LAS VEGAS, NV, June 12, 2012 – According to a report by Yahoo! Sports, the next season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series will be returning to a taped format as opposed to the TUF LIVE season that just concluded with Aurora, CO native Michael Chiesa winning opposite Al Iaquinta on June 1st.
TUF will remain in its Friday night time slot on FX. Although Friday nights are generally regarded as the worst ratings night for television, the show managed to become the second-most watched series on basic cable in for its target demographic (men 18-34, 18-49) in just its first season.
“The season was a smash hit for them,” UFC president Dana White said when asked about feedback from FX for their first season of TUF. Prior to the FOX network deal, the UFC flagship reality show was broadcasting on Spike TV.
“FX wants to try it again on Friday nights,” he said to Yahoo!. “But if it’s not up to the standards I’m expecting, I’m pretty sure they’ll give me what I want. If this next season isn’t up to the standards I expect, they promised me we can move it to Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Casting for the sixteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter will begin aa early as three weeks from now with the show debuting on FX this September. This upcoming rendition of the show will feature welterweight fighters.
