Last week, I wrote about try-outs for an MMA reality show that were being held at American Fighter Gym in Philadelphia. York County’s James “Shrapnel” Chappell jumped at the chance and was there with Academy of Combative Arts co-owner Joe Duffey.
Since then, I talked with American Fighter co-owner Doug Frank and he gave me some great details about the show.
First, AF is partnering with Rock Star Ink, one of the best tattoo places on the East Coast, located in Atlantic City, to make the show happen, and Comcast is producing it. “They have four or five networks – all very interested,” Frank said.
At Saturday’s try-outs, they had about 60-70 guys, all weight classes, all amateur, and 14 made the cut. Frank said he wasn’t ready to announce the names just yet. There is one more try-out on Dec. 12 at the AF gym.
The fighters selected will compete on a 25-fight card at House of Blues in Atlantic City on February 1. But that’s only the beginning – whoever wins their respective fight that night goes on to the show, Frank said.
Frank described the show as a “Miami Ink and TUF combined,” with a 6-week training session, which AF’s coaches will lead, but there will also be guest appearances by “UFC coaches” as well. There will be no mansion to stay and get drunk in, tapings will be three nights a week and Saturdays, Frank said.
The purpose of the show is to produce a handful of fighters that would be ready to make waves in the pro ranks. At the end of the show, several fighters will receive contracts with American Fighter, which is pretty decent, considering they sponsor guys like Rich Franklin, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine.
