| The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Reality, Sports |
| Created by | Craig Piligian, Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White |
| Starring | Dana White, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Spike |
| Release | September 16, 2009 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights[1] is the tenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. In a press conference following UFC 98, Dana White announced that filming for the season would begin on June 1, 2009. The season debuted on Spike TV on September 16, 2009, following UFC Fight Night 19.[2]
The UFC and Spike TV held an open casting call at The Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel in Seattle, Washington, on April 6, 2009. The casting called for mixed-martial artists in the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. On the day of tryouts, 250 potential fighters appeared including UFC & International Fight League fighters and former National Football League football players. Notable applicants included NFL veterans Herbert Goodman & Rex Richards, UFC veteran Rob Yundt, and IFL veteran Aaron Stark.[3][4] As with the previous season, all applicants at the tryouts were required to have a professional MMA record.[5]
This season did not feature an elimination round as the past three seasons had. All competitors invited to Las Vegas for the show's taping participated in the entire season.[6]
- ^ "Evans and Jackson to coach season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter"". UFC.com. May 28, 2009. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
- ^ Karkoski, Kris (May 28, 2009). ""Rampage" and Evans to Coach on TUF 10; Jackson-Machida Likely for September". MMAFrenzy.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
- ^ ""The Ultimate Fighter 10" tryouts net 250 applicants, three NFL vets". MMAJunkie.com. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
- ^ McCray, Brad (April 7, 2009). ""The Ultimate Fighter 10" tryouts bring jubilation and heartbreak". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
- ^ "Spike TV and UFC To Hold TUF 10 Open Casting Call on April 6th in Seattle". UFC.com. March 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2001. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- ^ Non, Sergio (June 2, 2009). "Kimbo to compete on TUF 10". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2009.