Risking It All for Fame on the Ultimate Fighter

On the third episode of The Ultimate Fighter, the top 16 fighters finally got to walk through the front door of the house that he would live in for the next six weeks.

Unfortunately, one of those fighters only stayed a day and was sent home. 

Wrestler Paul Bradley was diagnosed with a strain of the herpes virus that is caused by stress, causing sores to be exposed on his neck. These sores were contagious and could be spread to anyone else coming in contact with him, or equipment that came in contact with the infected area.

The breakout is controllable with medication, but could still flair up at any moment due to stress.

Dana White had no choice but to ask Bradley to leave. This was the first time on TUF that a fighter was asked to leave by no fault of their own (last year there was a fighter who broke him arm in training, but he wasn't asked to leave, he just couldn't fight).

It was a difficult scene to watch as Paul broke down in tears. His dream was suddenly no longer possible. He would have to go home.

He revealed that he had nothing to go home to. He had quit his job as a wrestling coach in order to come on the show in the first place. He had fought and earned his spot (by wrestling his opponent down and lying on him for 10 minutes, per comment by Dana, Forrest and Rampage).

I couldn't help but think why anyone would quit their job to come out for the show.

It isn't the first time it has happened either, not only this season, but seasons past have shown fighters that reveal them quitting their jobs in the hopes that they will outfight the other 15 fighters and get a contract in the UFC, or at least a fight in the octagon to prove their worthiness of a future contract.

Perhaps I am a realist, or maybe even a pessimist, but I can't imagine a scenario in which a person of sound mind would sacrifice all that they have, their very means of support and survive in the chance that they will be the best fighter in the house.

Let's say this isn't a 4-4 or 3-2 fighter.

Let's say that it is more the level of a Mac Danzig or Diego Sanchez. Fighters that come in with impressive resumes and have a better than average chance at winning. Flukes happen. Ask Houston Alexander.

Fighters get knocked out that are ahead on the cards. Fighters get injured trying to fight off submissions. Hands get broken. Ankles get twisted (Nate Quarry).

To say that you can even be certain that will win is insane.

I can appreciate the romanticism in the idea (though I can't imagine a fighter ever putting it in those words) that a fighter can give up all he has to pursue his dream. To beat the odds and win it all. To move on and become the world champion.

The only problem is that there are about 10-20,000 fighters in the United States.

There is one champion per weight division per organization. Those aren't great odds, especially if you aren't an exceptional fighter to begin with.

I feel for Paul Bradley, I really do.

He lost his chance by fluke. He couldn't know that little rash that he gets sometimes but can control with medication would cost him his dream. Of course, he didn't have to quit his job either.

What motivates fighters to sacrifice everything on the long shot?