Recently watched one of the most compelling episodes in the current Ultimate Fighter season. The fight, scheduled between Gabe Ruediger and Corey Hill never took place because Gabe didn’t make weight. He told his team, and the entire house, just how easy it would be for him to make the 155 pound mark, but when push came to shove, he failed. BJ Penn, and Gray Maynard tried to motivate, focus, and direct Gabe to getting it done, but after very few minutes in the sauna, Gabe appeared to collapse and quit on himself and his team. In post-disaster interviews, Corey Hill said it best, “Gabe let down his team, but more importantly himself, and in the long run that is the biggest problem Gabe has to deal with.”
I find it stunning a fighter, with the entire world at his disposal, with nothing but potential, fails to make a minimum standard in order to compete in a highly desirable, highly competitive calling. Man, just how annoyed are other fighters who watched Gabe fail to compete, and realize their spot was taken by someone who, apparently, has little heart. By the way, though I never really liked the cocky demeanor of BJ Penn prior to this show, I certainly like this new angle on him, his attitude toward fightings, and his no-bullshit commentary regarding the wrinkles of the fight game.