The Ultimate Fighter Season 1

The debut season of The Ultimate Fighter (later designated The Ultimate Fighter 1) premiered on January 18, 2005. Sixteen mixed martial arts fighters (eight Light Heavyweights weighing from 186 to 205 lbs and eight Middleweights weighing from 171 to 185 lbs) were invited to participate in the show where they would reside together and train in two separate teams coached by UFC Light Heavyweight fighters Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. The teams would compete in physical challenges, segments hosted by singer Willa Ford, to determine which team would have the right to pair one of their own fighters against an opponent of their choice in the same weight class, with the loser being eliminated.

The finale was broadcast live on April 9, 2005, where the two finalists in each weight class faced off for a contract with the UFC. It was the first ever live UFC broadcast on non-pay-per-view television, and it drew a very impressive 1.9 overall rating. The series was also broadcast in the UK in the spring of 2005 on Bravo. A 5-disc DVD set of "The Ultimate Fighter" was released on November 1, 2005.

Cast

Coaches
Randy Couture, Team Couture coach
Chuck Liddell, Team Liddell coach
Marc Laimon, Grappling coach
Ganyao Fairtex, Muay Thai coach
Peter Welch, Boxing coach

Fighters

Light Heavyweights
Team Liddell: Bobby Southworth, Sam Hoger, Forrest Griffin, Alex Schoenauer
Team Couture: Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Lodune Sincaid, Jason Thacker

Middleweights
Team Liddell: Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian, Josh Rafferty
Team Couture: Nathan Quarry, Chris Leben, Alex Karalexis, Chris Sanford

Others

Hosts: Dana White, Willa Ford
Narrator: Mike Rowe

Results

Episode 1

The 16 fighters were driven to the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they met Willa Ford, Dana White, and their coaches, Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell.
At the house, Chris Leben kept on drinking and drinking, and started to make fun of Jason Thacker, and giving people stupid nicknames.
At 2:00 AM, while Jason Thacker is in the shower, Chris Leben decides to urinate on Jason Thacker's pillow, without Thacker even noticing.
The fighters were woken up at 5:00 AM by Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, and the first day of training proved too much for almost half of the fighters.
During the Ju-Jitsu training, Nate Quarry cut himself on his chin after landing a takedown.
After the second day of training, Jason Thacker talked to Randy Couture and said that the training was too much for him, but Couture gave him some advice to stay and try to get the training done.
On the 4th day, everyone was ready to go to sparring session, except for Jason Thacker, because of the training, so Bobby Southworth and Lodune Sincaid decided to talk him into going with them, and said they needed him and he was part of the team.
While Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar were sparring, Forrest accidentally headbutted Bonnar and Bonnar needed stitches.
Light Heavyweight and Middleweight teams are chosen by coaches Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. The first pick for Team Liddell was Bobby Southworth. The first pick for Team Couture was Nate Quarry.

Episode 2

Team Liddell wins the first Light Heavyweight Challenge.
Jason Thacker is sent home by Randy Couture.
Team Liddell wins the first Middleweight Challenge.
Chris Sanford is sent home by Randy Couture.

Episode 3

Alex Schoenauer wins the Light Heavyweight challenge. Bobby Southworth comes in last and will be forced to fight in the elimination bout.
Team Liddell chose Bobby Southworth to fight Lodune Sincaid.
Bobby Southworth had to cut 20 lb. in 24 hours, with the help of Josh Koscheck and Chuck Liddell, but Bobby came in at 208 lb, so the Nevada Athletic Commission gave Bobby 2 hours to cut 2 pounds, then successfully made it to 206 lb.
Bobby Southworth defeats Lodune Sincaid by knockout at 0:12 of the second round.

Episode 4

Alex Schoenauer is traded to Team Couture as part of a team re-balance.
Team Liddell wins the Middleweight challenge and the opportunity to schedule the next fight.
Team Liddell chose Diego Sanchez to fight Alex Karalexis.
Diego Sanchez defeats Alex Karalexis with a rear naked choke submission at 1:47 of the first round.

