steph05050
12-07-2009, 12:19 PM
Following Saturday's announcement that UFC legends and former champion Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will serve as coaches on the upcoming 11th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Spike TV today unveiled additional information about the show.
"TUF 11," which goes into production next month, debuts Wednesday, March 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the UFC's longtime cable home.
Although the call initially went out for both middleweight and light heavyweight fighters, Spike TV officials today announced the show will feature just middleweight competitors.
They'll presumably compete in the show's traditional 16-man single-elimination tournament while divided into two teams.
"The Ultimate Fighter" debuted in 2005 and has since launched the careers of more than 100 UFC fighters. The most recent season, which concluded this past weekend, was the highest rated in series history.
Liddell and Ortiz, who were introduced as coached on this past weekend's live broadcast of The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, both coach for the second time. Liddell, who comes out of an unofficial retirement for the gig, coached the debut season against Randy Couture, and Ortiz coached opposite Ken Shamrock on "TUF 3." As with most seasons of the show, Liddell and Ortiz will meet in a season-ending, coach-vs.-coach bout. (Liddell has won both of his previous matchups with Ortiz.)
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported in October, a recent open tryout for "TUF 11" drew more than 250 hopefuls, including former UFC fighters such as Bobby Southworth (who also appeared on the first season of "TUF"), Nick Thompson and Logan Clark.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/17111/the-ultimate-fighter-11-debuts-march-31-features-middleweight-fighters.mma
"TUF 11," which goes into production next month, debuts Wednesday, March 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the UFC's longtime cable home.
Although the call initially went out for both middleweight and light heavyweight fighters, Spike TV officials today announced the show will feature just middleweight competitors.
They'll presumably compete in the show's traditional 16-man single-elimination tournament while divided into two teams.
"The Ultimate Fighter" debuted in 2005 and has since launched the careers of more than 100 UFC fighters. The most recent season, which concluded this past weekend, was the highest rated in series history.
Liddell and Ortiz, who were introduced as coached on this past weekend's live broadcast of The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, both coach for the second time. Liddell, who comes out of an unofficial retirement for the gig, coached the debut season against Randy Couture, and Ortiz coached opposite Ken Shamrock on "TUF 3." As with most seasons of the show, Liddell and Ortiz will meet in a season-ending, coach-vs.-coach bout. (Liddell has won both of his previous matchups with Ortiz.)
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported in October, a recent open tryout for "TUF 11" drew more than 250 hopefuls, including former UFC fighters such as Bobby Southworth (who also appeared on the first season of "TUF"), Nick Thompson and Logan Clark.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/17111/the-ultimate-fighter-11-debuts-march-31-features-middleweight-fighters.mma