Best part of Seth Baczynski's second 'TUF' stint? Wisdom – and a better bed

LAS VEGAS – When Seth Baczynski arrived on the set of “The Ultimate Fighter 11” in 2010, all the good beds were taken.

“Coming in late, I was stuck in a room with every guy on there other team,” Baczynski told MMAjunkie. “(I was) sleeping right next to guys I was going to be competing against, and getting the worst bed in the house.”

Baczynski (20-14 MMA, 5-6 UFC) was a late replacement on the season, asked to fill in after an injury ruled out a competing fighter. He served on Chuck Liddell’s team before getting disqualified on a soccer kick, the second time that season that an illegal move had prematurely ended a fight.

Seven years after Baczynski’s first time on camera, he’s set to appear on “The Ultimate Fighter 25,” the promotion’s second redemption-themed season of the long-running reality series. It debuts Wednesday on FS1.

This time, he got a better bed. It’s the little things.

“It was a much better settling-in process for me,” he said. “Being able to pick a room and get in and get squared away as fast as possible.”

At 35, Baczynski is thinking more about how much time he has left than plotting his course to the top of the sport. Like other vets on the show, he’s looking to leave the promotion on a high note. At the same time, he’s not ashamed of the downs that have accompanied his ups during his career.

They’re simply a physical reminder of the progress to come.

“MMA, for me, is like looking in the mirror and saying, ‘I really need to work on my takedown defense,’ or, ‘I really need to work on my standup,'” he said. “Because if you’re not honest with yourself and you don’t evolve, you’re just going to get your frickin’ ass kicked all the time.”

Check out Baczynski’s interview to hear about his second experience on “TUF,”

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.