LAS VEGAS – The debut season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ has long been
recognized as the starting point of MMA’s current popularity boom and
was responsible for launching the careers of stars such as Stephan
Bonnar, Kenny Florian, Forrest Griffin, Josh Koscheck, Chris Leben,
Diego Sanchez and Mike Swick.
But as successful as the 2005 series debut proved, imagine what it could have been with one Chael P. Sonnen.
Sonnen, who coaches on the upcoming 17th edition of the series, says he actually turned down a spot on “TUF 1.”