The Ultimate Fighter:

The Ultimate Fighter:

The next season of the long running The Ultimate Fighter could very well be the last. Season 27 ‘Undefeated’ is currently being aired, and the forthcoming season 28 could be the last time we see the long running reality series on our screens.

Speaking with MMA Junkie the UFC president Dana White had this to say:

“We don’t know yet,” White said. “We’re coming up on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter. We don’t know. It might be the last one. 13 years, The Ultimate Fighter has gone. It’s incredible.”

The new TV deal with ESPN and flagging ratings have put the show at real risk of being cancelled. The latest series opened with an average of just 200,000 viewers, its lowest ever number, the previous season got 308,000 on its opening night.

If it does indeed get cancelled, nobody should forget the importance of the show, everyone knows the story that the original series was the last throw of the dice for Zuffa, the show probably saved the UFC, maybe even the sport of MMA.

Many a UFC star got their big break on the show, Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and many more made their names on the show.

For me the season’s that stand out are the ones where the coaches had genuine beef with each other. Season 3, Ortiz and Shamrock, Season 10 Evans and Rampage and Season 18 Rousey and Tate are my personal favourites.

Everything has a shelf life, and if it does indeed end, the show leaves many a lasting memory.