As expected, the second international edition of "The Ultimate Fighter" will feature Australia vs. the U.K.
UFC executives today announced the launch of "The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.," which airs later this year.
Tryouts for the show, which are open to fighters weighing between 61 and 77 kilograms (approximately 135 to 170 pounds) are scheduled for June 12 in Sydney and June 15 in London.
"Australia and the U.K. have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC's Octagon?" asked UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik in an official release. "The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the U.K., with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn't had the chance to show the world what he can do. 'The Ultimate Fighter' is going give to him that opportunity.
"We're going to discover the UFC's future stars. You can bet on it."
UFC officials first teased the idea of the series in January, with the season's live finale expected to take place in Brisbane, Australia. UFC officials declined to confirm a slot for the finale in today's release.
Nicknamed "The Smashes," a play on words of the 130-year-old cricket rivalry between the two nations known as "The Ashes," "The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K." follows "TUF: Brazil" as the second international edition of the long-running reality series. Like "TUF: Brazil," the show is expected to be tape-delayed (as opposed to the current live format of the series aired in the U.S. on FX). Broadcast plans for the series have yet to be announced, though its expected to be filmed in Australia.
Interested competitors should visit au.UFC.com or uk.ufc.com.
Source: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.' official, tryouts slated for June
