Issue 085
February 2012
After 14 seasons we select the cream of the TUF champions who’ve built upon their success to become household names
Forrest Griffin
In Brief
Former UFC light heavyweight champion with an 18-7 record.
Character
Griffin’s quirky sense of humor made him arguably the most likeable personality on the first season of TUF.
Season
Season one, light heavyweight tournament winner.
Runners Up
Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Sam Hoger, Bobby Southworth.
Future
Griffin’s next opponent has yet to be confirmed, though there have been whispers of a fight at UFC 144 in Japan.
Diego Sanchez
In Brief
Two-time FO World MMA Awards ‘Fight of the Year’ recipient and collector of ‘Fight of the Night’ checks.
Character
With his strange combination of aggressive staredowns and peaceful meditation, Sanchez was the most peculiar character on TUF’s debut season.
Season
Season one, middleweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Kenny Florian, Chris Leben, Josh Koscheck, Nate Quarry.
Future
After injury nixed a much-desired bout against Matt Hughes, Sanchez returns to fight Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fuel in February.
Rashad Evans
In Brief
The former UFC light heavyweight champion owns a 16-1-1 record and a feud with former training partner Jon Jones.
Character
Evans showed himself to be a bit of a showman in the cage on TUF two, much to the disapproval of coach Matt Hughes.
Season
Season two, heavyweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Brad Imes, Keith Jardine, Seth Petruzelli, Tom Murphy.
Future
Was awarded main event status opposite Phil Davis for the UFC’s second Fox fight card.
Michael Bisping
In Brief
‘The Count’ became the first breakthrough British MMA fighter when he won the show in 2006 and has since established himself as a middleweight contender.
Character
Known as the outspoken Brit by North American fans.
Season
Season three, light heavyweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Josh Haynes, Matt Hammill, Ed Herman, Rory Singer.
Future
After destroying Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller in December, Bisping picked up a fight at UFC on Fox 2 opposite Demian Maia.
Matt Serra
In Brief
‘The Terror’ is a former UFC welterweight champion and the first American-born BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie.
Character
Matt Serra was fiercely defensive of the Gracie name during his time on The Ultimate Fighter.
Season
Season four, welterweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Chris Lytle, Din Thomas, Shonie Carter, Patrick Cote.
Future
Currently taking time away from competition to take care of his second child, who was born earlier this year.
Nate Diaz
In Brief
Nate is one half of arguably the toughest brotherhood in mixed martial arts.
Character
Diaz was the toughest fighter on TUF five, proving himself worthy of the family name.
Season
Season five, lightweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Manny Gamburyan, Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman, Joe Lauzon.
Future
Diaz remains a more than credible challenge for anyone in the UFC’s lightweight division.
Roy Nelson
In Brief
Former IFL heavyweight champion and top UFC heavyweight contender.
Character
Nelson’s preference of tactics over tenacity did nothing to impress Dana White during the series, that is until he KO’d Brendan Schaub at the finale.
Season
Season 10, heavyweight tournament winner
Runners Up
Brendan Schaub, Matt Mitrione, Marcus Jones, Kimbo Slice.
Future
After defeating MMA legend Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic at UFC 137, ‘Big Country’ is looking to move back into title contention in the heavyweight division.
...
