Debuting this weekend, FOX Sports 1 is tying a significant percentage of its success aspirations to the UFC franchise.
Saturday’s network debut, for instance, will be built around the Chael Sonnen vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua card.
But the mixed martial arts promotion’s presence on FS1 will not be limited to special, stacked fight night cards; regular programming will also figure into the lineup of a network hoping to emerge as a legitimate ESPN competitor.
One such program is veteran reality series “The Ultimate Fighter.”
A centerpiece of UFC’s journey to prominence, “TUF” reigned for many seasons as an elite performer for Spike TV. It only delivered modest ratings in its three seasons on FX, but as a recognizable franchise with a recognizable format, it undoubtedly represents an important asset for the new sports network.
With an intriguing format shakeup–female fighters, for the first time ever, will participate–and coaches with a legitimate rivalry, this season’s “TUF” does not represent a half-hearted effort from UFC.
Who will join coaches Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate in the effort to revitalize the aging, yet still recognizable “Ultimate Fighter” series? FOXSports.com revealed the list of sixteen female and sixteen male fighters who will vie for a spot in the competition:
Women’s Bantamweight Fighters
Shayna Baszler (15-8), 33, Sioux Fall, S.D.
Revelina Berto (3-1), 24, Winter Haven, Fla.
Jessamyn Duke (2-1), 27, Richmond, Ky.
Tonya Evinger (11-6), 32, Lake St. Louis, Mo.
Laura Howarth (4-0), 26, Hove, East Essex, ENG
Tara LaRosa (21-3), 35, Albuquerque, N.M.
Valerie Letourneau (4-3), 30, La Prairie, CAN
Bethany Marshall (4-1), 25, Newport News, Va.
Sarah Moras (3-1), 25, Kelowna, CAN
Margaret “Penny” Morgan (2-0), 33, Nashua, N.H.
Gina Mazany (3-0), 25, Seattle, Wash.
Roxanna Modafferi (15-10), 30, Pittsfield, Mass.
Julianna Pena (4-2), 24, Spokane, Wash.
Raquel Pennington (3-3), 24, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jessica Rakoczy (1-3), 36, Las Vegas, Nev.
Colleen Schneider (4-3), 31, Las Vegas, Nev.
Male Bantamweight Fighters
Christopher Beal (7-0), 28, Somis, Calif.
Cody Bollinger (14-3), 22, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Louis Fisette (6-1), 23, Winnipeg, CAN
Rafael Freitas (6-0-1), 29, Albuquerque, N.M.
David Grant (8-1), 27, Bishop Auckland, ENG
Tim Gorman (9-2), 30, West Des Moines, Iowa
Anthony Gutierrez (4-0), 22, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Emil Hartsner (4-0), 23, Luberod, SWE
Joshua Hill (9-0), 26, Binbrook, CAN
Chris Holdsworth (4-0), 25, Woodland Hills, Calif.
Patrick Holohan (9-0-1), 25, Dublin, IRL
Sirwan Kakai (9-1), 23, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Daniel Martinez (18-4), 28, San Diego, Calif.
Matthew Munsey (4-1), 26, Hollywood, Fla.
Lee Sandmeier (9-0), 30, Knoxville, Iowa
Michael Wootten (6-0), 24, Liverpool, ENG