The latest season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ is set for Team Australia taking on Team UK, dubbed ‘The Smashes’ - originating from the cricket rivalry between the two nations which is known as ‘The Ashes’.
“Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC’s OctagonTM,” said Marshall Zelaznik - UFC’s Managing Director of International Development.
“The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn’t had the chance to show the world what he can do - The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We’re going to discover the UFC’s future stars, you can bet on it.”
“The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn’t had the chance to show the world what he can do - The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We’re going to discover the UFC’s future stars, you can bet on it.”
The series will be filmed in Sydney, Australia and will see MMA fighters live together in The Ultimate Fighter House and compete against each other for the prized UFC six-figure contract.
The two coaches are yet to be announced, but rumours of Australia’s coach include George Sotiropoulos, Kyle Noke and Hector Lombard. Also possible UK coaches include the likes of Michael Bisping, Brad Pickett and Dan Hardy.
The Ultimate Fighter has a habit of producing UFC Champions and icons such as, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Matt Serra, Nate Diaz, the UK's own Michael Bisping and Ross Pearson.
Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping, one of the UFC’s Middleweight contenders and most recognised fighters, won Season 3 in 2006 under the training of UFC legend Tito Ortiz.
Similary, Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson then followed suit by winning Season 9 in 2009, in the The Ultimate Fighter: UK vs USA season, coached by fellow countryman, Michael Bisping.
Similary, Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson then followed suit by winning Season 9 in 2009, in the The Ultimate Fighter: UK vs USA season, coached by fellow countryman, Michael Bisping.
The live tryouts are scheduled for June 15 in London and will be open to Batamweight (135lbs or 61kg) and Welterweight (170lbs or 77kg) fighters.
Registration is now open to all aspiring UFC fighters from the UK - http://uk.ufc.com/TUFForm
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