Swinny
11-18-2012, 01:19 AM
Bellator reality show soon enters production with 'wickedly' good cast of fighters
by Dann Stupp and Christian Stein on Nov 17, 2012 at 10:30 am ET
KINGSTON, R.I. – Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney still isn't ready to divulge all the details about his company's new reality show, which begins filming in late January or early February, but he's dropping some big hints.
On Friday MMAjunkie.com caught up with the fight executive to discuss the new venture.
While he said the show will include plenty of storytelling, he said it'll also involve a group of fighters who surpass the talent level of any previous MMA-related reality series.
"There are some wickedly good pros on this show," he told MMAjunkie.com. "I think we have the greatest collection of talent that's ever been on a reality show in this genre."
The "genre," of course, includes "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC's long-running and ground-breaking reality series. The show, currently in its 16th season, began on Spike TV in 2005 before a move to FX this year as part of the mega UFC-FOX deal.
Bellator, which shifts from MTV2 to Spike TV in 2013, will give the channel some MMA reality TV once again. But unlike "TUF," which hasn't produce the quantity of UFC-ready fighters it once did, Rebney suggested Bellator could see immediate benefits. Not only will the Bellator reality show feature top talent, those fighters' stories will be told in detail thanks to producer Bertram van Munster (who's also won many awards as the co-creator/executive producer of CBS' Emmy-winning "The Amazing Race").
"It'll be very true to what we're about," Rebney said. "I think the best way to describe it is it will be a lot like what our producer, Bertram van Munster, does with 'The Amazing Race.' It will be good storytelling, and a lot of focus on who the fighters are and what they're about.
"But it'll also have some incredible fighters on it fighting in a cage."
Bellator recently hosted open tryouts at Florida's American Top Team for the show, which is expected to feature lightweight and welterweight fighters. Hopefuls were told they needed at least three pro fights and a winning percentage above .500.
With the show set to begin production in a few months, one major decision still to be made is exactly where the show will be set. Rebney said it's down to two cities, presumedly in the U.S., though he's not ready to divulge the details for a few more weeks.
"We're very close to making a decision," he said.
by Dann Stupp and Christian Stein on Nov 17, 2012 at 10:30 am ET
KINGSTON, R.I. – Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney still isn't ready to divulge all the details about his company's new reality show, which begins filming in late January or early February, but he's dropping some big hints.
On Friday MMAjunkie.com caught up with the fight executive to discuss the new venture.
While he said the show will include plenty of storytelling, he said it'll also involve a group of fighters who surpass the talent level of any previous MMA-related reality series.
"There are some wickedly good pros on this show," he told MMAjunkie.com. "I think we have the greatest collection of talent that's ever been on a reality show in this genre."
The "genre," of course, includes "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC's long-running and ground-breaking reality series. The show, currently in its 16th season, began on Spike TV in 2005 before a move to FX this year as part of the mega UFC-FOX deal.
Bellator, which shifts from MTV2 to Spike TV in 2013, will give the channel some MMA reality TV once again. But unlike "TUF," which hasn't produce the quantity of UFC-ready fighters it once did, Rebney suggested Bellator could see immediate benefits. Not only will the Bellator reality show feature top talent, those fighters' stories will be told in detail thanks to producer Bertram van Munster (who's also won many awards as the co-creator/executive producer of CBS' Emmy-winning "The Amazing Race").
"It'll be very true to what we're about," Rebney said. "I think the best way to describe it is it will be a lot like what our producer, Bertram van Munster, does with 'The Amazing Race.' It will be good storytelling, and a lot of focus on who the fighters are and what they're about.
"But it'll also have some incredible fighters on it fighting in a cage."
Bellator recently hosted open tryouts at Florida's American Top Team for the show, which is expected to feature lightweight and welterweight fighters. Hopefuls were told they needed at least three pro fights and a winning percentage above .500.
With the show set to begin production in a few months, one major decision still to be made is exactly where the show will be set. Rebney said it's down to two cities, presumedly in the U.S., though he's not ready to divulge the details for a few more weeks.
"We're very close to making a decision," he said.