Episode 5

Nate Quarry injured his ankle after someone landed on his ankle during a takedown in practice.
Dana White decided to allow the fighters to have a night out at the Hard Rock Cafe, and had a few drinks, and some of them got drunk.
At 2:00 AM, the fighters were drunk and continuing to drink, and Josh Rafferty said that there wasn't anymore alcohol in the house.
Right by the pool, Chris Leben said something that made Bobby Southworth mad, and then Southworth called Leben a "fatherless bastard," which hurt Leben. Five Minutes later, Southworth apologizes to Leben about calling him that, but there was no concern to it.
Chris Leben decides to sleep outside to try to get away from the other fighters, which Nate Quarry said it was a good idea.
At 3:30 AM, Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth continued to drink and then decided to pull a prank on Chris Leben, by spraying water around Leben while he was sleeping. The water accidentally was sprayed on Leben, causing Leben to go on a rampage by punching the front door window with his left hand, which cut his hand. Leben then kicked in the door of one of the bedrooms, and Forrest Griffin would later comment there was pieces of the bedroom door in his bed.
The next day, Dana White brought in Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell and tells them what happened that night between Bobby Southworth, Josh Koscheck, and Chris Leben. The fighters were then brought in to explain what happened that night.
Dana White says that the only way that this will be settled was for Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben to fight.

Episode 6

As fallout from the previous episode, there is no challenge and Dana White schedules the Middleweight fight between Chris Leben and Josh Koscheck.
Josh Koscheck defeats Chris Leben by unanimous decision after two rounds.

Episode 7

Josh Rafferty is traded to Team Couture in another team reshuffle.
Team Couture wins the Light Heavyweight challenge.
Stephan Bonnar defeats Bobby Southworth in a close split decision after 2 rounds.

Episode 8

Nate Quarry is eliminated from the show due to his ankle injury. Dana White asks Quarry to stay on as an assistant coach, and he agrees.
Quarry gets to choose what fighter from the loser’s lounge gets to come back and he chooses Chris Leben.
Team Couture wins the middleweight challenge.
Diego Sanchez defeats Josh Rafferty at 1:48 of the first round.

Episode 9

Kenny Florian is traded to Team Couture in another team reshuffle.
Team Liddell wins the light heavyweight challenge.
Sam Hoger is accused of stealing from the other competitors.
Forrest Griffin defeats Alex Schoenauer by tap out due to strikes on the ground at 1:20 of the first round.

Episode 10

In the first middleweight semifinal match, Kenny Florian defeats Chris Leben at 3:11 of the second round after doctor stoppage due to opening up a cut above Chris’ eye.

Episode 11

In the second middleweight semifinal match, Diego Sanchez wins a split decision over Josh Koscheck after three rounds.

Episode 12

Forrest Griffin defeats Sam Hoger by TKO at 1:05 of the second round.
Stephan Bonnar defeats Mike Swick by triangle armbar at 4:55 of the first round.

The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale

The Finale was broadcast live on Spike TV and featured the final matches for the six figure UFC contract in both weight divisions. The main event was Rich Franklin vs. Ken Shamrock. Diego Sanchez was victorious over Kenny Florian and Forrest Griffin won a hard fought decision over Stephan Bonnar. Despite losing the match, Bonnar was awarded a contract as well by UFC President Dana White.

Light Heavyweight bracket

  Semifinals Final
             
C  Stephan Bonnar  
C  Mike Swick  
    C  Stephan Bonnar
  L  Forrest Griffin
L  Forrest Griffin
L  Sam Hoger  

 

Middleweight bracket

  Semifinals Final
             
L  Diego Sanchez  
L  Josh Koscheck  
    L  Diego Sanchez
  L  Kenny Florian
L  Kenny Florian[1]
C  Chris Leben[2]  

Legend

  • L = Team Liddell
  • C = Team Couture

Footnotes

  1. ^ Never fought in eliminations
  2. ^ Replaces Nate "The Rock" Quarry