Once again, let's get into the Wayback Machine, and click that dial back 29 months. It was January 2005, and Spike TV debuted a new MMA reality show called The Ultimate Fighter. It was the UFC's answer to the reality-TV explosion.
We already took a look at the
TUF 1 Light Heavyweight Division. Now, onto the middleweights. Most of the fighters in the TUF 1 Middleweight Division went on to compete a weight class (or two for Kenny Florian) below.
Over time, we'll work our way through all of the TUF seasons to find out where everybody is now. I've ranked the TUF 1 middleweights based on where I believe they currently stand in relation to each other. I've listed all of the wins and losses for each fighter since The Ultimate Fighter 1 in chronological order. The win-loss records listed by each fighter are for fights after TUF 1 only. The taped fights on the show are technically exhibitions and do not count towards a fighter's overall MMA record. Let's see how things have gone for the TUF 1 middleweights since their fifteen minutes of reality-TV fame expired.
The Ultimate Fighter 1 - Middleweights
(WIN +) (LOSE -)
1. JOSH KOSCHECK (7-1)
+ Chris Sanford by KO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Pete Spratt by Submission at UFC Fight Night 1 (August 2005)
- Drew Fickett by Submission at UFC Fight Night 2 (October 2005)
+ Ansar Chalangov by Submission at UFC Fight Night 4 (April 2006)
+ Dave Menne by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night 5 (June 2006)
+ Jonathan Goulet by Submission at UFC Fight Night 6 (August 2006)
+ Jeff Joslin by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night 7 (December 2006)
+ Diego Sanchez by Unanimous Decision at UFC 69 (April 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. Georges St. Pierre at UFC 73 (August 25, 2007)
On TUF 1, Josh Koscheck beat Chris Leben by unanimous decision and then lost to Diego Sanchez by split decision. Koscheck is currently one step away from a UFC Welterweight Championship fight. Problem is -- he has to beat Georges St. Pierre. GSP got put down by Matt Serra, so this time St. Pierre will definitely be "
prepared." Since his one and only UFC defeat, Koscheck has now won 5 straight fights. UFC 73 was Koscheck's first UFC PPV, and although his rematch with Diego Sanchez wasn't the main event of the card, it was the main draw. Now once again Koscheck will co-headline a PPV at UFC 73.
BIGGEST KOSCHECK WIN: over an undefeated Diego Sanchez
BIGGEST KOSCHECK LOSS: only loss to Drew Fickett
2. DIEGO SANCHEZ (6-1)
+ Kenny Florian by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Brian Gassaway by Submission at UFC 54 (August 2005)
+ Nick Diaz by Unanimous Decision at UFC TUF 2 Finale (November 2005)
+ John Alessio by Unanimous Decision at UFC 60 (May 2006)
+ Karo Parisyan by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night 6 (August 2006)
+ Joe Riggs by KO at UFC Fight Night 7 (December 2006)
- Josh Koscheck by Unanimous Decision at UFC 69 (April 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Diego Sanchez choked out Alex Karalexis and then went over Josh Rafferty. To make it to the TUF 1 Finals, Sanchez won a split decision over Josh Koscheck. To become the first-ever TUF welterweight winner, Sanchez TKO'd Kenny Florian. Sanchez continued to win, 5 straight fights to be exact, including wins over two of the best fighters in the world, Karo Parisyan and Nick Diaz. Just shy of 20 straight MMA wins, and Sanchez lost to Josh Koscheck by unanimous decision at UFC 69. Koscheck picked him apart with strikes, while Sanchez seemed hesitant. Later, it would be
revealed that in his fight with Koscheck, Sanchez had a nasty staph infection in his thigh. Additionally, Sanchez had been diagnosed with hepatitis C days prior to UFC 69 and was prepared to announce his retirement from MMA. Further tests showed Sanchez didn't have the disease. The emotional rollercoaster and physical pain Sanchez was enduring explain the lackadaisical performance from a fighter who had been known for his explosiveness. A win is a win and a loss is a loss, though, so Sanchez falls below Koscheck in the pecking order.
