“The Ultimate Fighter” began in 2005 and has remained strong with a total of 31 seasons. The 32nd season is currently underway. The show follows 16 contestants who both live and work together, battling it out for the final prize: A UFC contract. Each contestant is in one of several weight classes. In some seasons, there is only one weight class battling it out through the end. In other seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter,” there are two weight classes, which results in two separate winners, both of which earn a contract with the UFC.
Chaos emerges when you house opponents together, which is what makes for great TV. There are plenty of bizarre moments to leave your mouth agape each season, like when Jesse Taylor purposely peed himself multiple times or when David Kaplan begged for Tom Lawlor’s best punch and immediately went to sleep. There’s plenty of trash-talking and booze-drinking in the show as well, which only adds to the mayhem. However, the winners of each season of “The Ultimate Fighter” display their professionalism when it’s time to fight.
To compile this list of every winner of “The Ultimate Fighter,” 247 Tempo reviewed several sports news websites, including ESPN, UFC, and MMA Fighting. Additionally, to catch up on current events, 247 Tempo also reviewed the social media channels of each of the winners. (To dive into fighters from the past, read 15 of History’s Most Renowned Warriors and Fighters.)
Season 1: Diego Sanchez, Forrest Griffin
- Year: 2005
- Division: Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
- Coaches: Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture
Diego Sanchez continued his fighting career after his win in the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” However, he was fired from the UFC in 2021. Most recently in 2022, he signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship with no plans to retire in the foreseeable future.
Forrest Griffin retired from the UFC in 2013 due to chronic injuries. However, he continued his professional career in the sport and currently works as the VP of Athlete Development at the UFC Performance Institute. He also started “catching heads” for Power Slap as part of his research into sports injuries.
Season 2: Joe Stevenson, Rashad Evans
- Year: 2005
- Division: Welterweight, Heavyweight
- Coaches: Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin
Joe Stevenson hung up his gloves and struggled with depression afterward since fighting was all he’d ever known. Today, he trains MMA fighters, operating out of Cobra Kai gym in Victorville, CA.
Rashad Evans retired several years ago to focus on fatherhood and building his businesses. But he didn’t stray far from MMA. Today, he’s out of retirement and competing in the Eagle Fighting Championship in the Light Heavyweight Division. He also trains MMA fighters.
Season 3: Kendall Grove, Michael Bisping
- Year: 2006
- Division: Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
- Coaches: Tito Ortiz, Ken Shamrock
In 2023, Kendall Grove announced that he would be embarking on the final phase of his fighting career even though he considered himself retired up until then. He faced off with Michal Materla and left him bloody. Grove has a successful gym-based business in Maui, HI.
Michael Bisping retired in 2018 when he was 39. He suffered a retina injury and has strabismus. Bisping kept busy, continuing his involvement with the UFC as a commentator. He also hosts a twice-weekly podcast, “Believe You Me,” along with Anthony Smith, a UFC contender, on YouTube.
Season 4: Matt Serra, Travis Lutter
- Year: 2006
- Division: Welterweight, Middleweight
- Coaches: Team Mojo, Team No Love
Matt Serra went on to coach in “The Ultimate Fighter” after becoming the season 4 winner. He officially retired in 2013. Today, he coaches students at Serra BJJ Academy in Huntington, NY.
Travis Lutter retired after his last fight in 2010. Today, he runs Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Gym in Forth Worth, TX.
Season 5: Nate Diaz
- Year: 2007
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Jens Pulver, B.J. Penn
Nate Diaz spent time away from the octagon following a five-year suspension. He’s now a free agent and most recently made his pro boxing debut in 2023, when he went up against Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned pro boxer.
Season 6: Mac Danzig
- Year: 2007
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Matt Hughes, Matt Serra
Throughout his MMA career, Mac Danzig suffered multiple concussions, which led to lasting effects. He knew it was time to walk away from fighting and penned an open letter in 2014 announcing his retirement. Today, he runs and operates Danzig MMA in central Oregon.
Season 7: Amir Sadollah
- Year: 2008
- Division: Middleweight
- Coaches: Quinton Jackson, Forrest Griffin
Amir Sadollah’s last fight was in 2014. His retirement from the sport was done quietly and not much is known about his current whereabouts. Fans have been left to speculate, knowing only that he once trained in Thailand and that he had a background in the medical field he may have decided to return to.
Season 8: Efrain Escudero, Ryan Bader
- Year: 2008
- Division: Lightweight, Light Heavyweight
- Coaches: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir
Efrain Escudero came out of retirement to fight against Baissangour Chamsoudinov in 2023 after being attracted to staying on the coaching side of his career. Today, he hosts his podcast, “The Naked Raw Truth,” where he shares details about his story.
