The acclaimed battle between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin is one of few reasons, as quoted by UFC President Dana White on multiple occasions, why the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter” MMA reality show has gone global.
From producing the likes of former UFC champs Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans, to taking the reality show to Brazil, “The Ultimate Fighter” now heads to Asia for the very first time.
With China’s booming population, it’s no surprise that the UFC decided to take its “TUF” series there. As many as 150 candidates applied for the tryouts and nearly 100 were eligible to attend the tryout sessions in Beijing, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, and The Venetian in Macau. After all evaluations, assessments and tests, 16 candidates were shortlisted.
The Ultimate Fighter China will be a 12-episode reality TV series where the best Chinese mixed martial artists in the world gather in Shenyang, Liaoning, to live, train and compete with each other to win a six-figure contract with the UFC.
Mark Fischer, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC Asia, said: “We saw some pretty impressive talent from around Asia in our tryouts in Beijing, Singapore and Macau. Through The Ultimate Fighter China, we are not only developing the next generation of Chinese UFC fighters, but also introducing UFC to millions of new fans across the region.”
The promotion also stated that the highly anticipated Chinese edition of The Ultimate Fighter will be co-produced by UFC and Liaoning Radio Television and will premiere in December on Liaoning Satellite TV, reaching more than 830 million viewers across China at weekend prime time. The LIVE Finale event to determine the inaugural champion of The Ultimate Fighter China will take place at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena in March of 2014.
Added Fischer: “Once the fighters are selected, they move into The Ultimate Fighter house and leave the rest of the world behind for six weeks. They will train with China’s top coaches, meet UFC veterans and local celebrities. For these 16 fighters, however, this is more than just a TV show. This is the opportunity of a lifetime as they embark on the mission to become the first ultimate fighters from China.”
Former Strikeforce champ Cung Le will serve in the ‘Dana White’ role throughout the “TUF: China” proceedings. Find out the list of fighters who made it into the show, below. Notable combatants include Legend FC vet Wang Sai and RUFF vet Zhang Li Peng among others. “TUF: China” will feature fighters from both the 155-lbs and 170-lbs divisions:
CONTESTANTS:
From left to right: Albert Cheng (2-2), Allen Chong (0-2), Dong Xin (3-0), Fu Chang Xing (0-0), He Jian Wei (6-3), Li Jin Ying (0-0), Rocky Le (3-0), Ning Guang You (3-2)
From left to right: Shi Liang (1-0), Wang An Ying (2-0), Wang Sai (6-4), Wu Qi Ze (1-0), Yang Jian Ping (6-3), Yao Zhi Kui (1-1), Zhang Li Peng (6-7), Zhi Qing Xiang (0-0)
COACHES:
- Zhang Tie Quan
- Ao Hai Lin
UFC’s first Chinese fighter Zhang Tie Quan (15-4), and China’s MMA legend Ao Hai Lin (8-0) will serve as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter: China. Quan is a WEC and UFC vet, who entered the UFC ranks in 2011 with a stellar 14-1 record. His opposite number, Lin, is an Art of War vet who holds victories over the likes of Vaughn Anderson and India’s Alan Fernandes.
The 16 contenders will be divided into two teams – coached by Zhang Tie Quan and Ao Hai Lin respectively.
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