THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER

'''The Ultimate Fighter''' is a reality television series and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, originating from United States, and produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a format similar to the TV series ''Survivor'' and ''Big Brother'', professional MMA fighters that have yet to make a big name for themselves are situated in a house outside of Las Vegas, Nevada and compete against each other for the title of ''Ultimate Fighter'', winning a six-figure, multi-fight contract with the UFC.
For the first four seasons, prospect UFC fighters were selected in two weight classes. Season five features only lightweights, and thus was not divided in weight classes. The fighters are divided into two teams, irrespective of weight class, each team coached by a current UFC headliner. The teams then compete (in a manner which varies by season) to determine which team would have the right to pair one of their own fighters against an opponent of their choice in the same weight class to an MMA match, the loser eliminated from the house. At the end of a season, the two remaining fighters of each weight class are placed in a single-elimination tournament, where the title of ''Ultimate Fighter'' is awarded to the winner.
The show features the daily preparations each fighter makes to train for competition and the interactions they have with each other living under the same roof. Day-to-day events on the show are overseen by UFC president Dana White.
With the exception of the season finales, fights on ''The Ultimate Fighter'' are sanctioned by the Nevada Athletic Commission as exhibition matches and do not count for or against a fighters professional record. This is done to keep the results from going public before the air date.

Contents

Seasons

The six-figure contract

Future plans

See also

External links

Seasons

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 1' (January 18 2005—April 9 2005) - Light heavyweights and middleweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 2' (August 22 2005—November 5 2005) - Heavyweights and welterweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 3' (April 6 2006—June 24 2006) - Light heavyweights and middleweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback' (August 17 2006—November 11 2006) - Middleweights and welterweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 5' (April 5, 2007—June 23, 2007) - Lightweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra' (Fall 2007) -Welterweights

★ 'The Ultimate Fighter 7' (Spring 2008) - Middleweights [1]

The six-figure contract

The winners of the first three seasons of ''The Ultimate Fighter'' competition, and certain runner-ups depending on their performance in their competition finals, receive the touted "six-figure" contract to fight in the UFC. These contracts are specifically three-year contracts with a guaranteed first year. Each year consists of three fights, the first year's purse per fight consist of $12,000 guaranteed with a $12,000 win bonuses (a maximum of $24,000 per fight), the second year's purse per fight is $16,000 with a $16,000 win bonus (a maximum of $32,000 per fight) and the third year's purse per fight is at $22,000 with a $22,000 win bonus (a maximum of $44,000 per fight). A TUF winner who goes 9-0 can earn $300,000 total on the contract, but only $150,000 is guaranteed for all three years if 9 fights are fought.[2]
Those that have not won the competition can still fight in the UFC. Their contracts however are not the same as the six-figure deal above.

Future plans

On March 23 2006, UFC and Spike TV announced they have agreed to an extension of their working agreement and there will be four more seasons of The Ultimate Fighter after TUF3. TUF 5 & 6 will air in 2007, and TUF 7 will air in 2008.[3]
A Spanish language version of the series, tentatively known as ''Ultimate Fighter Mexico'', is in the works.[4]

See also

★ List of UFC events

External links

★ Official website

★ Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter page

★ UFC Official Website