The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is the tenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

 (UFC)-produced reality television

Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 series The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...

. In a press conference following UFC 98

UFC 98

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

, Dana White announced that filming for the season would begin on June 1, 2009. The season debuted on Spike TV

Spike TV

Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...

 on September 16, 2009, following UFC Fight Night 19.

The UFC and Spike TV held an open casting call at The Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel in Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...

 on April 6, 2009. The casting called for mixed-martial artists in the middleweight

Middleweight (MMA)

The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...

, light-heavyweight

Light Heavyweight (MMA)

The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....

 and heavyweight

Heavyweight (MMA)

The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally groups fighters between .Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform...

 divisions. On the day of tryouts, 250 potential fighters appeared including UFC & International Fight League

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

 fighters and former National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 football players. Notable applicants included NFL veterans Herbert Goodman

Herbert Goodman

Herbert "Whisper" Goodman is an American mixed martial artist and former NFL runningback for the Green Bay Packers.-NFL career:...

 & Rex Richards, UFC veteran Rob Yundt, and IFL

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

 veteran Aaron Stark

Aaron Stark

Aaron Mitchell Stark is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He trains with Team Quest and was a member of the Portland Wolfpack, an International Fight League team coached by Matt Lindland....

. . As with the previous season, all applicants at the tryouts were required to have a professional MMA record.

This season did not feature an elimination round as the past three seasons had. All competitors invited to Las Vegas for the show's taping participated in the entire season.

Coaches

• Team Rashad

  • Rashad Evans
    Rashad Evans
    Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
    
    
  • Greg Jackson
    Jackson's Submission Fighting
    Greg Jackson is a mixed martial arts trainer, who operates the Jackson's Submission Fighting and MMA training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jackson has trained many successful fighters, including current UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.In...
    
    
  • Trevor Wittman
    Trevor Wittman
    Trevor Wittman is an American boxing and MMA trainer.-Training career:Trevor is the owner of T's KO Fight Club/Gym in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Trevor also just opened up Grudge Training Center in Denver, Colorado. He was one of the Trainers that Rashad Evans brought in for the UFC's show The...
    
    
  • Mike Van Arsdale
    Mike van Arsdale
    Mike van Arsdale is an American mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
    
    
  • Rolles Gracie

• Team Rampage

  • Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
  • Tom Blackledge
    Tom Blackledge
    Tom Blackledge is an English mixed martial artist. He trains at Wolfslair MMA Academy in Liverpool, England. Blackledge is a Cage Rage veteran and was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early career:...
    
    
  • Tiki Ghosn
    Tiki Ghosn
    Tiki Ghosn is an American mixed martial artist veteran, competing since 1998 in the Welterweight division .-History:Tiki started his MMA career in high school when he discovered Muay Thai Kickboxing as a form of cross training for football, while attending MaterDei High School in Santa Ana,...
    
    
  • Hector Ramirez
    Hector Ramirez (fighter)
    Hector Ramirez is a Mexican American mixed martial artist's who has fought inside the UFC.-MMA career:Ramirez made his Octagon debut at UFC 65 – Bad Intentions in a losing effort against James Irvin. He won his most recent fight against famed K-1 legend Rick Roofus at A Night of Combat II...
    
    
  • Mike Dolce

Fighters

(In order in which they were picked)

• Team Rashad
  • James McSweeney
    James McSweeney
    James Adam McSweeney is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:...
    
    , Brendan Schaub
    Brendan Schaub
    Brendan Peter Schaub is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional football player for the AFL's Utah Blaze and as a member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He was a finalist and the runner-up of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:Schaub was...
    
    , Justin Wren
    Justin Wren
    Justin Christopher Wren is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Amateur wrestling career:...
    
    , Jon Madsen
    Jon Madsen
    Jonathan Michael Madsen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights fighting for Team Rashad.-Mixed martial arts career:...
    
    , Roy Nelson
    Roy Nelson (fighter)
    Roy Nelson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. He last competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship after winning Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. The September 30, 2009 broadcast of his fight against Kimbo Slice, officially an exhibition, was the 2nd...
    
