This is the second part of an exclusive MMAFightline interview with UFC Fighter Matt “No Regard” Arroyo. In this part, Arroyo discusses why the UFC prevented his participation in The Amazing Race as well as a new television program that he is currently developing.

MMAFightLine.com: Let’s talk about Gracie Tampa. Are you the head instructor for the South Tampa branch?

Arroyo: Yeah, there are 3 of us – me, Rob Neagle and Rob Kahn. The North Tampa branch was doing so well, and there is really no one in South Tampa doing what we are doing, so I figured we would do a satellite school off of the main one. There is nobody down there so we may as well be there, and I always wanted to teach. I’m going to be doing that a lot longer than I’ll be fighting so I may as well start building the school now, and we’ve only been open 3 months but we are doing really well. We are way past the break-even point. New people are coming in every day. The publicity I got off of TUF was pretty much priceless for a business like that. We are open Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. I teach a couple of days per week. Right now it is just jiu-jitsu and wrestling, but we are going to add striking in once we get a few more people and a little bit more demand for it. I love it. I get to wake up and teach jiu-jitsu. It’s unbelievable. Teaching is my job now. If I could pick my job that I would want to do, this is it, so I am happy.

MMAFightLine.com: I heard you and Allen Berube tried out for The Amazing Race but the UFC would not allow you to go on the show. What were the reasons behind the UFC’s decision?

Arroyo: When you sign The Ultimate Fighter contract not the UFC contract but the TUF contract, you are not allowed to do a reality show for 2 years after your stint on TUF.

MMAFightLine.com: Did you talk to Dana at all about it?

Arroyo: Yeah, we tried to bring it up to the source but we were told absolutely not.

MMAFightLine.com: Did you hear back from The Amazing Race before the UFC told you that you could not be on the show?

Arroyo: No, the UFC got wind of it before The Amazing Race made a decision. I know for a fact that Pilgrim Films and Craig Piligian – he is the guy that produces TUF – he and the CBS guy had their differences, so I am pretty sure they caught it before it even happened. I’m pretty sure that we would have gotten on if none of that had happened.