Ryan Bader went on to become a Bellator Heavyweight Champion after the eighth season of “TUF.” Most recently in 2023, he announced he would be returning to UFC to assist the head coach, Michael Chandler, in the 31st season of the show. Bader’s most recent fight occurred on February 24, 2024, against Renan Ferreira.
Season 9: Ross Pearson, James Wilks
- Year: 2009
- Division: Lightweight, Welterweight
- Coaches: Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping
Ross Pearson officially announced his retirement in April of 2019 after 15 years in the sport. Today, he works as the head coach at Central Coast MMA, a martial arts school located in Erina, Australia.
James Wilks made headlines when he became an advocate for plant-based diets. He first produced the movie, “The Game Changers” before he launched a sports nutrition company, FȲTA Nutrition, which offers a range of plant-based products.
Season 10: Roy Nelson
- Year: 2009
- Division: Heavyweight
- Coaches: Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans
Roy Nelson ended his UFC career in 2017 and his last Bellator fight was in 2020. Last year in 2023, he made his bare-knuckle MMA debut.
Season 11: Court McGee
- Year: 2010
- Division: Middleweight
- Coaches: Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz
Court McGee is still proudly in long-term recovery from drug addiction. He continues fighting with UFC and has an upcoming fight in Las Vegas, NV against Alex Morono. He is also co-owner of Agema Jiu Jitsu, located in Provo, UT.
Season 12: Jonathan Brookins
- Year: 2010
- Division: Featherweight
- Coaches: Georges St. Pierre, Josh Koscheck
Jonathan Brookins retired from his UFC career in 2012 to embark on a spiritual journey in India. By 2020, he had done a lot of traveling and decided to settle down. He hosts “The Work” podcast, in which he ponders life’s big questions.
Season 13: Tony Ferguson
- Year: 2011
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Brock Lesnar, Junios dos Santos
Tony Ferguson continues his UFC fighting career in the Lightweight Division. His most recent fight was in December of 2023 against Paddy Pimblett.
Season 14: John Dodson, Diego Brandão
- Year: 2011
- Division: Bantamweight, Featherweight
- Coaches: Michael Bisping, Jason Miller
John Dodson was released from his UFC promotion in 2020 and went on to find a fighting home in RIZIN. He also became a champion in BKFC. He says these are his new homes “until the wheels fall off.”
Diego Brandão’s last fight was in 2019 against Marcin Held. He was released from the UFC in 2016 but he continues fighting professionally.
Season 15: Michael Chiesa
- Year: 2012
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber
Michael Chiesa is still active in the UFC and ranks No. 12 in the Welterweight Division. Aside from continuing his fighting career, he has also tried his hand at sports analytics.
Season 16: Colton Smith
- Year: 2012
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Shane Carwin, Roy Nelson
Colton Smith’s last fight was in 2018. Today, he runs Enlisted Nine Fight Company, an MMA gym located in Stafford County, VA.
Season 17: Kelvin Gastelum
- Year: 2013
- Division: Middleweight
- Coaches: Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen
Kelvin Gastelum suffered multiple injuries and took two years off from the sport, returning in 2023 in the Welterweight division. His most recent fight was in December of 2023 against Sean Brady in Austin, TX.
Season 18: Chris Holdsworth, Julianna Peña
- Year: 2013
- Division: Bantamweight, Women’s Bantamweight
- Coaches: Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate
Chris Holdsworth sustained several concussions which led to lingering issues. He retired early for this reason. Today, he works as a Jiu-Jitsu/MMA Coach at his own training facility, Holdsworth BJJ in Orangevale, CA.
In 2021, Julianna Peña was set to fight a trilogy fight against Amanda Nunes but suffered an undisclosed injury and had to fall out. Peña coached in “TUF” Season 30 in 2022 and plans to return for a title fight in the summer of 2024.
Season 19: Eddie Gordon, Corey Anderson
- Year: 2014
- Division: Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
- Coaches: Frankie Edgar, B.J. Penn
In 2015, Eddie Gordon was released from the UFC. His last fight was in 2018. Today, he works as an online fitness coach helping busy women lose weight.
Corey Anderson is still active in the Light Heavyweight division, with his most recent fight occurring in March of 2024 when he won against Karl Moore.
Season 20: Carla Esparza
- Year: 2014
- Division: Women’s Strawweight
- Coaches: Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez
Carla Esparza’s last fight was in 2022 against Zhang Weili. Most recently, her manager, Brad Butler, confirmed that she wants to return to fighting and has started training again. In the meantime, she is enjoying her family.
Season 21: Kamaru Usman
- Year: 2015
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: American Top Team, Blackzilians
Kamaru Usman’s fighting career continues and he’s currently competing in the Middleweight Division of the UFC. His most recent fight was in October of 2023 against Khamzat Chimaev. He also has a YouTube channel that features exclusive content, including interviews and documentary episodes.
