UFC President Dana White Promises ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Franchise Will Return ‘Soon’

Opportunities seized, legends born. This is The Ultimate Fighter.@ForrestGriffin looks back over the past 28 seasons. pic.twitter.com/AApMylvSBN

— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) December 1, 2018

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“The Ultimate Fighter” franchise has been on hiatus since November 2018, when the “TUF 28” finale crowned Macy Chiasson and Juan Francisco Espino Dieppa champions at featherweight and heavyweight, respectively.

With the emergence of Dana White’s Contender Series as a viable alternative to delivering prospects to the Octagon, there has been speculation that “TUF” had reached the end of the road.

However, during a recent “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit, UFC president Dana White insisted that “TUF” will be revived.

“‘TUF’ is coming back SOON,” White wrote in response to a query asking if the series was dead. White did not provide any further details regarding the show, which played a big role in the UFC’s rise to prominence with a breakout first season that featured the historic clash between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar at the finale in April 2005.

Since then, the show has spawned UFC champions, coaching rivalries and international seasons. Over time, interest waned in “TUF,” but White has passionately defended the series when the subject of its demise is broached.

As recently as last year, White was adamant that plans were in place to resume “TUF.” However, the coronavirus pandemic has likely put those plans on hold for the time being.

“We’re going to switch some things around, do some things different but I truly believe that “The Ultimate Fighter” is so key in building young talent,” White said in a media scrum following a Contender Series episode last August. “This show is fun and guys come in but what they have to go through with cameras in their face 24/7, being away from home, being away from their families and all the bulls—t, hardcore training everyday with these dream camps that are f—ing built, cutting weight, staying on weight, you’ll never go through anything harder than “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“So if you can make it through ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and actually win it, if you go back throughout history and look at ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and the fighters that have come off their, it is just the greatest training ground ever for up and coming fighters. It can’t go away ever.”