem to have more to prove.
Eloquence is not their most developed skill. After one knucklehead [Rob Emerson] wrote an insult on a wall of the shared house, another indignant knucklehead [Nate Diaz] spluttered, "I take it offensive toward me!" Even the coaches -- mixed-martial-arts pros B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver -- hate each other; in fact, during the June 23 live season finale, they will climb into the Octagon themselves, to try to choke out or generally damage one another.
What makes "ultimate fighting" such a hoot -- anarchy-with-rules competitions that permit all sorts of down-and-dirty techniques -- transfers beautifully to the decadent, mind-numbing elimination conventions of reality TV. One of the more irony-appreciating fighters [Matt Wiman] said cheerfully after an outside-the-ring squabble, "It's a sad day for humans." But a great one for fan-viewers. B+"
The review included a picture of Rob Emerson kicking Nate Diaz in their fight. No mention of Gabe Ruediger in the review.
