The BEST episodes of The Ultimate Fighter

#1 - The Ultimate Fighter Finale Early Prelims: Johnson vs Gaethje

Season 25 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/7/2017

#2 - I Against I

Season 14 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2011

Coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller select their teams from the crop of victorious Featherweights and Bantamweights. The first matchup is chosen, and one fighter is forced to deal with his severe anxiety issues.

#3 - Shocked and Awed

Season 11 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/2/2010

It's Jamie Yager versus Josh Bryant in the last quarterfinal fight, with an ending that leaves both teams in shock. Dana makes an unprecedented decision that turns the competition upside-down. After the smoke clears, the semifinal matchups are announced.

#4 - Diego Brandao vs Dennis Bermudez TUF 14 Finale

Season 14 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/3/2011

Agile, mobile, & hostile! The featherweight final was non-stop exciting from beginning to end as Team Miller’s Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez was shot out of a cannon at Team Bisping’s Diego Brandao who was launched from a catapult at the same time.

#5 - Scrappers

Season 14 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2011

After Dana White greets the fighters and outlines a few exciting new twists for Season 14, 16 bantamweight and 16 featherweight hopefuls face off in a day of elimination fights at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Coaches Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller take in the action from the sidelines.

#6 - A Will To Win/ Dogfight

Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/9/2010

In a special 2-hour episode Rich Franklin takes over as the new coach of the red team, and several of the fighters have finally had it with Jamie Yager. All this plus two semifinal fights.

#7 - The Ultimate Fighter Finale: Montano vs Modafferi

Season 26 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/1/2017

#8 - Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall TUF 17 Finale

Season 17 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/13/2013

#9 - It Was A Brawl

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/31/2007

Guest Coach Randy “The Natural” Couture pays a visit to Team Penn to offer his expertise and to support one of his protégés’ Gray Maynard as he prepares to enter the quarterfinals against Brandon Melendez.

#10 - Win or Die

Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/2010

Following the team's first win Koscheck talks smack to Michael Johnson, but then gets a dose of the same medicine from Cody McKenzie. And the fates of four fighters are determined in two lightweight matchups.

#11 - Bag of Tools

Season 17 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/12/2013

Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen face off in the most unique, and difficult, Coaches Challenge ever. After Dylan Andrews takes on Zak Cummings in the last preliminary fight, Dana forces the coaches to decide on the Wildcard matchup.

#12 - Spinning Tornado

Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/2010

In the last two Quarterfinal fights, Wild Card winner Aaron Wilkinson faces Team GSP elder statesman Kyle Watson. Then antagonistic teammates let their fists do the talking when Michael Johnson finally takes on Alex Caceres. And the Semifinal fights are announced.

#13 - Vicious

Season 17 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/2/2013

Showboating striker, Josh Samman, faces the aggressive takedowns of Jimmy Quinlan in the 3rd Quarterfinal. After 3 fights in one month, Bubba McDaniel worries that his body may not be up to the challenge of taking on Uriah Hall in the fourth Quarterfinal.

#14 - Finale Early Preliminary Fights

Season 20 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/2014

#15 - Betrayal

Season 16 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/9/2012

James Chaney owns up to his unsportsmanlike conduct. One fighter turns against his friend. Team Carwin’s Mike Ricci takes on Nelson number one pick Dom Waters in the final preliminary fight. Dana White announces the Quarterfinal match-ups.

#16 - TEAM HUGHS VS TEAM SERRA

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/8/2007

#17 - It's About to Get Real

Season 20 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/2014

Jessica Penne and Carla Esparza are up next in the semifinal followed by Randa Markos and Rose Namajunas.

#18 - Bring It!

Season 16 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/2012

UFC President Dana White greets 32 eager welterweights at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Opposing coaches Roy 'Big Country' Nelson and Shane Carwin watch with Dana as 16 fighters prevail in a full day of Elimination fights, then team picks.

#19 - Best Job in the World

Season 20 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/2014

#20 - Team Benavidez vs. Team Cejudo: The Tournament Begins

Season 24 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/31/2016

#21 - The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale Fight Pass Prelims

Season 24 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/3/2016

Middleweight Elvis Mutapcic vs. Anthony Smith Light Heavyweight Josh Stansbury vs. Devin Clark

#22 - The Fight Gods

Season 26 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/8/2017

#23 - Don't Talk to Me

Season 20 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/2014

Controversy ignites again within Team Pettis because several fighters now want to train two sessions per day, not just one as preciously agreed upon. The next morning, Markos decides to attend the morning session, much to the chagrin of Carla Esparza. A confrontation takes place in the van on the way to the gym, but Markos refuses to leave. Once the van arrives at the “TUF” gym, Esparza and Herrig bring the situation to coach Pettis’ attention. While he would like to stick to the original agreement of split training sessions, he says MMA is an individual, not team sport, and he can’t make any decisions on Markos’ behalf.

#24 - The Semis

Season 17 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/9/2013

The coaches join the semifinalists on a visit to the Harley Davidson showroom. Then, the final four battle for a spot in the live finale. Josh Samman faces 21 year-old Kelvin Gastelum, and Uriah Hall guns for another knockout as he takes on Dylan Andrews.

#25 - Whatever It Takes

Season 31 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/15/2023

As the competition nears its end, both Conor and Michael host special dinners for the fighters. Then in the last semifinal fight, Team McGregor’s only remaining fighter, Rico DiSciullo, faces UFC veteran Cody Gibson of Team Chandler.