Spike TV today announced additional details for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9, which will feature a mix of middleweight and welterweight hopefuls who will compete for “six figure” UFC contracts in a tournament-style format.
Coaches for the “U.S. vs. U.K.” themed installment have not been decided; however, British middleweight contender and TUF 3 winner, Michael Bisping, is a leading candidate to land one of the two open positions.
In the meantime, tryouts for the mixed martial arts reality series will take place here in the United States and in London to determine the contestants.
Here are the details revealed earlier today for those interested:
London:
DATE: Monday, October 20, 2008
VENUE: Earls Court Exhibition Centre
LOCATION: Warwick Road, London, SW5 9TA
TELEPHONE: +44 (0)207 370 8539
REPORT TIME: Fighter registration begins at 9 AM GMT; Tryouts at 10 AM GMT.
Chicago:
DATE: Monday, October 27, 2008
VENUE: Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel
LOCATION: 5440 North River Road , Rosemont, IL 60018
TELEPHONE: 847-671-6350
REPORT TIME: Fighter registration begins at 9 AM CT; Tryouts at 10 AM CT.
These are open casting calls, meaning anyone who feels he is qualified to become one of the 32 contestants for the show is able to audition. The release indicates, however, contestants must be over 21 and able to compete at either 170 or 185 lbs.
UFC President Dana White, majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, as will as Spike TV officials Craig Piligian, Brian J. Diamond and Christopher Martello will be in charge of selecting the latest MMA motley crew.
As in recent seasons, the final 32 fighters who make the cut will have to fight their way into the Ultimate Fighter house, which means that the field will essentially be reduced to 16 competitors right off the bat.
TUF 9 is expected to begin filming later this year and debut in the first quarter of 2009 on Spike TV. More details to follow.
36 Comments »
John Hathaway has to be a cert for the UK team!
Agreed….Big time. But I think that John along with alot of the young UK talent will be tied up with Cage Rage (through the Contender series).
Yeah good point, would be a shame if they can’t get out of their contracts. Elite co promote so may let them?
PhilQNY, you should try out for this one…
UGC POPCORN V is gonna tryout.
so it’ll probably be the 16 US fighters fighting each other and the 16 US fighters fighting each other in the first two episodes.
Check this out:
Seth Petruzelli: My originial plan was to throw a lot of push kicks, they’re called teeps…have him think that I’m going to throw ‘em to try to rush in more, and then shoot in on him, obviously…I knew I would do alright standing up with him. The promoters kinda hinted to me, and they gave me the money to stand and trade with him. They didn’t want me to take him down. Let’s just put it that way. It was worth my while to try and stand up and punch with him.
Petruzelli says he was paid “in the six-figure range” for accepting the main event fight on Saturday and will be re-negotiating his contract for his next EliteXC fights
-cagepotato
Also, Skala appologized to Seth and the mma community for Freaking out during the Kimbo fight! I saw the interview, and I promise you all that he was so High on Coke it isnt even funny! I can spot a coke head, miles away and believe me when I tell you, Skala was ZOOTED!
i belive that. he always acts like he’s speeding.
Ditto on spotting a coke-head a mile away. His post event vid from another site was hilarious.
lol takes one to know one eh? that stuff is wonderful and terrible at the same time
takes a former hustler to know a junkie!
*16 US and the 16 UK
Yeah so I guess that totally eliminates picking teams
the UK team is going to win maybe one or two match ups… tops, look how many UK fighters are in the UFC now…
Watch out for the UK’s number 1 unsigned Welterweight Jim Wallhead to make an impact at the trials
Isn’t he with Cage warriors? He’s good but maybe too small for WW.
Seeing that he has fought at LHW and MW in the past, probably not. He could in theory make LW, but would need to lose a bit of muscle mass and he was incredibly lean when he made 76kg at the M-1 show.
He’s easily the best non-UFC guy in the UK right now.
Obviously you know more about Jim than I do, but i think he needs to fight some better fighters before you can say he’s the best non-ufc guy in the UK.
muahahahahahaha like who ? Which other UK based WW’s would you put above him?
Ian: I just think he’s been beating on some crappy fighters recently and would love to see him fight some of the cage rage WW. I’m not saying who’s above who I’m just saying he needs to fight better fighters than the guys he’s fighting now. Like Mills or Marius even Pointon or Mason.
Are you saying Wallhead is better than Semtex??
He beat Jason Tan and Steve Lynch (two UFC vets) and Fabrico Nasimentco (who was 20-5) and beat Igor Ajuaro (another BJJ Black Belt who was 11-5). He won the 2h2h Road to Japn tourney in 2006 on 72 hours notice at Middleweight.
Che Mills, Hathaway and many others in the UK haven’t beaten those kinda guys and i don’t see them beating Wallhead. Pointon won’t fight Wallhead (For numerous reasons) and Wallhead is way above Ross Mason in all the rankings (Although we all hopes Mason recovers soon)
FYI - Wallhead is a team mate of Daley and Daley is signed to Pro Elite.
hahah…. ufc vets!!!!! 3 fights between the 2 of them! Ok you win Jim Wallhead is a great fighter.
If you followed the UK scene…you would know all about him
It’ll be ridiculous if anyone else in the UK makes it in over Jimmy.
Well, almost as crazy as a UK guy getting in instead of Andre Winner on the current season!
Good news in the expansion of mma:
GSP has just been signed to a MAJOR sports agency that represents David Beckham!
GSP signed by major sports agency
GSP is now being represented by one of the largest and most powerful sports agencies and represents some of the biggest names in sports.
- ST. PIERRE JOINS BECKHAM, JETER IN MAINSTREAM - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more
nike?
just read the post . CAA agency. i say Nike is far behind signing guys like gsp, b.j.,randy, brock and a.silva.
Nike isnt far behind. duh.
LOL, I’m curious as to how Nike would sponsor a guy who doesn’t wear shoes when he competes?
i wish they would give me a shot at this….i already put in alot of applications…..but for some reason they don’t call me….i don’t think they know who i am or what i am capable of, cause if they were to let me in they will have to change the name to “ROGER HOLLET FUTURE UFC CHAMPION”
lol youre so humble
How would being Canadian fit in with U.S. vs U.K.?
We used to own Canada and they are still part of the Commonwealth. Perhaps he has taken to many blows to the head and doesn’t understand.
Do you have to make weight that day? Or just be able to make weight?
Does anyone know if you have to make weight that day, or if you just have to be able to make that weight?
Don’t you have any openings for MW and LHW for this upcoming event?