Tim Elliott

16 flyweight champions from around the world bring their belts to Las Vegas to compete in a single-elimination MMA tournament. Upon arrival, with their belts in hand, they head to the UFC training center where they meet UFC President Dana White and their coaches for the season, top UFC flyweight contenders Henry Cejudo and Joseph Benavidez.

As the fighters arrive back to the house after the fight announcement, teammates show solidarity towards the first two losing fighters. Meanwhile, the next two competitors, the #5 seed and the #12 seed, start concentrating on their upcoming matchup. Later that evening, tempers flare after a culture clash between an international fighter and a few Americans. During the next training session, Cejudo focuses on his next fighter. With the help of his coaching staff, Cejudo decides to focus on Jiu-jitsu and takedown defense training, fearing that the fighter is not experienced enough to take on a ground specialist. Nonetheless, the coach seems quite pleased with the fighter's stand up abilities. At the other team's training session, Benavidez seems quite impressed with his upcoming contender, who shows off solid all-around skills. The fighter is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming fight. He believes he needs to be careful on his feet and follow his usual game plan. A few days later, as the teams wait for the weigh-in to start, Cejudo and Benavidez start criticizing each other. Benavidez gets upset after Cejudo claims that he is not a good role model. Tensions start to rise and both coaches seem eager to face each other in the octagon in the finale. The day of the fight finally comes and the two competitors deliver a great battle in the octagon. Then, the next matchup between the #4 seed and #13 seed is announced.

While relaxing at The Ultimate Fighter house, Eric Shelton of Team Benavidez talks with Matt Schnell about the challenges of becoming a father at the age of 15. Matt says that having children was the furthest thing from his mind at that age, and jokes that he was still playing with action figures when he was 15 years-old. Between training sessions, coach Joseph Benavidez sits down with his team and watches his past two fights against UFC champion Demetrious Johnson. He offers up tips on fighting the champ, and gets feedback from his fighters. Then, shortly after, Henry Cejudo sits down with his squad and watches his previous fight with Johnson, a first round knockout. Afterwards, Cejudo asks his fighters for their thoughts on how they think they can dethrone the world champion. Then, in the fifth fight of Round 1, the #2 seed faces the #15 seed, with a spot in the second round on the line.

In the last episode before the live finale, the coaches say goodbye to their teams. The two remaining flyweight champions battle it out in the Octagon for the six-figure contract and a title shot at Demetrious Johnson. The Ultimate Fighter trophy is awarded.

Following his loss, a fighter makes a comment at the house that offends another fighter. After a heated argument, they almost come to blows. Benavidez and Cejudo head to Top Golf for the coaches challenge. Then in the final fight of Round 1 two more flyweights face off, with a spot in Round 2 on the line.

The Ultimate Fighter is the reality series that launched the mixed martial arts explosion around the world in 2005. Through 12 weeks, 16 up-and-coming mixed martial artists fight to stay in the house while given world-class coaching by the UFC’s elite fighters. Each competes to be declared the Ultimate Fighter and win a six-figure UFC contract.