Fourteen welterweight fighters, ranging in age from 22 to 32, some prospects who train with prestigious MMA teams and some from little-known gyms in far-flung places, will compete on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Spike TV released the full cast list of fighters who will appear on this season's reality show, get coached by Brock Lesnar or Junior dos Santos, and compete for the six-figure UFC contract. The season starts Wednesday, March 30.
Although some seasons of The Ultimate Fighter have featured well-known veterans, none of this year's fighters will be recognizable to most viewers. The full list is below.
Nordin "Fist of Tangier" Asrih
Age: 32
Trains: Dusseldorf, Germany – Pride Gym
MMA record: 16-5-1
Notes: Both the oldest and the most experienced member of this year's cast.
Shamar Bailey
Age: 28
Trains: Indianapolis, IN – Integrated Fighting Systems
MMA record: 10-3
Notes: On a two-fight losing streak, including a loss to Justin Wilcox on a Strikeforce Challengers card last year.
Len "The Liger" Bentley
Age: 27
Trains: Olympia, WA – Victory Athletics
MMA record: 9-4-0
Notes: Bentley is one of the many victims of Season 12 Ultimate Fighter cast member Cody McKenzie's patented guillotine choke; McKenzie submitted Bentley in the first round of a bout last year.
Michael "Mick" Bowman
Age: 26
Trains: Liverpool, England – Wolfslair
MMA record: 7-2-0
Notes: Trains with Season 3 Ultimate Fighter winner Michael Bisping.
Keon "The Black Assassin" Caldwell
Age: 26
Trains: Moultrie, GA – Team Reality
MMA record: 8-1
Notes: His YouTube highlights include this brutal knockout punch:
Chris "C-Murder" Cope
Age: 28
Trains: San Diego, CA – Arena MMA
MMA record: 4-1
Notes: Coming off a TKO win on the undercard of the June Strikeforce Fedor vs. Werdum event.
Zachary Davis
Age: 26
Trains: Rockville, MD – Evolve / Team Lloyd Irvin
MMA record: 4-1-0
Notes: Davis left the sport for more than a year after suffering an eye injury but was cleared to return in 2010 and earned a submission win in his last fight, in November.
Anthony "El Cucuy" Ferguson
Age: 26
Trains: Ventura, CA – Knuckleheadz Boxing
MMA record: 10-2-0
Notes: Ferguson is the reigning welterweight champion of California's Pure Combat promotion
Clay Harvison
Age: 30
Trains: Marietta, GA – X3 Sports
MMA record: 6-1
Notes: All seven of his professional fights has been finished in the first round.
Myles "Fury" Jury
Age: 22
Trains: San Diego, CA – Victory
MMA record: 9-0
Notes: His nine wins feature five first-round submissions and four first-round TKOs, and none of his fights has lasted longer than three minutes.
Ryan McGillivray
Age: 24
Trains: Edmonton, Alberta Canada – Legends Training Centre
MMA record: 11-4-1
Notes: Nine of his 11 wins are by submission.
Ramsey Nijem
Age: 22
Trains: Orem, UT – River Academy / The Pit
MMA record: 4-1
Notes: A former wrestler at Utah Valley College.
Charlie "Superstar" Rader
Age: 29
Trains: New Orleans, LA – Power MMA
MMA record: 16-5
Notes: Had 14 professional fights in the last three years.
Javier "Chunty Boy" Torres
Age: 25
Trains: Las Vegas, NV – Team Tompkins
MMA record: 3-0
Notes: With three pro fights, the least experienced member of this year's cast.
Spike TV released the full cast list of fighters who will appear on this season's reality show, get coached by Brock Lesnar or Junior dos Santos, and compete for the six-figure UFC contract. The season starts Wednesday, March 30.
Although some seasons of The Ultimate Fighter have featured well-known veterans, none of this year's fighters will be recognizable to most viewers. The full list is below.
Nordin "Fist of Tangier" Asrih
Age: 32
Trains: Dusseldorf, Germany – Pride Gym
MMA record: 16-5-1
Notes: Both the oldest and the most experienced member of this year's cast.
Shamar Bailey
Age: 28
Trains: Indianapolis, IN – Integrated Fighting Systems
MMA record: 10-3
Notes: On a two-fight losing streak, including a loss to Justin Wilcox on a Strikeforce Challengers card last year.
Len "The Liger" Bentley
Age: 27
Trains: Olympia, WA – Victory Athletics
MMA record: 9-4-0
Notes: Bentley is one of the many victims of Season 12 Ultimate Fighter cast member Cody McKenzie's patented guillotine choke; McKenzie submitted Bentley in the first round of a bout last year.
Michael "Mick" Bowman
Age: 26
Trains: Liverpool, England – Wolfslair
MMA record: 7-2-0
Notes: Trains with Season 3 Ultimate Fighter winner Michael Bisping.
Keon "The Black Assassin" Caldwell
Age: 26
Trains: Moultrie, GA – Team Reality
MMA record: 8-1
Notes: His YouTube highlights include this brutal knockout punch:
Chris "C-Murder" Cope
Age: 28
Trains: San Diego, CA – Arena MMA
MMA record: 4-1
Notes: Coming off a TKO win on the undercard of the June Strikeforce Fedor vs. Werdum event.
Zachary Davis
Age: 26
Trains: Rockville, MD – Evolve / Team Lloyd Irvin
MMA record: 4-1-0
Notes: Davis left the sport for more than a year after suffering an eye injury but was cleared to return in 2010 and earned a submission win in his last fight, in November.
Anthony "El Cucuy" Ferguson
Age: 26
Trains: Ventura, CA – Knuckleheadz Boxing
MMA record: 10-2-0
Notes: Ferguson is the reigning welterweight champion of California's Pure Combat promotion
Clay Harvison
Age: 30
Trains: Marietta, GA – X3 Sports
MMA record: 6-1
Notes: All seven of his professional fights has been finished in the first round.
Myles "Fury" Jury
Age: 22
Trains: San Diego, CA – Victory
MMA record: 9-0
Notes: His nine wins feature five first-round submissions and four first-round TKOs, and none of his fights has lasted longer than three minutes.
Ryan McGillivray
Age: 24
Trains: Edmonton, Alberta Canada – Legends Training Centre
MMA record: 11-4-1
Notes: Nine of his 11 wins are by submission.
Ramsey Nijem
Age: 22
Trains: Orem, UT – River Academy / The Pit
MMA record: 4-1
Notes: A former wrestler at Utah Valley College.
Charlie "Superstar" Rader
Age: 29
Trains: New Orleans, LA – Power MMA
MMA record: 16-5
Notes: Had 14 professional fights in the last three years.
Javier "Chunty Boy" Torres
Age: 25
Trains: Las Vegas, NV – Team Tompkins
MMA record: 3-0
Notes: With three pro fights, the least experienced member of this year's cast.