On Wednesday September 16, 2008 season 8 of the Ultimate Fighter will begin on Spike TV. This season Antonio Rodrigo “Minotaruo” Nogueira and Frank Mir will be the coaches of each team. This season will feature the heavyweight and the Light heavyweight fighters. The first Episode will start with 16 in each weight class and the fighters will all fight there way in until it is down to 8 in each group. The winner from each division will be fighting for a contract with the UFC. The coaches of each team will meet at the end of the season to fight for the Interim heavyweight championship.
The Coaches
Frank Mir is a former UFC Heavyweight champion and is looking to regain what he never really lost. Frank Mir won the title at UFC 48: Payback when he broke the forearm of his opponent Tim Salvia. However, due to a motorcycle accident later that year he was unable to compete and eventually striped of the title. He has now fought his way back to a title fight.
Stats
Age 29
Height 6’1”
Weight 240 lbs
MMA record 11-3
Antonio Rodrigo “Minotaruo” Nogueira is a relative new comer to the UFC but not to the fight game with over 35 professional bouts. Nogueira was formally with Pride and was one of the many fighters to the make the move to the UFC. Nogueira debut match was at UFC 73 against Heath Hearing who he beat by decision. His next fight was against Tim Salvia which he also beat via guillotine choke to win the Interim heavyweight championship. He is the 1st person to hold the heavyweight championship in both Pride and the UFC.
Stats
Age 32
Height 6’1”
Weight 240 lbs
MMA record 31-4-1
The Winner will must likely be fighting the winner of the Couture/Lesner fight that will happen in September.
Promotional Link:
Watch out for the next MMA Fighters to slug it out in the UFC at Fighters.com, the leader in news and updates for MMA.