UFC middleweights Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller are coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. They're currently in Las Vegas shooting the season. Here's a new promo video for the series which debuts on Spike TV in September.
The series, which broke the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts in the U.S. in 2005, has been up and down over the past few seasons. After a long slow ratings decline from the early peak in season 3 featuring Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, the show broke ratings records in its tenth season which featured YouTube backyard brawler Kimbo Slice. That season featured Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as coaches and set up their million selling UFC 114 pay-per-view.
Former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar coached on the 13th season of TUF which was an unexpected flop in the ratings, despite Lesnar's presence. Injury was added to insult when Lesnar's illness precluded him facing his fellow coach Junior dos Santos at UFC 131.
The UFC had originally hoped to place mega-heel Chael Sonnen opposite Bisping, but Sonnen's difficulties with the California (and Nevada) State Athletic Commission prevented that. We'll find out soon if Mayhem Miller's MTV success will deliver ratings to Spike TV.
More SBN Ultimate Fighter 14 coverage
The series, which broke the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts in the U.S. in 2005, has been up and down over the past few seasons. After a long slow ratings decline from the early peak in season 3 featuring Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, the show broke ratings records in its tenth season which featured YouTube backyard brawler Kimbo Slice. That season featured Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as coaches and set up their million selling UFC 114 pay-per-view.
Former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar coached on the 13th season of TUF which was an unexpected flop in the ratings, despite Lesnar's presence. Injury was added to insult when Lesnar's illness precluded him facing his fellow coach Junior dos Santos at UFC 131.
The UFC had originally hoped to place mega-heel Chael Sonnen opposite Bisping, but Sonnen's difficulties with the California (and Nevada) State Athletic Commission prevented that. We'll find out soon if Mayhem Miller's MTV success will deliver ratings to Spike TV.
More SBN Ultimate Fighter 14 coverage