This season, local fighter Matt Secor, 25, will try his luck against 31 of the best welterweight (156-170 lbs.) fighters in the world beginning September 14 in a two-hour season premiere on the FX Network beginning at 9 p.m. Representing Spa City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Secor is a professional MMA fighter from South Glens Falls with a career professional record of 1-1. He signed his professional contract after going undefeated in five amateur bouts around the region.
One of his trainers at Spa City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ed Fyvie, thinks the show is suited perfectly to both Secor’s fighting ability as well as his personality. Fyvie has also previously tried out for the Ultimate Fighter, and provides some insight as to what Secor went through during his audition phases.
“Secor is a very outgoing person; he’s quite a “people person,” said Fyvie. “He would do well in a situation like that. I’m a bit more reserved, I keep to myself a little more I think it would be a little tougher an experience for me.”
According to Fyvie, there are three stages of the initial interview process. Casting directors look at a fighters grappling and striking abilities individually, before taking them for a short interview. After that, fighters are chosen to fly to Las Vegas for a final casting round.
Entering the contest trained in the grappling and ground-oriented jiu jitsu form, Fyvie thinks Secor could be a force to be reckoned this season.
“With the majority of fighters on the show, I see their weaknesses being in the wrestling and the grappling rounds,” said Fyvie.”Those are [Secor’s] strengths. If he gets the right matchups and opponents that complement that skill set, he could go pretty far.”
Secor is currently in Las Vegas, where the show is filmed. On the season premiere, he and the other 31 contestants will compete in 16 elimination fights to earn a spot in the Ultimate Fighter house for the season. The 16 winners will then be split into two teams of eight. The contestants, even after being eliminated, remain in the Ultimate Fighter house until the show has finished filming. All contestants must also sign a confidentiality waiver to not reveal the results until the show’s December 15 season finale.
One of the traditions of the show is that both teams are captained by big time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans. This season will feature captains Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson. Carwin is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who was eventually defeated by professional wrestler-turned-legitimate-tough-guy Brock Lesnar. Nelson also has a bit of notoriety as he was involved in the second-highest watched MMA contest of all time, which was an exhibition win over internet punching sensation, Kimbo Slice.
Following the two-hour premiere event September 14, The Ultimate Fighter will return to its one-hour format and air Friday nights at 10 p.m. on FX.
