The long-running UFC reality series The Ultimate Fighter has not aired since November 2018 which has led to speculation that the series may have produced its final season. When the UFC began its broadcasting deal with ESPN, there were no immediate plans for a new season of The Ultimate Fighter but that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing one in the coming months.
UFC president Dana White recently spoke to the media about the future of the show and let it be known that there are no plans to cancel the series.
Instead, the UFC is looking to revamp the series with some changes that could bring a much-needed breath of fresh air.
“I think we’re going to switch some things around and do some things different,” White said, via MMAjunkie.com. “I truly believe that ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ is so key in building young talent. (Contender Series) is fun and guys come in. But what they have to go through (on TUF) with cameras in their face 24/7, being away from home, being away from their families, and all the (expletive). Hardcore training everyday with these dream camps that are (expletive) built. Cutting weight. Staying on weight. You’ll never go through anything harder than ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’
“If you go back throughout history and look at the fighters who have come off there, it is the greatest training ground ever for up and coming fighters. It can’t go away, ever.”
The Ultimate Fighter has produced a number of future UFC champions including Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Matt Serra, and Robert Whittaker. The season 1 finale featuring Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar was crucial to taking the UFC’s popularity to the next level and breaking it into the mainstream.
While TUF may have lost some of its appeal over the years, there is no denying its a great way for fans to learn about up-and-coming fighters while watching their growth and development week in and week out.
