Inside the 'TUF' House: Reality Show or Experiment Gone Wrong?

A show at odds with itself

The show’s stated goal to discover the UFC’s next hot prospect clashes with the emphasis on entertainment.

Browning’s antics were reminiscent of those of Chris Leben, but they helped land him a spot on the main card at “The Ultimate Fighter 8” Finale on Dec. 13. He dominated David Kaplan en route to a second-round submission win by armbar and afterward did his best to offer an explanation for his outbursts during the show.

“It wasn’t all planned,” Browning said. “It was just more the fact that I didn’t let the cameras dictate the way I was going to act. [If] somebody messed with me, I just snapped. If I’m going to get pissed, I might as well make it entertaining.”

Ruediger believes the show’s designed to bring out the worst in some people.

“The way the show is set up is to provoke you, to break down psychologically,” he said. “You’re basically locked in the house, you’re not allowed to go anywhere, you’re not allowed to read books, you’re not allowed to listen to music, you’re not allowed to interact with people outside of that core group.”

Danzig claims the production team prodded fighters. According to Danzig, they said, “if you got a problem with someone, tell them how you feel, talk about the show, don’t talk about, you know, [movies].” Some guys fell into the trap, Danzig included. Yet encouragement to push the envelope comes in non-specific bursts. Fighters were never encouraged to trash the house, a tradition that’s been carried on from the beginning. They were simply made aware of the fact that they would not be liable for damages. If the house could be repaired and no one got hurt, then no harm done.

“It’s always been kind of free will,” said season one’s Nate Quarry. “Those antics were never encouraged. However, if someone asked for something [like alcohol], it was provided. Basically, they’re just gonna say, ‘Here’s your lifetime opportunity. Do what you will with it.’ Then it’s up to the individual person to either take the opportunity or blow it.”

Built-in conflict

Less than 36 hours into Zimbardo’s experiment, acute emotional disturbance, disorganized thinking and rage prompted one prisoner’s dismissal from the study. The environment found in “The Ultimate Fighter” house has affected fighters in much the same way.

“Everyone that’s been on the show understands that insanity, that craziness, that breaking point, that thing that leads you to break s--t, that thing leads you to drink,” Ruediger said. “It’s because you get bored. There’s nothing to do. You know, I’ve never been in jail, but I was on a season with people who had been in jail, and they said jail was actually a better experience.”

Danzig believes lack of communication with the outside world presents the most difficult challenge.

“When you take that away, that’s the hardest thing,” he said. “Even guys in jail get, like, a visit once a week.”

Danzig wishes he could have written letters to loved ones during his time on the show. Instead, he passed the time staring at a vacant dirt lot next to “The Ultimate Fighter” house “waiting for the whole thing to end.” According to Ruediger, when there’s little available entertainment outside of drinking and battling others, an hour can feel impossibly long.

Producers build conflict into the show, just as it was built into the Stanford Prison Experiment. Participants are split into two opposing sides and assigned jerseys. This allows the UFC to draw battle lines and to highlight them when they have been crossed. The Browning-Kaplan match was promoted as a battle of betrayal after Browning revealed Kaplan’s tendencies inside the cage to Phillipe Nover, a member of the opposing team.

Whatever clashes ensue oftentimes fall into White’s lap. He plays the warden. White received heavy criticism when he allowed Browning to remain on the show after exhibiting dangerous behavior towards fellow cast members, not once but twice. His presence on the main card at the finale sparked even more debate.