    , Darrill Schoonover
    Darrill Schoonover
    Darrill Schoonover is an American professional mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Background:...
    
    , Matt Mitrione
    Matt Mitrione
    Matthew Steven Mitrione is an American mixed martial artist and former NFL football player, playing for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights....
    
    , Mike Wessel
    Mike Wessel
    Michael Wade Wessel is an American heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter. Wessel had a brief stint in with the Ultimate Fighting Championships and appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:...
    
    

• Team Rampage
  • Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson
    Kimbo Slice
    Kevin Ferguson , better known as Kimbo Slice, is a Bahamian-American boxer, mixed martial artist and occasional actor...
    
    , Abe Wagner
    Abe Wagner
    Abraham Wagner is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early Life:...
    
    , Demico Rogers, Wes Sims
    Wes Sims (fighter)
    Wesley Edward Sims is an American mixed martial artist. He is one of the tallest MMA combatants in recent times at 6 ft 8 in and is known for his unorthodox fighting style. He is currently a member of Team Hammer House. Sims began training to compete in MMA after meeting Mark Coleman...
    
    , Scott Junk
    Scott Junk
    Scott Junk is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division and he was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights....
    
    , Wes Shivers
    Wes Shivers
    Wesley Davis Shivers is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights...
    
    , Marcus Jones, Zak Jensen
    Zak Jensen
    Zak Jensen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early life:Jensen played football and wrestled at both Northern Illinois University and Augsburg College...
    
    

Episodes

Episode 1: Size Does Matter

• Only 15 fighters are lined up until Dana White introduced Kimbo Slice.
• The fighters divided up and trained separately with Evans and Jackson for evaluations.
• White flipped a coin. The winner of the coin toss chose to either pick the first fighter or decide the first 2 match ups. The winning fighter's team had to win both fights to keep control of the fight match ups.
• Evans won the coin toss and decided to pick the first fighter. The teams are then chosen.
• Quinton Jackson announces the first fight match up: Jon Madsen vs. Abe Wagner
• Jon Madsen defeated Abe Wagner via unanimous decision after two rounds.
• At the end of the episode we see that the gash on Wagner's head is deep enough that the medic treating him can see his skull.

Episode 2: All About Survival

• Roy Nelson had a discussion with Rashad Evans and the Team Rashad coaches about his attitude and whether Nelson really wanted to train with the team.
• Quinton Jackson announced the next match up: James McSweeney vs. Wes Shivers
• Team Rashad went past their allotted training time, into Team Rampage's training time. Jackson approached Evans and jokingly asked the team to leave.
• After two rounds James McSweeney defeated Wes Shivers via majority decision.
• Rashad Evans announceed the next match up: Roy Nelson vs. Kimbo Slice.

Episode 3: The Enemy

• Keith Jardine appeared at Team Rashad's training session.
• Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson had an argument over the scheduling of the match against each other. James McSweeney joined the argument and Evans pulled him away.
• Marcus Jones again struggled in training, this time complaining of an apparent knee injury. Despite this, Marcus expressed his desire to compete in the next fight.
• Roy Nelson defeated Kimbo Slice in the second round via TKO (strikes).

Episode 4: Snitch

• Marcus Jones was shown sweating profusely, prompting concerns that he would not be able to fight.
• Rashad Evans informed his team of the likely choices for the remaining fights.
• Justin Wren disagreed with Rashad's choice of fight in Wren vs. Junk, owing to their friendship.
• Matt Mitrione told Team Rampage the planned match-ups leading to him becoming a pariah to the rest of his team, who subsequently labelled him "a snitch."
• Rashad Evans announced the next match up: Brendan Schaub vs. Demico Rogers
• Brendan Schaub defeated Demico Rogers in the first round by submission (anaconda choke).
• After the fight, Jackson did not meet with Rogers, his fighter; instead, Evans gave Rogers some words of encouragement.

