MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>
Not only did Spike?s ?The Ultimate Fighter? breathe new life into a struggling promotion (and sport for that matter), it birthed a series of reality stars, fan favorites, and genuinely talented fighters. While not every season has proven stimulating, the majority of the series? run has been impressive. It?s time now, to determine precisely which season proved most rewarding.<BR><BR>
<B>#14. The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom:</B> While the respectable nature with which the Brit?s carried themselves is extremely admirable, it doesn?t necessarily make for the best television. The drama was extremely minimal, as only coach Michael Bisping seemed anxious to play up the immature villain, while rival coach opted to remain fairly quiet, insisting his fists would settle their dispute (they did indeed). To make matter worse, the season didn?t really produce an overwhelming level of talent. Lightweight season winner, Ross Pearson has looked solid inside the cage, amassing a 4-2 record for the promotion. Welterweight season winner, James Wilks on the other hand hasn?t fared so well. Wilks has posted just two victories against two defeats. The only other noteworthy fighters to be introduced during the season are Nick Osipczak and DaMarques Johnson.<BR><BR>
<B>#13. The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck:</B> This was an absolutely miserable season. I could summarize the entire scenario by simply divulging a fraction of immaturity displayed by Josh Koscheck; antics became so obnoxious that even his own team abandoned him in support. St. Pierre on the other hand, while an incredibly nice guy, doesn?t make for riveting television. Jonathan Brookins walked away as the season?s top dog. His UFC career record stands at 1-1. The only other fighter proven fit to take to the octagon and remain there for certain is Nam Phan. It?s a sad season when the highlight is Josh Koscheck?s beef with GSP?s assistant coaches.<BR><BR>
<B>#12. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra:</B> The shows sixth season wins a few points for the simple fact that it was fabulous watching the legitimate friction between Matt Serra and Matt Hughes. There was an abundance of drama and pranks pulled within the house, but things reached a point of soap opera status, and the luster had rotted away. Mac Danzig took the crown by toppling Tommy Speer in the finals, but he hasn?t exactly been on fire since his time in the house. Danzig?s pieced together a promotional record of 4-5. The only quality competitors the show produced? George Sotiropoulos and Ben Saunders, who isn?t even competing for the promotion any longer, for some strange reason (I believe him to be the best fighter of the season, personally).<BR><BR>
<B>#11. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest:</B> I?ll admit that the seventh season of TUF produced a few quality fighters, yet somehow, the magic was missing, and the viewing experience at times, painful, despite two colorful personalities heading up the coaching staff. Unknown Amir Sadollah won the tournament, and looked good doing so, but it didn?t alter the stale stigma fixed to the season as a whole. Thankfully, the season opened the eyes of the public to quality fighters like Gerald Harris, Jesse Taylor, Matt Brown and the always entertaining, Tim Credeur.<BR><BR>
<B>#10. The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights:</B> Season 10 saw the return of ?Rampage? as a coach, and this time, rival Rashad Evans served as his competition. Just seeing those names you?d expect some grand television; too bad virtually every exchange between the two felt completely contrived. Kimbo Slice competed, and it was entertaining seeing the softer side of the bearded one, but it wasn?t enough to save a fairly stale season. Roy Nelson went on to defeat Brendan Schaub to win the season, but he hasn?t looked the beast post-TUF that appeared while in front of Spike cameras; his UFC record now sits at 2-2. Other noteworthy combatants to emerge from the show include fellow finalist, Schaub, Jon Madsen and Matt Mitrione.<BR><BR>
<B>#09. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir:</B> Season eight again brought the soap opera vibe to our screens, and the acting was every bit as bad as you?d expect. Loads of drama unfolded, but clowns like Junie Browning and Shane Nelson only managed to cast the sport in a hideous (and quite embarrassing) light. Efrain Escudero won the lightweight bracket, while Ryan Bader claimed the light heavyweight prize. Kyle Kingsbury, Tom Lawlor and Krzysztof Soszynski have all proven worthy of octagon time, unfortunately that didn?t help any of us at home, as we watched this stinker of a season unravel.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>#08. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz:</B> I think virtually every fan alive was extremely intrigued by the idea of another collision between Liddell and Ortiz. Therefore, it was a major, major disappointment when Ortiz pulled out of the competition as the finale neared, citing, of course, an injury and required surgery. To make matters worse, only season winner Court McGee and Kyle Noke look to have a high ceiling. Talk about a build-up that failed to deliver.<BR><BR>
