With the 20-year anniversary of The Ultimate Fighter coming up, there have been so many legendary fighters and moments to come from the show. While most contestants don’t eventually win the tournament, many have gone on to make names for themselves after leaving the hollow grounds of the UFC Apex.
The show has produced some of the most popular Mixed Martial Artists in the world, but five have made a noticeable and long-lasting impact on the UFC and combat sports overall.
5. Nate Diaz
Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season five, the younger brother of Nick Diaz certainly left an impression on the fans after submitting Manvel Gamburyan to win the tournament. Whether it was his brash personality or his outstanding skills, Nate Diaz always looked to put on a show and the fans loved him regardless if he won or lost.
While many didn’t believe he would amount to a UFC championship, people would always tune in to watch him fight.
His notable wins over Donald Cerrone, Michael Johnson and his stunning submission win over Conor McGregor made him a fan-favorite for fighting the best of the best, anytime and anywhere. Though his final fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 was short-notice and unexpected, he still was able to show out by submitting the former interim lightweight champion in the fourth round with a guillotine choke.
Even though Diaz’s accomplishments didn’t result in championship gold, the cult-following he created transformed the MMA fan base and introduced many people to the sport.
4. Forrest Griffin
The man who won the very first season of The Ultimate Fighter was none other than Forrest Griffin, who made a name for himself with his legendary fight in the TUF season one finale against the late Stephan Bonnar. Not only did this victory result in a UFC contract, it’s been well said that this fight was a saving grace for the UFC and skyrocketed the promotion’s popularity.
With a 19-7 record, Griffin’s career resulted in victories against Tito Ortiz, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and a championship win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013 for his fight against Bonnar, Forrest Griffin’s career is nothing short of legendary and monumental for the UFC’s success.
3. T.J. Dillashaw
As controversial as he may be, the accolades of Tyler Jeffrey Dillashaw cannot be taken away. Despite a long-list of tumultuous injuries and positive drug tests, Dillashaw’s career is nothing short of legendary with wins of Cory Sandhagen and two knockout victories over former teammate, Cody Garbrandt.
After a notable collegiate wrestling career at Cal State Fullerton, Dillashaw became a contestant on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter but was eventually finished in the first round by John Dodson in the finale.
Despite not winning the tournament, Dillashaw became one of two fighters to win the UFC bantamweight championship more than once with the first coming in an upset win against Renan Barao. While the scandals surrounding him may have tarnished the perspective of fans, his long standing career in the UFC resulted in the most wins (13) and performance bonuses (8) among any bantamweight in the company’s history.
2. Kamaru Usman
Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 21, The Nigerian Nightmare became one of the most accomplished winners the show has ever seen. With 15 consecutive wins and six championship victories, it’s hard to argue how Kamaru Usman is not one of the best fighters to come from TUF.
While his fighting style may not be the most exciting, it was effective and resulted in a dominant title win over Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. His unrelenting pressure coupled with his wrestling pedigree made him a danger for every welterweight he faced.
With other notable wins over former champions such as Leon Edwards, Sean Strickland and Colby Covington, There is a reason why Kamaru Usman is considered one of the best welterweight fighters in UFC history.
1. Matt Serra
While his 11-7 record may not show it, Matt Serra accomplished something only one other person was able to do: beat the greatest welterweight fighter of all time.
Winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 4, many thought his championship bout against the consensus greatest fighter of all time, Georges St. Pierre, was a foregone conclusion. Despite the odds being stacked against him, Matt Serra pulled off what many consider to be the greatest upset in UFC history with his first round knockout against Georges St. Pierre.
Despite losing their respective rematch, Serra’s win can never be taken away from him. Being one of only two Matt’s (Hughes) to beat one of the greatest fighters in UFC history is an accomplishment in itself that will always be remembered.
After his retirement from MMA in 2013, he worked with his long-time coach Ray Longo to train some of the best UFC fighters such as Chris Weidman, Aljamain Sterling and current bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili.