“The Ultimate Fighter” has been credited into turning MMA into what it is today, with the Season 1 light heavyweight final between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar seen as one of the key turning points in the history of the sport.
Almost a decade and a half later, the future of the venerable reality television appears to be in jeopardy, as “TUF” has been supplanted by Dana White's Contender Series as the marquee pipeline of new talent to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Poor ratings and a lack of interest ultimately led the UFC to put “TUF” on ice, but UFC President Dana White is confident it will make a return, as he claims it covers a particular niche in the sport that isn’t offered…
