Ep 1. Episode 1
- March 9, 2012
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7.0 (12)
In the first episode of season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter, sixteen TUF hopefuls arrive at the UFC training center in Las Vegas, where they'll soon find out which fighter they'll be representing in the competition. This season's theme is "Live and Amplified," and the teams will be coached by UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and popular rival fighter Urijah Faber as they work towards a shot at a six-figure UFC contract.
After getting to know each other and their coaches, the fighters meet UFC president Dana White, who outlines the competition's rules and explains that this season's format will be a little different than in past years. Instead of traditional elimination-style fights, each episode will feature a "team vs. team" matchup, with fighters from Cruz and Faber's squads facing off against each other to earn points for their team. The team with the most points at the end of the season will earn a $200,000 prize.
The fighters then take part in a series of drills and exercises to help assess their skills. Cruz and Faber each have the chance to save two fighters who they believe have the most potential, while the remaining fighters must fight their way into the house in a series of "evaluation bouts." These fights give the coaches and White a chance to see the fighters in action and determine who will make the final cut.
In the end, eight fighters are chosen to represent each team in the competition. They move into the TUF house and begin training in earnest, with the first team-vs-team matchup set to take place in the next episode. The episode ends on a cliffhanger note, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the upcoming fights and the intense drama that's sure to unfold as the fighters go head-to-head in the octagon.