UFC names the top 25 'Ultimate Fighters' in the history of the Spike TV reality show



These past few years, fight fans have become rather critical of The Ultimate Fighter, the seemingly stale but still relatively popular Spike TV reality show.

This is most evident when examining the ratings for the premier of season 13, featuring the biggest box office behemoth in the history of the UFC, Brock Lesnar. While they were on par with past editions of the show, the numbers are still viewed as a disappointment considering who's involved in the show.

The reason so often given for the decline in perception of the show can be directly correlated to the decline in superstars produced by it. When looking at the crop of fighters to come out of season one compared to the crop of fighters in say, season nine, it's a landslide, no doubt.

That said, there's been quite a bit of talent dispersed through the 12 seasons to hit the air up to this point. And UFC.com conveniently came up with a list of the top 25.

Who came in at number one? The list, up for your continued debate, after the jump.

25. Matt Mitrione (season 10)
24. Roy Nelson (season 10)
23. Cole Miller (season five)
22. Kendall Grove (season three)
21. Stephan Bonnar (season one)
20. Joe Lauzon (season five)
19. Ross Pearson (season nine)
18. Brendan Schaub (season 10)
17. Melvin Guillard (season two)
16. Joe Stevenson (season two)
15. Mike Swick (season one)
14. Matt Serra (season four)
13. Krzysztof Soszynski (season eight)
12. Matt Wiman (season five)
11. Chris Leben (season one)
10. Nate Diaz (season five)
9. Matt Hamill (season three)
8. Josh Koscheck (season one)
7. George Sotiropoulos (season six)
6. Diego Sanchez (season one)
5. Kenny Florian (season one)
4. Michael Bisping (season three)
3. Forrest Griffin (season one)
2. Gray Maynard (season five)
1. Rashad Evans (season two)

(Bold and white indicates that fighter was a winner of his season)

You guys agree with the list and order?

I think Swick is to high no way he should be higher than Joe Stevenson.

Also Krzysztof ahead of Matt Serra I mean he did beat GSP. Whats Krzysztof best win? Bonnar which he poked him in the eye or Stann?

But I do agree with all of the top 5

I think kenflo is way overrated, when he really gets tested he always fails IMO, + gets wins by cuts and stuff on purpose (still valid wins though)
and the list seems pretty much focused on how well the guys are doing at the moment, with mitrione and shaub and guys like that.
I think the guys that used it to become champs should be way higher, Serra should be right near Rashad and Forrest ( all 1 time champs )
but such lists are pure speculative anyways so in the end it doesnt really matter.

Maybe they should reinvent themselves a little. It's good that they focus on the fighters and coaches and its fun to watch them in the house but we have seen it now. We know what will come more or less and what is interesting is really to see who makes it after the season. And that can take a long time. One idea is that instead of only showing the new fighters and have the exact same format, they could go back and look at fighters that was in TUF's previous seasons, not necesarily only the winners, and how their careers have changed, for the good or the worse. Some behind the scenes stuff on what happens after the season is over and the real hard work starts. Something new, not seen yet would defenitely spark viewer numbers.