The UFC’s venerable reality show takes a new turn on Friday night when the first-ever season of The Ultimate Fighter Live debuts on FX.
Fourteen seasons of the show have provided us with plenty of forgettable moments and easily-dismissed fighters. But there have also been plenty of gems to emerge from the show, especially during the early days when the series featured a crop of talented fighters all trying to make it into the UFC.
Those were the good old days. It’s been a long time since we discovered a true championship prospect lurking in the Ultimate Fighter house. Season 14’s bantamweight and featherweight crop may ultimately produce new contenders at 135, 145 and flyweight, but it’s still too early to tell. These days, most of the truly talented fighters find their way into the UFC without having to go through the rigors of the TUF filming process, which means we’re often left with mid-level fighters who may never sniff championship gold.
But despite all of that, The Ultimate Fighter still has a role to play. It has produced champions and contenders in the past, and perhaps it’ll do so again someday. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at the 10 best fighters to ever emerge from the Ultimate Fighter house.
These are the best of the best. They are the men who went into the house with a dream and emerged as long-term superstars and title holders.