Outsiders Top 5: Top TUF Seasons
The latest season of The Ultimate Fighter is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in recent history with Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber as coaches. Over the years the UFC has made some great seasons with some great changes to the formats. Whether it be going live in season 15 or making the fighters fight for their place in the house it’s been must watch T.V. After countless hours on UFC Fight Pass I have compiled a list of what I believe are the best seasons in the history of The Ultimate Fighter.
5. The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights
Coaches: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs “Suga” Rashad Evans
Reason: This was the first season to just only focus on Heavyweights and their diverse skills. It also was the introduction to many Heavyweight mainstays (Brendon Schaub, Matt Mitrione, and Roy Nelson). The coaches are honestly the main reason for them being on this list nobody will never forget the trash talking between the coaches. Also…. Rampage destroyed a door like a monster that alone deserves to be on a list.
Winner: Roy “Big Country” Nelson
4. The Ultimate Fighter 14
Coaches: Michael “The Count” Bisping vs Jason “Mayhem” Miller
Reason: This was a season in which a lot of us where introduced to the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions. The fighters that came from this season have headlined events (Diego Brandao), challenged for titles (John Dodson), and even won championships (TJ Dillashaw). Another reason is the coaches where we began to see a slow building up to a breaking point between Miller and Bisping which culminated in a demolishing of Jason Miller at the finale.
Winner: Diego “DB” Brandao (Featherweight) and John “The Magician” Dodson
3. The Ultimate Fighter 2
Coaches: Matt Hughes vs Rich “Ace” Franklin
Reason: After the crazy success and the new fans the UFC got from the first season the UFC needed a sequel to do even better than the first. The UFC didn’t disappoint with season two which was the beginning to the careers of some of the top stars in UFC history (Too many to name). It was also the first season to feature two champions from two separate divisions who actually never faught because of their friendship. That one negative aside this season had one of the best finales in TUF history.
Winner: “Suga” Rashad Evans (Heavyweight) and Joe “Daddy” Stevenson (Welterweight)
2. The Ultimate Fighter 5
Coaches: “The Prodigy” BJ Penn vs “Lil’ Evil” Jens Pulver
Reason: Nate Diaz is all I really need to say. If you want to see a man who wasn’t playing around on his way to winning the show its Nate Diaz. Four fights with four finishes three of which were submissions. Also the coaches on the show legitimately hated each other with Jens taking the first fight before this season and BJ getting the best in the highly anticipated rematch. If there is one drawback Andy Wang bro why did you have to cry?
Winner: Nate Diaz
1.The Ultimate Fighter
Coaches: Randy “The Natural” Couture vs Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell
Reason: Is this really a surprise? This is the season that started it all and through the finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar is the reason most of us watch UFC today. This season is packed with future title challengers (Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez, and Josh Koscheck), UFC Hall of Famers (Staphan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin) and UFC champions (Forrest Griffin). That aside this was also the season that set up one of the best rematches in the history of the UFC between the coaches at UFC 52. This season had everything we love in Mixed Martial Arts and it showed most of us that the UFC is more than just a tough man competition it’s a beautiful display of heart and technique.
Winner: Forrest Griffin (Light Heavyweight) and Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez (Middleweight)