Episode 5: Rude Awakening

• Matt Mitrione injured his shoulder in training, but wished to fight soon, leading Team Rashad to question whether his shoulder was legitimately injured or merely sore.
• Rashad Evans, in discussion with his assistant coaches, worried about putting Mitrione in the fight and continuing their undefeated streak.
• Zak Jensen also became an outcast in the house after being accused of masturbating in the communal bathroom and passed out during practice.
• Rashad Evans announced the next match up: Justin Wren vs. Wes Sims
• Marcus Jones believed that Rashad Evans promised him the next fight and becomes very emotional when he is not picked.
• Justin Wren defeated Wes Sims in the first round by submission (arm triangle choke).
• Quinton Jackson walked away from the cage following the match without checking on his fighter. Later, in the locker room area, Evans approached Jackson about this, lead to them having another verbal confrontation.

Episode 6: 16 Sharks

• Phil Nurse
  Phil Nurse
  Phil Nurse , often referred to as Kru Phil Nurse, is a British former Muay Thai kickboxer and an undefeated European Light Welterweight Champion, Double British Champion, and British All Styles Super Light Welterweight Champion...
  
  , stand up coach for Georges St-Pierre and Rashad Evans, came to help at Team Rashad's training practice.
• Rashad Evans announces the next match up: Darrill Schoonover vs. Zak Jensen
• Quinton Jackson keeps calling Schoonover "Titties." During the fight announcement, Schoonover started cursing at Jackson leading to a verbal confrontation between the two.
• Team Rampage gave Zak the nickname "Linderman" and Wes Sims started a poll of when Zak would have a breakdown.
• During a training session, Jensen suffered a large cut over his eye. It gets stitched up but there was some concern whether he can fight or wants to fight.
• Tiki Ghosn hired an artist to draw a picture of Team Rashad. They hang it in the training center, but Rashad took it down before anyone on his team could see. Team Rampage later presented it to Team Rashad gift wrapped.
• Darrill Schoonover defeats Zak Jensen in the first round by submission (triangle choke).

Episode 7: Voices In My Head

• Rashad Evans announced the final two preliminary fights: Matt Mitrione vs. Scott Junk and Mike Wessel vs. Marcus Jones.
• Rashad and Rampage continued their war of words with Rashad claiming that Rampage quit on his fighters, not the other way around.
• Wes Sims and James McSweeney created a bet as to when Matt Mitrione will break down or snap, much like the previous weeks' bet about Zak Jensen.
• During a training session, Jon Madsen and Matt Mitrione nearly came to blows during sparring. Rashad then approached Matt, questioning if he would have the same aggressive temper during the fight.
• Matt Mitrione defeats Scott Junk by majority decision after two rounds.
• Following the match, Quinton Jackson walked away from the cage and ripped apart a door leading to the locker room area.

Episode 8: One Soldier Left

• Brendan Schaub drew an insulting caricature of Marcus Jones. Mike Wessel later adds "sucks balls" to the bottom of the picture which angered Jones.
• Darrill Schoonover again squared up to Rampage over his repeated "titties" jibes.
• Marcus Jones defeats Mike Wessel by submission (armbar) in the first round.
• Dana White and the two coaches met with each quarter finalist to find out who their preferred opponent in the next round was.
• The quarter final fights were announced as:
  • Roy Nelson vs. Justin Wren
  • Brendan Schaub vs. Jon Madsen
  • James McSweeney vs. Matt Mitrione
  • Marcus Jones vs. Darrill Schoonover
• Rashad offered Team Rampage members the chance to train with him and later, Rashad and Rampage clash once more.

Episode 9: Rattled

• Matt Mitrione complains of severe headaches and nausea
  Nausea
  Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
  
   as a result of his match with Scott Junk. Some believed that he may have had a concussion and may not be able to continue in the tournament. He was sent to the hospital to get a medical evaluation.
• As a practical joke, Quinton Jackson and his assistant coaches put chickens in the cars of the coaches of Team Rashad.
• Dana White visited the house and talked with Matt Mitrione. White has Mitrione claim that if the doctor clears him to fight, Mitrione will fight in his quarterfinal match.
• Roy Nelson defeats Justin Wren by majority decision after two rounds.

