Dustin Pague @ TUF 14 tryouts
By: Peter Lampasona Date: 22 March 2011
Yesterday, the Marriott Hotel in Newark, New Jersey hosted the tryouts for the first The Ultimate Fighter series to showcase feather and bantamweight fighters. Among the first of the hopefuls for season 14 was Ring of Combat 135 pound champion and Virginia's own Dustin Pague.
For most of his career, Pague has been a staple for MMA in the Mid-Atlantic region, having bouts in every state from his native Virginia all the way north to New Jersey. After three hard losses in a row to top competition at 145 pounds, including living legend Din Thomas, Pague decided to make the cut to bantamweight. Having gone undefeated at 135, Pague has set his sites on the the world's biggest MMA stage by way of the reality TV series.
The first season to feature his weight class is not the first season Pague tried out for, however.
"I actually tried out for the '55er," Pague said about his first attempt to get in to a show two weight classes above his normal fighting size. "I did it just to see if I could do it. I knew that Kenny Florian had come on the show [at middleweight]. I thought I did good but, you know."
The TUF tryouts begin with the hopefuls grappling against another randomly selected contestant in a limited rules session starting from the knees. Pague, whose biggest stand out skill is his ability to put combinations of strikes together, was concerned that the opening round might not allow him to showcase the abilities that win him fights.
Pague still managed to make an impression grappling against another local favorite and WEC veteran Ian McCall. As McCall attempted to lock up a triangle from off his back, Pague lifted his opponent straight off the ground and overhead, walking off the mat and on to the floor as he did so.
With McCall heading skyward, UFC president Dana White shouted that there were no slams allowed at the tryouts. Heeding White's orders, Pague held McCall at the apex of the slam's arc, walked to the center of the mat with McCall balanced on his head, and gently put him back into the position they started in.
The odd display of power and balance from both fighters led White to refer to them as "crazy [expletive]s." Both Pague and McCall made it to the final round of judging.
The last test in the TUF tryout is often the most taxing: the fighter interview. After the 400+ fighters in attendance have been narrowed down to the desirable talent, it is often the most entertaining of those that remain that will actually see TV time. The necessity of an interesting interview was something that Pague was aware of but not nervous about as he prepared to enter the room with Spike TV's cameras.
"I'm actually pretty goofy once you get to know me," said Pague. "I'll try to open up right away. I'll improv it."
Should Pague get on the show, it will require a great deal of personal sacrifice. Shooting for season 14 begins shortly after his wedding date of May 28, and Pague will be required to skip his own honeymoon. The sacrifice is one that Pague said was necessary for the "opportunity of a lifetime."
While Ultimate Fighter contestants are made aware if they got in two weeks after tryouts, the cast of the show will be among the UFC's most protected secrets until they are ready to announce the details of their 14th season.
(US Combat Sports)
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Join season 14 Ultimate Fighter cast member Dustin "The Disciple" Pague every Wednesday night at Primetime Sports Bar and Grill for his official TUF viewing party.
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