10 Best UFC Fighters Ever to Advance From TUF

Many MMA fans don't realise that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) played a vital role in catapulting the sport and the UFC's reputation in the early 2000s. Who would've thought that a reality TV show would have such an impact?

In this article, SportsBoom has ranked and analysed the 10 best UFC fighters ever to advance from The Ultimate Fighter.

The Story Behind TUF and How it Propelled UFC & MMA

Originally aired in 2005 on Spike TV, this show put the UFC in the spotlight of America. The show was a mixture of reality TV and fighting, and this was a perfect concept. 

You had a bunch of fighters (in two different weight classes) all living under one roof: sharing bedrooms, kitchen area, lounge area and a pool area. This forced fighters to interact with each other, even those on the opposite team. The competitive streak came out in many people; there would only be two winners, and those winners earned a UFC contract.

There was no getting away from your teammates either; you trained with them in the same gym, and you lived in the same house as them so you were having to spend your downtime with teammates that you may not necessarily even like. Of course, this caused friction at times.

After causing a huge buzz throughout the first season, The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 finale didn't disappoint either, particularly the light-heavyweight final between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar in 2005. 

This fight is known as the most important fight in UFC history because it was an absolute war from start to finish. This brought new eyes to the sport, and from there the UFC never looked back.

Breakdown of the Best UFC Fighters to Advance from the Ultimate Fighter

In this segment, we will rank our top 10 best UFC fighters ever to advance from The Ultimate Fighter, and we have provided a breakdown for each fighter.

1. Kamaru Usman 

Kamaru Usman and Rafael Dos Anjos//Getty Images

Kamaru Usman’s journey to UFC greatness began with TUF 21, where he represented the Blackzilians and won the tournament. The “Nigerian Nightmare” would steam past his opponent, Hayder Hassan, in the final and win via submission in the second round.

He quickly ascended the UFC welterweight rankings, eventually capturing the title and defending it five times. Usman dominated elite opponents like Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns, solidifying his place as one of the greatest welterweights in history.

2. Rashad Evans 

Rashad Evans entered TUF 2 as an undersized heavyweight but used his wrestling and explosive striking to win the competition. “Suga” certainly caused controversy throughout the series because of his showboating antics inside the octagon.

He later transitioned to light heavyweight, where he defeated Forrest Griffin to claim the UFC title. With wins over legends like Chuck Liddell, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and Tito Ortiz, Evans became a Hall of Fame fighter and a key figure in the division’s history.

3. Tony Ferguson 

Tony Ferguson and Ramsey Nijem//Getty Images

Tony Ferguson won TUF 13 at welterweight, forming a friendship with Brock Lesnar (his coach on the show), and he went on to become one of the most dynamic fighters in the UFC lightweight division.

The proud Mexican American fighter, known for his unorthodox style and relentless pressure, Ferguson strung together a 12-fight win streak and captured the interim lightweight title. He didn't just beat people, he dominated them and busted their face up every single fight. 

His wars with Kevin Lee, Justin Gaethje, Rafael dos Anjos, and Anthony Pettis cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history.

4. Michael Bisping 

Michael Bisping’s long road to UFC gold began when he won TUF 3. The brash British striker remained a contender for nearly a decade before finally capturing the middleweight title with a stunning knockout of Luke Rockhold in 2016, marking the first British fighter to ever win a UFC title.

Bisping also holds wins over legends like Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson and later became a Hall of Famer. Despite his huge success, he is also regarded as one of the most underrated fighters ever.

5. Nate Diaz 

Nate Diaz won TUF 5 and became one of the most beloved fighters in MMA history. Throughout the series, we got to see that Diaz isn't one to be messed with, unless you want to get put to sleep.

His fearless attitude, slick jiu-jitsu, and incredible durability helped him earn victories over top fighters like Anthony Pettis, Gray Maynard, and Jim Miller. However, his biggest moment came in 2016 when he shocked the world by submitting Conor McGregor in their first fight. 

6. Robert Whittaker

Australian fighter Robert Whittaker won TUF: The Smashes with ease and evolved into one of the best middleweights of his era. 

After moving up from welterweight, he racked up wins against top contenders before defeating Yoel Romero twice to solidify his reign as UFC middleweight champion. Although he eventually lost to Israel Adesanya, Whittaker remains a top-tier fighter in the division.

7. Forrest Griffin 

As mentioned earlier, Forrest Griffin won the first-ever season of TUF and played a massive role in the UFC’s rise to mainstream popularity. His legendary fight against Stephan Bonnar, in 2005, is often credited with saving the promotion. 

Griffin later defeated Rampage Jackson to win the light heavyweight title and retired as one of the most respected fighters in UFC history. Thanks to Griffin and Bonnar, the UFC is now one of the biggest global sports in the world.

8. T.J Dillashaw 

Although T.J. Dillashaw lost in the TUF 14 finale to John Dodson, he went on to have an incredible career, winning the UFC bantamweight championship twice. 

His rivalry with Cody Garbrandt and victories over fighters like Renan Barão and Dominick Cruz established him as one of the best bantamweights ever. Despite controversies surrounding performance-enhancing drugs, this came later on in his career, there is no evidence of him doing this earlier on in his career and in his TUF days.

9. Matt Serra

Matt Serra won TUF 4, albeit in a controversial split decision over Chris Lyttle, which was designed to give past UFC fighters another shot at a title. 

Serra made the most of his opportunity as he later scored one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by knocking out Georges St-Pierre to become welterweight champion. Though his reign as the champ was short-lived, Serra’s underdog story remains one of the greatest moments in the sport.