Mentor graduate is excited for new season of ‘Ultimate Fighter’

Gary DeFranco had it mapped out when he graduated from Mentor High School in 1997.

“I thought I wanted to run hotels (in Las Vegas),” DeFranco said in a phone interview.

That career goal went off track. But DeFranco is doing just fine in the desert. After graduating from UNLV, DeFranco landed a job on the TV show “American Casino.” The next year in 2004, he got a gig as an assistant on the popular UFC reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“I fell in love with the TV business,” said DeFranco.

He’s been with the show since. In 2017, he was promoted to co-executive producer. On April 18, the show’s 27th season debuts on Fox Sports 1. It might be the most excited DeFranco’s been since working on the show.

For the first time in the show’s history, the 16 fighters on the show are undefeated. The coaches on each side are light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. The two fight July 7 in Las Vegas at UFC 226 in what could be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.

The night before, the season finale of Season 27 will air. To say DeFranco is excited is an understatement. That’s because for the longest

time, he’s been a fan of Miocic.

Now the Lake County natives get to work together. The show is in the midst of taping, so DeFranco can’t reveal much about it. What is known is the format. The fighters will be split into two groups and then go through a tournament, with the winner receiving a UFC contract.

The big draw in Northeast Ohio for those tuning in will likely be Miocic. For those checking in for the first time, DeFranco said prepare for a treat.

“I would say (to those who will be watching) you’re really going to get to know what kind of guy (Stipe) is,” said DeFranco. “You see him fight, and you don’t get to see his personality. But he’s really a good dude. He’s joking and laughing, but when it’s time to get down to business he’s making sure these guys are ready for their fights.”

DeFranco’s role as co-executive producer includes working with the 10 camera crews and assistants to make sure as much footage is captured at all hours.

“Some guys don’t go to bed until 2 a.m.,” he said. “Others wake up at 5 a.m. That’s the toughest thing, having our crew and cameramen on point at all times so we don’t miss anything. We want to tell the stories about all the guys.”

DeFranco is in his element on the show. He was born in Las Vegas but his parents moved him back to Northeast Ohio when he was 2. The family lived in Euclid and South Euclid before settling in Mentor.

His love of combat sports began when his father got him interested in boxing and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. He later gravitated to UFC in the sport’s early days in 1994.

“I remember my friends and I would ride our bikes to Video Den on (Route) 615 back in the day and we would rent the VHS tapes,” said DeFranco, who also works on the Discovery Channel’s “Street Outlaws.”

The knowledge helped him when DeFranco began with “The Ultimate Fighter.” His first year on the show was spent casting fighters, then he was hired full-time the following year and has been involved with the day-to-day operations since.

It’s led to this season, and a dream scenario working with “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” who happens to hail from the same area as DeFranco.

“Stipe’s a monster of a man but he’s the nicest guy. He’s really taken a leadership role with these guys and really cares, and everyone will see that when the season airs.”

DeFranco