Episode 10: Gut Check

• Matt Mitrione said that the doctor who examined him said he had swelling of the brain as a result of his fight against Scott Junk. There is discussion among Team Rashad coaches as well as other fighters about whether Mitrione will be able to continue in the tournament.
• Kimbo Slice had issues with his knee. He had an MRI done and an examination by a doctor. Slice was missing cartilage
  Cartilage
  Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
  
   in his knee and faced the possibility of needing an operation.
• The coaches challenge is 2 vs. 2 beach volleyball. Team Rashad defeated Team Rampage, earning Rashad Evans $10,000 and the Team Rashad fighers $1,500 each.
• Rashad Evans talked with Matt Mitrione and asked Mitrione if he wanted to fight. Mitrione was unable to give him a straight answer. Evans called Dana White about the situation.
• Dana White talked with all of the fighters in the training center. He told them that fighters get hurt and fighters fight hurt, but none of them are being forced to fight. He told Mitrione that they won't know if he is medically cleared to fight until the next day; if Mitrione is medically cleared he needed to decide whether he wanted to fight.
• Brendan Schaub defeats Jon Madsen by knockout (punch) in the second round.

Episode 11: Road to the Finale
Note: This episode aired in the United States as a two hour episode.

• Dana White wanted to talk with fighters for a possible replacement for Matt Mitrione.
• White first talked to Kimbo Slice. Slice complained of knee problems and didn't think he could fight to his fullest. Options were given to Slice, such as cortisone
  Cortisone
  Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
  
   shots and other treatments, to improve the arthritis
  Arthritis
  Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
  
   in his knee. However he turned down the treatment and the possible fight.
• Matt Mitrione talked on the phone with his doctor. Mitrione says he wanted to fight. The doctor cleared him to fight.
• Scott Junk was having problems seeing following his fight. The doctor told him there were two small tears in his retina
  Retina
  The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
  
   and that he must have surgery or he may go blind. There were questions about whether or not he'll be able to fight again.
• Marcus Jones took the news about Scott Junk personally. He told Matt Mitrione to give a reason to hit him and claimed that Mitrione killed Junk's career.
• Scott Junk got an update that the eye surgery was a success and he could start training again in two months time.
• At the weigh-in, Mitrione and McSweeney got in each other's faces and McSweeney shoved Mitrione away.
• James McSweeney defeated Matt Mitrione in the first round by submission (guillotine choke)
• Marcus Jones defeated Darrill Schoonover by knockout in the first round.
• The semifinal matches consisted of three, five minute rounds. The semifinal matches were announced as:
  • Roy Nelson vs. James McSweeney
  • Marcus Jones vs. Brendan Schaub
• James McSweeney locked a claustrophobic Zak Jensen in the bathroom. After being let out, Jensen attacked McSweeney. McSweeney puts Jensen in a standing guillotine choke until Jensen calmed down.
• Roy Nelson defeated James McSweeney by technical knockout in the first round.
• Brendan Schaub defeated Marcus Jones by knockout in the first round.

TV Ratings

• episode No. 1: 4.1 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 2: 2.9 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 3: 5.3 million viewers (peak: 7.25 million with DVR viewing)
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 4: 2.8 million viewers (peak: 4.89 million with DVR viewing)
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 5: 2.8 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 6: 2.8 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 7: 2.5 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 8: 2.7 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 9: 2.5 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 10: 2.4 million viewers
• •"TUF 10" episode No. 11/12: 2.6 million viewers

Source: http://mmajunkie.com

Finale

The finale was held on December 5, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Heavyweight Bout:  United States Roy Nelson
  Roy Nelson (fighter)
  Roy Nelson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. He last competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship after winning Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. The September 30, 2009 broadcast of his fight against Kimbo Slice, officially an exhibition, was the 2nd...
  
  vs.  United States Brendan Schaub
  Brendan Schaub
  Brendan Peter Schaub is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional football player for the AFL's Utah Blaze and as a member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He was a finalist and the runner-up of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:Schaub was...
  
  

Nelson defeated Schaub via KO (Punch) at 3:45 of round 1 to become the Season 10 Heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

Heavyweight bracket

Legend

		Team Rashad
		Team Rampage
UD		Unanimous Decision
MD		Majority Decision
SD		Split Decision
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knockout

External links

• The Ultimate Fighter website
• Official UFC website
• The Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV