No one knows how the Ultimate Fighting Championship might look today without the boost and exposure it received from “The Ultimate Fighter” more than a decade ago.
The long-running reality series debuted in 2005, and in the 12 years that have elapsed since, it has served as a launching pad for top-flight contenders, roster mainstays and divisional champions, from Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping to T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson, Robert Whittaker and Rose Namajunas. The show has also seen its share of unforgettable knockouts.