The Ultimate Fighter: Live

Last updated
The Ultimate Fighter: Live
Genre Reality, Sports
Created by Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White
Starring Dana White, Jon Anik, Dominick Cruz, and Urijah Faber
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original network FX
Original releaseMarch 9 (2012-03-09) 
June 1, 2012 (2012-06-01)

The Ultimate Fighter: Live [1] (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 15) was the fifteenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter . This season marked the show's debut on the FX network, the debut of Jon Anik as the show's host, [2] and featured Lightweight fighters.

Contents

As part of the deal with FX, the show was revamped. Prior seasons of the show were filmed in six weeks, edited and aired several months after filming was completed. This season the show was being filmed over thirteen weeks and was being edited "the week of" before being broadcast. In addition this season was the first to feature live fights. [3]

The UFC and FX held open tryouts on December 5, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casting call went out for Lightweight and Welterweight fighters. [4] Some of the fighters that showed up for the tryouts included UFC veteran Jamie Yager, WEC veteran Blas Avena, and Bellator veterans Rudy Bears, Zak Cummings, and Jacob McClintock, and K-1 kickboxer Kultar Gill. [5]

On December 6, 2011, it was announced that the coaches for the season would be Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. [6] They were set to fight for the title, until Cruz's injury on May 7, 2012. The show debuted on March 9, 2012.

Cast

Coaches

Fighters

Team Cruz
Team Faber
Fighters eliminated during the entry round

Episodes

Episode 1 (March 9, 2012)
Post Episode 1

The first episode earned a television rating consisting of 1.28 million viewers which was less than the 1.5 million viewers for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller. [10] Following his win in the elimination round, Jeremy Larsen was medically suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) due to a cut on his head. His suspension is scheduled to last until April 9. However, Keith Kizer, the NSAC Executive Director, said the NSAC and its doctors will evaluate Larsen each week to determine if Larsen can be medically cleared sooner. [11] Other medical suspensions from the elimination round fights include Jeff Smith (Arachnoid cyst), James Krause (possible ankle injury), Cody Pfister (cut to right eye), Austin Lyons (due to knock out) and Erin Beach (due to technical knock out and cut on lower lip). [12]

Episode 2: "Embrace the War" (March 16, 2012)
Coach1st Pick2nd Pick3rd Pick4th Pick5th Pick6th Pick7th Pick8th Pick
CruzJustin LawrenceSam SiciliaMyles JuryMike RioJames VickVinc PichelChris TickleJeremy Larsen
FaberAl IaquintaCristiano MarcelloDaron CruickshankJoe ProctorMichael ChiesaJohn CoferAndy OgleChris Saunders
Episode 3: "Old School vs. New School" (March 23, 2012)
Episode 4: "All the Pressure" (March 30, 2012)
Post Episode 4
Episode 5: "That Miserable Feeling" (April 6, 2012)
Episode 6: "Dog with no Bark" (April 13, 2012)
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12

Episode list

No. Title Viewers
(thousands)
Broadcast date Advancing fighter
1"Live Premiere"1,300 [10] March 9, 2012 (March 9, 2012)N/A (Elimination rounds)
2"Embrace the War"1,100 [14] March 16, 2012 (March 16, 2012)  James Vick
3"Old School vs. New School"1,200 [15] March 23, 2012 (March 23, 2012)  Justin Lawrence
4"All the Pressure"1,100 [16] March 30, 2012 (March 30, 2012)  Al Iaquinta
5"That Miserable Feeling"947 [17] April 6, 2012 (April 6, 2012)  Michael Chiesa
6"Dog with no Bark"1,000 [18] April 13, 2012 (April 13, 2012)  Joe Proctor
7"Weather the Storm"1,000 [19] April 20, 2012 (April 20, 2012)  Vinc Pichel
8"The Lions Den"929 [20] April 27, 2012 (April 27, 2012)  Chris Saunders
9"Become That Hero"954 [21] May 4, 2012 (May 4, 2012)  Andy Ogle
10"So Real, It's Unreal"948 [22] May 11, 2012 (May 11, 2012)  James Vick &   Michael Chiesa
11"Like a Spartan"821 [23] May 18, 2012 (May 18, 2012)  Vinc Pichel &   Al Iaquinta
12"Reality Check"875 [24] May 25, 2012 (May 25, 2012)  Michael Chiesa &   Al Iaquinta
13"Live Finale"TBAJune 1, 2012 (June 1, 2012)  Michael Chiesa

