After a less than stellar fourth season, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) makes its much anticipated return to SpikeTV on April 5^th.  Season 5 features fighters from the revamped lightweight division (145-155 lbs.) coached by former UFC Champions Jens Pulver and B.J. Penn. 

The Ultimate Fighter is an elimination style competition where 16 unsigned fighters live in a house, cut off from the outside world, vying for the chance to win a six-figure contract from the UFC.  The fighters are split into 2 teams of 8 and then face off each week.  The fighter who loses is eliminated from the show and no longer in contention for the contract.  Sound familiar? 

          It should, it's the same elimination style reality show template used by The Contender and Survivor.  The UFC was the first organization to successfully implement it into combat sports.  The Contender flopped and was pulled from NBC's lineup after only one season, while TUF is preparing to make its season five debut on April 5. 

The Contender failed primarily because of high production costs, reportedly $2 million per episode, and poor ratings.  Even the boxing community did not embrace The Contender, largely because the shows aired edited fights that included sound effects and slow motion punch combinations.  Conversely, The Ultimate Fighter thrived because of low budget and the rough realities of 16 unsigned fighters living in a house cut-off from the outside world. 

The Ultimate Fighter was the perfect fit for the self-proclaimed "First Network for Men," SpikeTV.  Spike's other programming consisted of adult cartoons like Stripperella and Ren and Stimpy's Adult Party Cartoon, WWE RAW, and The Joe Schmo Show.  American males uttered a collective sigh of relief when watching television on a Thursday night no longer meant suffering through "Must See TV" or whatever the networks called their Thursday night lineups. 

The first season of TUF is generally regarded among fans as the best yet.  TUF-1 was used as a vehicle to promote the biggest fight in the UFC at that time, Chuck Liddell v. Randy Couture 2.  Liddell and Couture coached the teams in season one. 

TUF-1 featured 8 light-heavyweight and 8 middleweight fighters.  Teams consisted of 4 and 4 of the respective weight divisions.  Fighters competed in team challenges to determine which team earned the right to choose the fight match-up for the week.  Team challenges were secondary to the rest of the show and were phased out by TUF-3. 

The living situation in The Ultimate Fighter is what set it apart from all other reality shows.  Fighters live in a house together secluded from the outside world.  There is no television, phones, internet, newspapers or magazines.  As expected and anticipated, tensions mounted quickly, rivalries developed, and violence erupted. 

The most notable fighter feud of the series was between Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben on TUF-1.  The feud reached its boiling point when Koscheck sprayed a sleeping Leben with a garden hose, causing Leben to fly off the handle and partially destroy the TUF house.  It should be noted that the catalyst for Leben's behavior was alcohol, and Leben's behavior was the catalyst for the removal of alcohol from the house. 

TUF-1 was successful for many reasons including the involvement of UFC legends Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture; the in-house drama; and the great fights every week.  Nevertheless, I believe that TUF-1's success can be directly attributed to the Griffin-Bonnar fight from the season finale.

The TUF-1 finale, aptly named "Ultimate Fight Night 1" was the first ever live UFC broadcast on non-pay-per-view television. The card featured what is regarded as one of the best fights in UFC history, Forrest Griffin v. Stephan Bonnar.  Bonnar and Griffin squared off in a fight that is best described as a donnybrook or a slobber-knocker.  Griffin and Bonnar doled out punishing strikes to the point of exhaustion.  Griffin won the fight and was awarded the light-heavyweight contract.  But, Dana White was so impressed with the fight that he also awarded Stephan Bonnar with a UFC contract. 

The Bonnar-Griffin fight legitimized The Ultimate Fighter as a talent scout for the UFC.  The Bonnar-Griffin fight proved that TUF cast members are more than run of the mill reality stars.  It proved that TUF competitors can fight at the UFC level.  Since the season one finale, 8 fighters from TUF-1 actively compete in the UFC including, rising stars Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian, and Mike Swick. 

Season 2 hit the air only four months after the TUF-1 finale.  TUF-2 fed off the success of TUF-1 and effectively managed to keep fans in front of their televisions, a fact that leaves me rather perturbed.  For many reasons, I consider TUF-2 to be significantly less compelling that TUF-1. 

First, the UFC selected Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin to be the coaches, despite the fact that they did not want to fight each other at the end of the season.  Without a date to punch each other in the face, there was noticeably less tension on the show than in TUF-1.  Second, the show lacked a major conflict between fighters.  Granted, Koscheck-Leben is the gold standard for TUF competitor feuds, but TUF-2's cast did not even scratch the surface.  While there were some minor controversies with some fighter's cockiness and brash attitudes, TUF-2 lacked the alcohol induced domestic dispute that TUF-1 left viewers craving. 

Season 2's saving grace is that the TUF Heavyweight Championship fight was another slugfest.  Rashad Evans, the lightest heavyweight of the bunch stood in the Octagon and traded punches with Brad Imes.  Despite giving up 8 inches and over 40 pounds to Imes, Evans was able to knock down the Goliath several times and win a split decision to earn the UFC contract.  TUF-2 has also produced some stand-out fighters in the UFC such as; Keith Jardine, Melvin Guillard, Joe Stevenson (TUF-2 Welterweight Champion), and Luke Cummo. 

TUF-3 went back to basics.  Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock were selected as coaches.  Simply stated, Ortiz and Shamrock have history.  Sparks flew immediately.  Verbal taunts and coy insults were the theme for the season.  The Ortiz-Shamrock saga peaked during the final episode of the season with Tito's team restraining him from Shamrock. 

TUF-3 served as the ultimate hype machine and promotional tool for the Ortiz-Shamrock grudge match.  Ortiz-Shamrock set a new PPV buy rate record with an amazing 775,000 buys.  UFC 61 was the second best selling PPV of 2006. 

TUF-3 was successful for reasons beyond the Ortiz-Shamrock dichotomy.  TUF-3's cast featured two cast members from England, 1 from Hawaii, and a deaf fighter.  Thankfully fans were treated to another feud between competitors.  This time around, Ed Herman and Rory Singer engaged in constant verbal abuse, culminating in an act that can only be described as the pinnacle of immaturity.  Singer rubbed Herman's fight gear against his naked backside.  In retaliation, Herman urinated on Singer's headgear. 

In addition to the Herman-Singer feud and the Ortiz-Shamrock battle, a substantial portion of the cast felt that Matt Hamill, the deaf castmate, was receiving preferential treatment.  The animosity and tension amongst the cast towards Hamill was an added bonus to the angst already building up on the show. 

Building off the momentum of season 3, the TUF-3 finale did not disappoint.  Ed Herman faced off against Kendall Grove in a fight reminiscent of the Griffin-Bonnar war from season 1.  Grove won a unanimous decision.  Again, Dana White did not disappoint and rewarded Herman a UFC contract as well.  Additionally, Englishmen and fan-favorite Michael Bisping was victorious in the light-heavyweight bout earning himself a six-figure deal as well.   

TUF-3 managed to launch Tito Ortiz back into superstardom.  UFC fans can now hardly watch a UFC program without seeing Ortiz's Team Punishment logo plastered on something.  Since TUF-3, Ortiz has had a title shot, been seen on MTV, heard on Sirius Satellite Radio, and started dating Jenna Jameson.  Conversely, TUF-3 reminded fans how mediocre Ken Shamrock has become in the ever evolving world of MMA.