<B>#07. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos:</B> The thirteenth season of TUF really wasn?t a complete dud. It was great to learn the dos Santos is genuinely kind, light-hearted guy, and it was gratifying watching Brock Lesnar develop (drastically) as the show progressed. A bit of drama surrounded the season, but that?s become expected, especially when you?ve got a chunk of professional fighters in a house stocked with liquor. The downside of the show was the lack of talent to emerge. Thus far, only season winner Tony Ferguson looks fit to cut the mustard.<BR><BR>
<B>#06. The Ultimate Fighter 3:</B> Somehow coach Tito Ortiz looked like a passionate fellow this season? oh wait, that may be because Ken Shamrock looked like he couldn?t care less about a single man on his team. The theatrics of course boiled over, as Shamrock and Ortiz continuously butted heads. Kendall Grove won the middleweight tourney, while Michael Bisping tookthe light heavyweight bracket. Bisping has looked solid thus far, putting up 11 wins against just a trio of losses under the Zuffa owned banner; Grove on the other hand has been released after struggling to piece together a 7-6 promotional record. The plus side of the season you ask? The introduction of Matt Hamill.<BR><BR>
<B>#05. The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback:</B> It was absolutely priceless watching sixteen veterans fight to reignite old fistic flames. Viewers were treated to some fun in-home antics (Shonie Carter?s lingo alone was golden), but what made the season so great was the general respect exhibited by a handful of guys who?d already run the gamut. Matt Serra took the lightweight prize, while Travis Lutter submitted his way to the middleweight crown.<BR><BR>
<B>#04. The Ultimate Fighter 2:</B> Things were still fresh, the talent was still strong, the drama minimalized, and the coaches legendary. Easily one of the finest seasons to date, the second produced a nice load of talent. Joe Stevenson walked away with the welterweight prize, while the undersized Rashad Evans stunned the heavyweight opposition. Though now a sad memory, Joe Stevenson enjoyed a fine early run amongst the UFC?s ranks, and Rashad Evans remains a top three light heavyweight competitor. Marcus Davis, Melvin Guillard, Keith Jardine and Seth Petruzelli continue to thrill crowds.<BR><BR>
<B>#03. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller:</B> We?re only weeks into the fourteenth season of TUF, and already it?s proven to be an amazing season. The talent, picked from an elite crop of 145 and 135 competitors is absolutely top notch, and the fights have been every bit as rewarding as you?d expect knowing such a fact. Coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller don?t care for each other, and they?re both creative, which means we?re being gifted clever rivalry from two men we?ll see tangle upon the shows conclusion. Another great season has been long overdue, but, I?m thankful that we?re finally getting it!<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>#02. The Ultimate Fighter 5:</B> Here?s a season to be excited for. If you want in-house drama, respectful though tension filled coaching and a batch of high quality fighters to entertain you, season five did not fail, in the slightest. It was absolutely priceless to see Nate Diaz?s quiet yet powerful demeanor intimidate the vast majority of his fellow competitors, and if that wasn?t enough, the near-brawl with Karo Parisyan should have certainly appeased fans. Nate went on to win the show, while quality fighters Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman, Joe Lauzon, Rob Emerson, Manvel Gamburyan and Cole Miller are still around, kicking ass.<BR><BR>
<B>#01. The Ultimate Fighter 1:</B> It was all extremely fresh, and fans were mesmerized by the chance to get a look at fighters distanced from the cage. The theatrics were nearly non-existent, and the talent inside the house was amazing. There?s nothing I can find to critique about this season, as it went off without a hitch, and remains the most fruitful season to date. Forrest Griffin owned the light heavyweight bracket, while Diego Sanchez swarmed the middleweight. Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian and Chris Leben have all enjoyed significant success since their time on the show.<BR><BR>
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