Ranking every season of The Ultimate Fighter from best to worst
By Chad Porto
4. Season 21 – American Top Team vs. Blackzillians
The season wasn’t stacked with killer talent but it did feature a pretty big name in Kamaru Usman. He was joined by Sabah Homasi and Vicente Luque, but the real stars were the team owners, Dan Lambert of American Top Team (pre-pro wrestling days), and the late Greg Robinson of the Blackzillians. Their back and forth was always worth checking out.
3. Season 18 – Team Rousey vs. Team Tate
It’s always nice to see the arrogant and rude people of the world get theirs. Granted, for Ronda Rousey, you’d have to wait a few years, but listening to her be so condescending all season long and proclaim she’s going to “retire undefeated”, only to eat a head kick down under not two years later was so satisfying. The late addition of Miesha Tate, replacing Cat Zingano, was a great thematic experience as well. The season also had current WWE stars Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke, as well as active fighters in Davey Grant, Julianna Pena, Sara Moras, Raquel Pennington, and Josh Hill.
2. Season 20 – The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned
Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez were the coaches this year, and both men would never be the same, with Melendez never winning another fight, and the start of Pettis’ downfall happening right after. The winner of the season would be the first-ever UFC strawweight champion. Maybe the deepest crop of talent in the history of the Ultimate Fighter, with eventual winner Carla Esparza leading the way, followed by Joanne Calderwood, Angela Hill, Felice Herrig, Tecia Torres, Bec Rawlings, and of course, the best, “Thug” Rose Namajunas. What makes this season even better was that Claudia Gadelha and Paige VanZant were going to be on it, but Gadelha couldn’t make the pre-show weight, and VanZant was ruled out for being too young. That’s one talented group of fighters.