Issue 050
June 2009
A daring and untested venture, The Ultimate Fighter was a huge gamble on Zuffa’s part. At first a curiosity, the show has become an institution among fans and has produced some of the top talent in MMA today. We list some of the ‘TUF’est’ guys to have graduated from the show.
Rashad Evans, 13-0-1
IN BRIEF: Undefeated, cocky wrestler / boxer who started his UFC career as a heavyweight.
APPEARED IN: TUF 2.
REMEMBERED FOR: Winning the heavyweight bracket as a natural light heavyweight, raising the ire of his rival team’s coach, Matt Hughes.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Nabbed the UFC 205lb title by stopping Forrest Griffin in December 2008.
WHAT NEXT? A showdown with Lyoto Machida at UFC 98.
Michael Bisping, 18-1-0
IN BRIEF: Motormouth all-rounder spearheading the English invasion of the UFC.
APPEARED IN: TUF 3, and TUF 9 as a coach.
REMEMBERED FOR: Winning the 205lb bracket and his feud with deaf wrestler Matt Hamill.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Riding high in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions (losing only to Rashad Evans).
WHAT NEXT? Coaching the UK team in TUF 9, followed by a scrap with Dan Henderson.
Forrest Griffin, 16-5-0
IN BRIEF: Lanky self-described “quiet jerk” and poster boy for the TUF generation.
APPEARED IN: TUF 1, returning as a coach in TUF 7.
REMEMBERED FOR: His edge-of-your-seat brawl with Stephan Bonnar in the TUF finale.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Captured the 205lb title from Rampage Jackson in July 2008.
WHAT NEXT? His next fight will be against the dangerous Thiago Silva in the summer.
Kenny Florian, 11-3-0
IN BRIEF: Boston-based and Sityodtong-trained top lightweight contender.
APPEARED IN: TUF 1.
REMEMBERED FOR: Slicing open the head of Chris Leben with an elbow, later losing to overall winner Diego Sanchez.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Going 9-1 in the UFC, only losing to then-lightweight champ Sean Sherk.
WHAT NEXT? A shot at BJ Penn’s 155lb title in August.
Diego Sanchez, 20-2-0
IN BRIEF: Enigmatic and eccentric fighter known for his energetic fighting style.
APPEARED IN: TUF 1.
REMEMBERED FOR: Aside from being the first middleweight winner, his yoga routines raised eyebrows among other contestants.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Getting within a hair’s breadth of a shot at the welterweight title.
WHAT NEXT? Now campaigning at lightweight, Sanchez is gunning for the title.
Nate Diaz, 10-3-0
IN BRIEF: Street-tough, trash-talking bad boy, brother of Nick Diaz.
APPEARED IN: TUF 5.
REMEMBERED FOR: Almost getting into a fight with guest coach Karo Parisyan during filming of the show.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Winner of TUF 5, he has lost only once in six fights for the UFC, a decision loss to Clay Guida.
WHAT NEXT? He’ll meet TUF 2 winner, Joe Stevenson, at the TUF 9 finale.
Joe Lauzon, 18-4-0
IN BRIEF: Hyper-aggressive lightweight leglock machine.
APPEARED IN: TUF 5.
REMEMBERED FOR: Being one of BJ Penn’s favorites on the show, impressing everyone throughout.
ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE TUF: Main eventing a UFC Fight Night.
WHAT NEXT? A lengthy rest, as he rehabs a severe knee injury.
