The Ultimate Fighter

This has to be the best way that UFC can introduce its fans to its new fighters. You get to know the fighters way more then you ever would be able to do so in the past and actually care if they win or not when they actually start competing on UFC events. I see Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Nate Quarry, Josh Koscheck and Kenny Florian from season 1 all having good to great UFC careers. Season 2 has some good prospects too with Joe Stevenson, Luke Cummo, Melvin Guillard, Josh Burkman, Sammy Morgan, Jorge Gurgel, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, and also Brad Imes if he gets more experience.

Also a great way for helping get attention to the veteran UFC fighters who work as the coaches on the show.

I have to agree about watching TUF for Diego dishing it out. But I'm not going to lie...watching the fight between Forrest and Stephan in the finale was one of the most memorable and exciting things I can ever remember on television. Even to this day, I have NO idea how they picked a winner...it would have been SO tough.

And I think you brought up a great point. UFC was drowning...fast...and they needed something to put them through the roof. I think TUF did that for them and the enormity of its success was a big shocker to Dana White and fans of the sport.

Me? I'm EXTREMELY glad it came out because I've been a fan of the UFC for as long as I can remember. I really like Chris Leben and was sad to see it end for him so quickly with that cut in the semi finals. I also think Koscheck is a good fighter even though I didn't really like him as a person.

Also, I DO agree about the Bobby/Stephan fight, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did. Not only do I think Forrest would have walked all over Bobby, but Bobby didn't deserve it anyway.

What I was trying to say about the whole thing is; I think TUF is amazing, I haven't missed a single season yet, and I look forward to even MORE UFC and TUF to come in the future :)

The Ultimate Fighter is a reality TV show where 16 contestants live together and battle each other in MMA fights.

As a reality show, it had some moments in the house. As a competition show, the fights rock. As for its influence, it changed the world of fighting.

Before the show, boxing was still on top. MMA was just a fringe sport. It had the feel of an illegal dog fight. What this show did was to demystified the world of MMA. It show these fighter as athletes rather than maniacs. It opened this world to the general public allowing more people to join.

And that most DEFINITELY includes myself! Now I do not have to wait 2 months to pay $30 to see a cool ufc fight because at 10:00 PM every Monday night now,I can see one at the end of this very interesting documentary.Plus,we now have a close-up look at the training that these MMA guys go through.We see the certain work out methods of how one individual loses at least 20 pounds in less than 24 hours (very grueling indeed); I mean...WOW,and I thought my old school tae kwon do training was difficult.Also,the tension between the different trainees can be sometimes just freakin hilarious (like watching the WWF you know).

But like I said,it's a very interesting show and I will never miss one episode if I can help it.I just hope the show lasts a long time.

I don't really watch this show anymore, to be honest, as the overall ninth season kinda blows. For instance, the UK dude who was suppose to be way better than everyone else (allegedly) gassed after one round, and couldn't even answer the bell in the 3rd round despite not even being 'hurt'.

All I see is dudes gassed after 3 minutes this year… it's nuts! If I was DH or MB I'd just make my guys run, all day, everyday, set a curfew and bed time and toss all the beer out of the house. I don't see one UFC quality fighter in the bunch. These guys aren't even WEC or Strikeforce material.

Looking back at the years, there really has only been like one real UFC fighter from each season (season 1 was loaded though, season 2-3, had a couple, since then, its just been one guy).