The mixed martial arts reality TV show, The Ultimate Fighter, season eleven, included two contestants who got their start in the Tampa MMA scene: James Hammortree and Jamie Yager. Both will also be featured on the TUF 11 Finale fight card on June 19 at the Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. where they will take on two other TUF 11 contestants.
While Hammortree actually lives and trains in Ocala, Fla. Yager resides in Pasadena, Calif. but both made an instant impression when they hit the Tampa MMA scene in their first couple of pro fights with the Real Fighting Championhips and Art of Fighting respectively.
"Yager possesses a lot of talent, he is one of the most talented fighters to step in the AOF cage, but he simply does not have the experience," said AOF President Nathan Smith. "In all fairness Yager only had three fights prior to the TV show."
Naturally, both fighters had high hopes to make it to the TUF 11 Finale to compete for the six-figure fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But Hammortree's dreams were crushed twice: first when he was eliminated by Brad Tavares on episode three and a second time when he replaced Nick Ring who had to bow out due to injury, just to be defeated by the finalist Court McGee in the quarterfinals on episode eight. Nevertheless, Hammortree at least got a spot on the TUF 11 Finale undercard against Chris Camozzi who was not able to compete during the show since he suffered an injury during the very first elimination round, making this the third opportunity to impress UFC President Dana White.
"Hammortree knocked out Joey Bagley with one single punch in five seconds flat at RFC 16 in Feb. 2009, said RFC President Joe Valdez. "I think Hammortree could be a top MMA fighter."
This article appears in Jun 17-23, 2010.