The Ultimate Fighter 6
The Ultimate Fighter 6 – Season Recap
One of the most popular reality television shows, The Ultimate Fighter returned with Season 6 in September, 2007. 2 of the show’s alumni, Matt Serra and Matt Hughes, rejoin the cast as the head coaches. Similar to previous seasons, 16 fighters are split into 2 teams. They’re forced to live together under 1 roof, ultimately facing each other in the cage. Season 6 focuses exclusively on the welterweight category and culminates with the last 2 remaining cast members battling for the title in the season finale.
During Episode 1, Roman Mitichyan is forced to leave the cast due to an elbow fracture. Jon Koppenhaver steps in to replace him. The elimination bout ends with Team Hughes’ Matt Danzig defeating Joe Scarola. In Episode 2, Matt Arroyo from Team Serra is selected to fight Dorian Price. During the first round, Arroyo submits Price and evens the teams. Scarola debates leaving the house during the next episode, prompting conversations with UFC President Dana White and Matt Serra. In the end, he leaves. Meanwhile, Team Serra’s John Kolosci eliminates Billy Miles.
Tempers flare in Episode 4 as Price confronts the film crew. White intervenes, informing Price that he will be expelled if the behavior continues. The elimination fight is between Richie Hightower from Team Serra and Blake Bowman. Hightower beats Bowman in the first round. Episode 5 pairs Team Hughes’ Paul Georgieff against Troy Mandaloniz. Georgieff is distracted due to a death in his family and is eliminated. In the following episode, Ben Saunders (Team Serra) eliminates Dan Barrera in a controversial decision that leads Dana White to give $5,000 bonuses to both fighters.
In Episode 7, George Sotiropoulos from Team Serra defeats Jared Rollins. But, Tommy Speer from Team Hughes evens the score by beating Jon Koppenhaver at the end of the following episode. By the time that Episode 9 finishes, Danzig has eliminated Kolosci, shaving the cast down to a few hopefuls. During Episode 10, Troy Mandaloniz is trounced by Arroyo, and Sotiropoulos uses an armlock to eliminate Hightower.
Speer defeats Saunders by decision in Episode 11, deciding the semi-final pairings for the last episode before the finale. During Episode 12, Danzig beats Kolosci, and Speer knocks out Sotiropoulos. The final fight of the season is between Danzig and Speer. In the end, Danzig triumphs and continues his MMA career with a UFC contract in hand.