The show features professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as they train and compete against each other for a prized six-figure contract with the UFC.

The historic Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar fight in the first season drew millions of viewers to the show and launched the sport into the mainstream.

Because of this success, The Ultimate Fighter was regarded as instrumental to the survival and expansion of the UFC and mixed martial arts into the mainstream.

The series was aired on Spike TV as a last resort measure to gain mainstream exposure for mixed martial arts (MMA).

Spike TV founder Albie Hecht began a search to find programming with broad appeal that the network could afford.

He was also not a fan of the grappling aspects of MMA, but the UFC rebuffed his suggestion to change the rules of the sport to accommodate striking.

Hecht credits Kevin Kay and his editorial collaboration with the UFC for highlighting the show's story lines, which he believes helped drive its ratings success.

[5] The bout ended in a unanimous decision victory for Griffin and led to the show's renewal on Spike TV.

[6] The Ultimate Fighter also drew record viewing figures for Spike TV when YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice participated in the tenth season.

[7] As part of a new broadcasting relationship between the UFC and Fox Sports, The Ultimate Fighter moved to FX beginning in season 15.

[10] [dubious – discuss] For the first four seasons, prospective UFC fighters from two different weight classes were selected to compete.

This new rule introduced a preliminary fight, in order to get into the house, which gave the coaches an early evaluation.

[25] This format proved highly successful for middleweight fighter Kris McCray, who took part in season 11's wild card bout.

Season 2 featured Rich Franklin and Matt Hughes, who were in different weight categories, eliminating the possibility for a post-season fight.

[37] Though rarely taking place at the live finales, the coaches' fights are an important part of each season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Despite his loss, Bonnar was also awarded a coveted contract live on the air, after White declared that "There were no losers in this fight."

Past UFC fighters who hadn't had the success they were expected to have, were invited back, to compete in the show, with the winner receiving a guaranteed title shot.

[57] The show featured many of the future stars of the lightweight division such as Nate Diaz, Joe Lauzon, Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman and Cole Miller.

[59] The final saw veteran Mac Danzig defeat Tommy Speer to become The Ultimate Fighter, before he dropped to the lightweight division.

[65] The show was largely dominated by the actions of Junie Browning, who would regularly get drunk and act in an aggressive manner towards his fellow castmates.

The welterweight final saw James Wilks defeat DaMarques Johnson via submission in the opening round, handing the UK team a 2–0 victory.

[71][72] The two coaches were former UFC Light Heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans who squabbled throughout the entire season, hyping their eventual fight further.

[75] The eleventh season saw former UFC Light Heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell coach the two teams.

[80] The twelfth season saw the UFC Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre coach alongside former opponent and number one contender to the title, Josh Koscheck.

[84] The thirteenth season was coached by former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, who would later go on to win the same title.

Fighters once again had to compete to get into the house, but during the preliminary round, Dana White announced end-of-season bonuses for the best knockout, submission and fight.

The season was coached by UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber and featured the lightweight division.

^ E. Saul Rogers was scheduled to be part of the finale, but was pulled due to Visa issues and was replaced by Ryan Hall.

^ F. Sijara Eubanks was scheduled to be part of the finale, but was pulled on the day of the weigh ins for medical reasons and was replaced by Roxanne Modafferi.

^ L. Anderson Silva was removed from the show on episode 3 due to his failed pre-fight drug test for UFC 183.