The WORST episodes of The Ultimate Fighter

Every episode of The Ultimate Fighter ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Ultimate Fighter!

Sixteen aspiring mixed martial artists live together, train together and compete against each other to become the Ultimate Fighter. They receive coaching from UFC champions and contenders in a variety of martial arts including wrestling, boxing, judo, Jiu-Jitsu, karate and kickboxing. The winner receives a six-figure contract from the UFC.

Last Updated: 3/22/2024Network: ESPNStatus: Continuing
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TUF 1 Finale
star
5.00
5 votes

#1 - TUF 1 Finale

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/9/2005

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Couture vs. Team Liddell Finale was the UFC's watershed moment as the first two winners of the reality show were crowned including the fight that set the world on fire as Stephan Bonnar went to war with Forrest Griffin.

Tied
star
6.03
121 votes

#2 - Tied

Season 18 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/23/2013

Interviews with Dana White, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and members of the teams recap the season up to this point.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle TUF 4 Finale
star
6.20
5 votes

#3 - Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle TUF 4 Finale

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/11/2006

Teammates and sparring partners on the show, BJJ blackbelt with knockout power Matt “The Terror” Serra took to the cage to battle pro boxer with savvy submission skills Chris “Lights Out” Lytle, and the winner got a shot at the UFC welterweight title.

Absolute War
star
6.20
5 votes

#4 - Absolute War

Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/1/2010

Team Koscheck pulls a prank on unpopular teammate Nam Phan. Then, in the last Semifinal, Phan takes on GSP first pick Michael Johnson to determine who will face Jonathan Brookins for the UFC contract.

Corey Anderson vs. Matt Van Buren TUF 19 Finale
star
6.33
3 votes

#5 - Corey Anderson vs. Matt Van Buren TUF 19 Finale

Season 19 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/6/2014

One of the top prospects to enter the octagon in 2014, Corey Anderson took on Matt Van Buren at the TUF 19 Finale.

Body Bag
star
6.35
87 votes

#6 - Body Bag

Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/2008

Mir punishes his team with a grueling workout regimen. Nogueira has a blowout with a fighter who’s been talking smack. Two light heavyweights with opposing styles face-off in the Octagon.

James Wilks vs. DaMarques Johnson TUF 9 Finale
star
6.50
4 votes

#7 - James Wilks vs. DaMarques Johnson TUF 9 Finale

Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/20/2009

The season 9 welterweight final saw Team US’ DaMarques Johnson, a former member of the US military with a 12-6 MMA record, take on Team UK’s submission ace James Wilks who won all his fights on the show and in his 5-2 pro career by finish.

One Punch Away
star
6.66
106 votes

#8 - One Punch Away

Season 18 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/20/2013

Both teams head to Mandalay Bay where Ronda and Miesha face off in a rock climbing Coaches Challenge. Weight issues come into play leading up to the last men's semifinal, putting one fighter's dreams of fighting in the finale in jeopardy.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Fight, Fight, Kill, Kill
star
6.67
60 votes

#9 - Fight, Fight, Kill, Kill

Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/2008

Rolando's black belt is called into question by the other fighters. An act of disrespect at the fight announcement injects more hatred between the teams, leading up to the most intense lightweight showdown yet.

Time to Eat
star
6.70
40 votes

#10 - Time to Eat

Season 30 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/10/2022

Team Peña’s first pick, Helen Peralta, faces Team Nunes’ Kaytlin Neil, for the season’s first flyweight matchup.

Get That Money
star
6.70
30 votes

#11 - Get That Money

Season 19 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/11/2014

The fighters take a field trip to the Harley-Davidson Boot Camp. Cocky Matt Van Buren of Team Edgar and Irish fighter Chris Fields of Team Penn bring their rivalry to the Octagon in the last preliminary fight. Then, Dana announces the semifinal matchups.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale Prelims
star
6.73
45 votes

#12 - The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale Prelims

Season 22 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/11/2015

Joe Lauzon vs. Evan Dunham Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Jason Knight Joby Sanchez vs. Geane Herrera

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Ultimate Fighter Finale Early Prelims: Joanna vs. Claudia
star
6.73
49 votes

#13 - The Ultimate Fighter Finale Early Prelims: Joanna vs. Claudia

Season 23 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/8/2016

Early prelims.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Splushi
star
6.74
62 votes

#14 - Splushi

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/5/2008

The pranks at the house reach a new low. A fighter turns on his own teammate, offering up secret advice before a highly-anticipated lightweight bout.

Captain Miserable
star
6.79
67 votes

#15 - Captain Miserable

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/21/2006

One of the fighters gets a special message from home. Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin joins the training staff and Charles McCarthy earns a new nickname.

A Lotta Heart
star
6.80
186 votes

#16 - A Lotta Heart

Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/14/2010

One fighter's dream comes to an abrupt end, opening the door for another to return. Team Ortiz struggles to find harmony during training. Two Middleweights leave it all in the cage for a slot in the Quarters.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Comeback Begins
star
6.83
98 votes

#17 - The Comeback Begins

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/17/2006

16 mixed martial artists, who have all fought and lost in the UFC®, get a chance to put their careers back on track. The winners will receive one hundred grand and a championship title fight in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the UFC

Watch Now:Apple TV
Karma
star
6.85
40 votes

#18 - Karma

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/2007

Matt Serra makes his picks for the quarter-finals. Dana asks Team Serra to make a tough decision. It’s time for the first quarterfinal fight.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Settling The Score
star
6.89
72 votes

#19 - Settling The Score

Season 21 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/6/2015

Watch Now:Apple TV
Too Salty
star
6.90
29 votes

#20 - Too Salty

Season 19 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/14/2014

On the heels of Tim Williams' suprising loss, BJ gives his team a lecture on the risks of overtraining. Team Edgar heads to the mountains for a scenic practice session. Then, former boxer Josh Clark tries to get momentum back in Team Penn's favor, as he faces skilled wrestler Corey Anderson of Team Edgar.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner TUF 9 Finale
star
6.90
59 votes

#21 - Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner TUF 9 Finale

Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/20/2009

In the all England lightweight final between teammates both in & out of the show, the boxing & bullying style of Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson with his 8-3 pro record was set to collide with Andre Winner, a 10-2-1 pro with explosive & dynamic striking.

Finale Main Card
star
6.91
11 votes

#22 - Finale Main Card

Season 20 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/12/2014

Amir Sadollah vs. CB Dollaway TUF 7 Finale
star
6.92
36 votes

#23 - Amir Sadollah vs. CB Dollaway TUF 7 Finale

Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/21/2008

Amir Sadollah takes on CB Dollaway for the second time but this time it's for a UFC® Contract. Would lightning strike twice for Sadollah or would Dollaway get his revenge and the contract?

The Heebie-Jeebies
star
6.95
41 votes

#24 - The Heebie-Jeebies

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/16/2008

Rampage and Forest pick teams. A fighter has a contagious skin disease, jeopardizing his future in the competition. And the first preliminary match-up of the season is fought.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Someone's Getting Bullied
star
6.97
32 votes

#25 - Someone's Getting Bullied

Season 19 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/4/2014

Team Penn’s number one middleweight Mike King takes on the powerful underdog, Eddie Gordon of Team Edgar. Only one will win, earning a spot in the semifinals. And, BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar make a splash in this season’s coaches’ challenge.

Watch Now:Apple TV