The twenty-first season of The Ultimate Fighter is a little bit different but we couldn’t be more excited for it.
In the first 20 incarnations of the mixed martial arts reality show, groups of up-and-coming fighters from around the world would compete in a tournament format to see who was the best in that weight class, with the winner receiving a contract with the UFC.
We’ve seen the promotion tinker with the formula by attempting a live series, introducing female competitors and even crown a champion at last season’s finale.
But the biggest change in format comes with TUF 21, the first episode of which aired last night, which will see fighters representing rival MMA gyms take each other on.
American Top Team and The Blackzilians are two of the best mixed martial arts academies in the world but have a long and storied feud, largely in part to the hatred between respective owners Dan Lambert and Glenn Robinson.
And just in case you thought the rivalry between the men was any bit manufactured, just take a look at the discussion that took place on TUF Talk with Karyn Bryant last night in which both participants got rather personal very quickly.
https://youtu.be/OykSs-bWB-I
