What is UFC TUF?

TUF, or The Ultimate Fighter, is a reality television series produced by the UFC. The show started in 2005 and is credited with single-handedly launching MMA into the mainstream, along with saving the sport, which was facing bans in multiple states at the time.

TUF has produced some of the best fighters and champions to ever have graced the UFC octagon. Among the reality TV show alums are names like Brandon Moreno, Kamaru Usman, Tony Ferguson, TJ Dillashaw, Michael Bisping, Nate Diaz and Forrest Griffin, to name a few.

Check out The Ultimate Fighter through the years below:

In a time where MMA as a sport was sailing in shaky waters, and cage-fighting was seen as 'barbaric', The Ultimate Fighter really helped provide some perspective to audiences at large about fighters, their lives and their training regimen.

The show was originally an experiment by Dana White and the Fertitta brothers (who financed the show) in collaboration with Spike TV. The experiment was a last resort to get the sport into the mainstream, and it largely paid off with an estimated three million people tuning in to watch the season one finale.

Moreso, the main event between former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin and the late Stephan Bonnar is regarded as one of the most influential fights in MMA history.

Over the years, the series has given us some of the most memorable moments (some very meme-able moments, eg. Julian Lane's 'Let Me Bang Bro' moment) apart from producing some of the world's best fighters.

The show has left an indelible mark on MMA history and will forever be remembered as the single entity that helped save MMA.

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The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) - From 2005 to present day: 18 years and going strong

In 2000s, when reality TV was a mainstay in virtually every household, no one expected a series revolving around fighters to gain any traction. This came at a time when MMA as a sport was being lobbied against, and was banned in many states.

Initially started as an experiment, the show went on to launch MMA into the mainstream, build the UFC as a brand and produce some of the best fighters in the world. The show also made for some interesting viewing as the series provided intimate insights into the training and interaction between the various fighters and coaches over the years.

Check out some of the top TUF moments compiled by the UFC:

In a time where the reality TV format has lost its pre-internet era shine, The Ultimate Fighter is still going strong, drawing large viewerships from a dedicated (and growing) fan-base.

TUF has left a legacy of its own, even though it's an inevitable part of the UFC. With Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler declared as coaches for the 31st installment of the series, the viewership numbers are only set to rise.