Tournament bracket

 
Preliminary RoundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinale
 
              
 
 
 
 
 Joe ProctorSUB
 
 
 
  Chris Tickle1
 
  Joe Proctor2
 
 
 
 James VickUD
 
  Daron Cruickshank1
 
 
 
 James VickKO
 
  James Vick2
 
 
 
 Michael ChiesaTKO
 
 Michael ChiesaUD
 
 
 
  Jeremy Larsen2
 
 Michael ChiesaTKO
 
 
 
  Justin Lawrence3
 
  Cristiano Marcello2
 
 
 
 Justin LawrenceKO
 
 Michael ChiesaSUB
 
 
 
  Al Iaquinta1
 
 Chris SaundersSD
 
 
 
  Sam Sicilia2
 
  Chris Saunders2
 
 
 
 Vinc PichelMD
 
  John Cofer3
 
 
 
 Vinc PichelSUB
 
  Vinc Pichel2
 
 
 
 Al IaquintaUD
 
 Al IaquintaSD
 
 
 
  Myles Jury3
 
 Al IaquintaTKO
 
 
 
  Andy Ogle1
 
 Andy OgleSUB
 
 
  Mike Rio2
 
Legend
 Team Cruz
 Team Faber
UD
 Unanimous Decision
MD
 Majority Decision
SD
 Split Decision
SUB
 Submission
(T) KO
 (Technical) Knockout

Fighters were awarded $25,000 bonuses. Fans chose the winners of the season bonuses. [25]

The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale
UFC TUF Live Finale.jpg
The poster for The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale
Information
Promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship
DateJune 1, 2012
Venue Palms Casino Resort
City Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance1,628 [26]
Total gate$195,250 [26]
Event chronology
UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall 2

The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale) was a mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It took place on June 1, 2012 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. [27]

Background

Featured were the finalists from The Ultimate Fighter: Live – Team Cruz vs Team Faber in the Lightweight division.

A rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson for the first round of the tournament to crown the first UFC Flyweight Champion was initially reported for this event. [28] However, it was rescheduled for UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall. [29]

Byron Bloodworth was scheduled to face John Albert at the event. However, Bloodworth was forced out of the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer Érik Pérez. [30]

Results

Main card (FX)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Welterweight Martin Kampmann def. Jake Ellenberger KO (knees)21:40
Lightweight Michael Chiesa def. Al Iaquinta Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)12:47 [lower-alpha 1]
Featherweight Charles Oliveira def. Jonathan Brookins Submission (guillotine choke)22:42
Featherweight Max Holloway def.Pat SchillingDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Lightweight Justin Lawrence def.John CoferKO (head kick)30:19
Preliminary card (Fuel TV)
Lightweight Daron Cruickshank def.Chris TickleDecision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–27, 29–27)35:00 [lower-alpha 2]
Lightweight Myles Jury def. Chris Saunders Submission (guillotine choke)14:03 [lower-alpha 3]
Lightweight Sam Sicilia def. Cristiano Marcello TKO (punches)22:53
Lightweight Joe Proctor def. Jeremy Larsen TKO (knee and punches)11:59 [lower-alpha 4]
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Bantamweight Érik Pérez def. John Albert Submission (armbar)14:18
  1. TUF: Live Lightweight Tournament final
  2. Tickle had 1 point deducted in round 1 for an illegal upkick.
  3. This bout aired on the broadcast following the Kampmann vs Ellenberger bout.
  4. This bout aired on the broadcast following the Jury vs Saunders bout.

Bonuses

Fighters were awarded $40,000 bonuses. [31]

Reported payout

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. [32]

^Although not reflected in the NSAC paperwork, both Pérez and Albert received win bonuses

See also

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