Season 22: Ryan Hall
- Year: 2015
- Division: Featherweight
- Coaches: Conor McGregor, Urijah Faber
In 2023, Ryan Hall offered an update on his status following a 16-month hiatus. He addressed his extensive injuries and what they’ve entailed in terms of surgeries and recovery. He confirmed he’s “looking forward to competing again soon.” Hall also owns and operates Fifty50 Martial Arts, which has locations in VA.
Season 23: Andrew Sanchez, Tatiana Suarez
- Year: 2016
- Division: Middleweight, Women’s Strawweight
- Coaches: Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Clauida Gadelha
Andrew Sanchez was released from the UFC after his last fight in 2021 against Bruno Silva. However, he continued his fighting career as a free agent, with his most recent fight occurring in June of 2023 with the Professional Fighters League.
Tatiana Suarez took a break from fighting in 2020, citing injuries and health issues. In December of 2023, she suffered yet another injury to her knee. Recovery didn’t align with her expected timeline and she had to pull out of UFC 298. She is looking forward to continuing the pursuit of the UFC Strawweight title within a few weeks (as of February 2024).
Season 24: Tim Elliott
- Year: 2016
- Division: Flyweight
- Coaches: Joseph Benavidez, Henry Cejudo
Tim Elliott recently celebrated a win against Samudaerji during UFC Fight Night 233 in December of 2023. He was concerned since it was the last fight of his contract but since he took it on short notice, the UFC automatically re-signed him, which offers him some job security.
Season 25: Jesse Taylor
- Year: 2017
- Division: Welterweight
- Coaches: Cdy Garbrandt, T.J. Dillashaw
Jesse Taylor was removed from the UFC in 2017. He’s currently running a wrestling academy at North County MMA & Ultimate Fitness in Escondido, CA.
Season 26: Nicco Montaño
- Year: 2017
- Division: Women’s Flyweight
- Coaches: Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje
Nicco Montaño was released from her UFC promotion in 2021. Today, she makes herself available for bookings via her social media.
Season 27: Brad Katona, Michael Trizano
- Year: 2018
- Division: Bantamweight, Featherweight
- Coaches: Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier
After his win in the 27th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Brad Katona went on to appear in the 31st season, becoming the first-ever fighter to win two seasons of “TUF.” His most recent fight was in January of 2024 when he fought against Garrett Armfield.
Michael Trizano’s last UFC fight was in 2022 against SeungWoo Choi. Most recently, on March 27, 2024, he announced on his Instagram that fight news is coming soon. He wrote, “The Lone Wolf is back!”
Season 28: Juan Espino, Macy Chiasson
- Year: 2018
- Division: Heavyweight, Women’s Featherweight
- Coaches: Robert Whittaker, Kelvin Gastelum
Juan Espino announced in 2023 that he would be retiring from MMA due to injuries. His last UFC fight was in 2021 against Alexandr Romanov. However, he agreed to another fight, which he called a farewell fight, against Antonio Silva.
Macy Chiasson continues her career in the UFC, with her most recent fight occurring during UFC Fight Night when she went up against Pannie Kianzad and won.
Season 29: Ricky Turcios, Bryan Battle
- Year: 2021
- Division: Bantamweight, Middleweight
- Coaches: Alexander Volkanovski, Brian Ortega
Ricky Turcios took an extended layoff, taking time to train and upgrade his skillset. He was set to go up against Raul Rosas Jr. at UFC Mexico City in February but the fight was canceled last minute due to Rosas’ health. Turcios may fight Rosas at a later date or may need to wait until the promotion selects another opponent.
Bryan Battle emerged in 2024, debuting his new look and reputation. His most recent fight was in March of 2024 when he went up against Ange Loosa, who he also considers an underrated fighter. Battle trains at Carolina Combat Sports & Fitness in Charlotte, NC.
Season 30: Mohammed Usman, Juliana Miller
- Year: 2022
- Division: Heavyweight, Women’s Flyweight
- Coaches: Julianna Pena, Amanda Nunes
Mohammed Usman suffered a broken thumb in 2022, which required surgery. That took him out of the octagon for a bit but he returned in 2023 for two wins, one against Junior Tafa and the other against Jake Collier. Usman’s most recent fight was in March of 2024 against Mick Parkin.
In 2023, Juliana Miller moved to Spokane, WA to evolve her MMA skills at Sik-Jitsu Fighting System. Her last fight was in August of 2023 against Luana Santos. Today, Miller is commentating, making appearances on podcasts and has an OnlyFans account.
Season 31: Brad Katona
- Year: 2023
- Division: Bantamweight
- Coaches: Michael Chandler, Conor McGregor
Brad Katona is the only MMA fighter who can boast of being a double-champ on “TUF.” He is continuing to fight in the UFC, with his most recent fight occurring in January of 2024 in Toronto. (Want to test your sports knowledge? Check out these sports trivia questions next.)