The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 Episode 1 The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega

The Ultimate Fighter is back with a new season – The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega. The show features some of the top talents of mixed martial arts (MMA) competing against each other to become the next Ultimate Fighter.

The season starts with the selection of the fighters for both teams. UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and top contender, Brian Ortega, serve as the coaches for their respective teams. They select fighters through a draft where both coaches take turns choosing their fighters.

Once the teams are formed, the fighters move into the Ultimate Fighter house and start training for their first fight. The house is located in Las Vegas, and it features a vast training facility for the fighters to use. From the start, the show highlights the different personalities and backgrounds of the fighters as they bond with their respective teammates.

The first episode sets up the teams and introduces the fighters, giving viewers a glimpse into their motivations and fighting styles. One standout fighter is former NFL player and undefeated heavyweight, Greg Hardy. Hardy had a successful first season on the Contender Series but failed to make it to the UFC. He's determined to use the Ultimate Fighter as a platform to prove himself as a serious contender in the MMA world.

Another fighter to look out for is former collegiate wrestler and featherweight, Danny Argueta. Argueta is looking to prove that he has the skills and talent to make it to the top levels of the sport. One of his team members, who has an athletic background, tests his chin before he arrives at the Ultimate Fighter house. He shares the story with the team, which leads to a heated argument between fighters.

The first episode also features the infamous country vs. city dichotomy that the show is known for. One team member, who grew up in the backwoods, is more comfortable in a rural setting than the urban surroundings of the Ultimate Fighter house. He clashes with his city-raised teammates and starts to feel out of place. This theme is recurring in past seasons where fighters from different backgrounds have to work together to achieve a common goal.

The last few minutes of the episode introduce the first fight of the season. It's between Team Volkanovski's Ryder Newman and Team Ortega's Tresean Gore. During the fight, there are moments of striking excellence followed by grappling battles with each fighter trying to gain the upper hand. The fighters' stamina and techniques are on full display, leaving the judges with a tough decision.

The first episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega sets up a promising season of intense fighting and drama. With some fighters looking to prove themselves as rising stars, and others looking for redemption, it's sure to be an exciting season of the Ultimate Fighter.