BIGGEST SANCHEZ WIN: over Karo Parisyan, a top ten ranked fighter
BIGGEST SANCHEZ LOSS: only loss to Josh Koscheck
3. KENNY FLORIAN (4-2)
- Diego Sanchez by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Alex Karalexis by TKO at UFC Fight Night 1 (August 2005)
+ Kit Cope by Submission at UFC TUF 2 Finale (November 2005)
+ Sam Stout by Submission at UFC TUF 3 Finale (June 2006)
- Sean Sherk by Unanimous Decision at UFC 64 (October 2006) {Lightweight Championship}
+ Dokonjonosuke Mishima by Submission at UFC Fight Night 9 (April 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. Alvin Robinson at UFC 73 (July 7, 2007)
On TUF 1, due to the odd structure of the show, Kenny Florian only had to fight once before the finals. Florian opened up a cut on Chris Leben that lead to a stoppage. In the finals, Florian was overwhelmed by Diego Sanchez. Florian would come back strong, though, and win his next 3 fights. In a questionable move, considering his relative lack of experience, Florian was then put into a UFC Lightweight Championship match for the newly established title. Florian went 5 rounds with one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Sean Sherk. Florian was on the losing end of a decision, but he definitely earned his stripes that night. In losing, Florian gained more than most fighters will gain for winning. Florian rebounded with a win over a double-tough Dokonjonosuke Mishima. Next, Florian takes on "The Kid" Alvin Robinson, an explosive young fighter. Oh, how they grow up so fast. Now Florian is the veteran, and given the task of putting a young buck to the test.
BIGGEST FLORIAN WIN: over Sam Stout to make it 3 in a row in the UFC just in time for lightweight title resurrection
BIGGEST FLORIAN LOSS: to Sean Sherk in bid for UFC Lightweight Championship
4. CHRIS LEBEN (6-3)
+ Jason Thacker by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Patrick Cote by Split Decision at UFC Fight Night 1 (August 2005)
+ Edwin Dewees by Submission at UFC Fight Night 2 (October 2005)
+ Jorge Rivera by TKO at UFC Fight Night 3 (January 2006)
+ Luigi Fioravanti by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night 4 (April 2006)
- Anderson Silva by KO at UFC Fight Night 5 (June 2006)
+ Jorge Santiago by KO at UFC Fight Night 6 (August 2006)
- Jason MacDonald by Submission at UFC 66 (December 2006)
- Kalib Starnes by Unanimous Decision at UFC 71 (May 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Chris Leben lost a unanimous decision to his archrival Josh Koshceck. When Nate Quarry suffered a training injury, he was allowed to pick his replacement. Quarry chose Leben, so he came back to fight Kenny Florian, but lost once again, this time by TKO due to a cut. Despite his troubles on the show, Leben came into the UFC like thunder, going 5-0 and taking out a plethora of guys that would end up being on the fourth season of TUF, the comeback edition. Leben's fairy tale story ended when his face met Anderson Silva's knee. The Silva loss appears to have been a major confidence buster, as Leben has now lost his last two fights. Leben also works as a trainer for an Icon Sport gym, and has
expressed the possibility that he could move to ICON upon the expiration of his UFC contract.
BIGGEST LEBEN WIN: over UFC veteran Patrick Cote
BIGGEST LEBEN LOSS: to Kalib Starnes for a second straight loss
5. ALEX KARALEXIS (5-2)
+ Josh Rafferty by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
- Kenny Florian by TKO at UFC Fight Night 1 (August 2005)
- Jason Von Flue by Submission at UFC Fight Night 3 (January 2006)
+ Josh Lydell by Submission at RF 13 New Hampshire (June 2006)
+ Thomas Denny by Unanimous Decision at WEC 23 (August 2006)
+ Olaf Alfonso by TKO at WEC 25 (January 2007)
+ Josh Smith by Majority Decision at WEC 28 (June 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Alex Karalexis lost by submission to Diego Sanchez. In the UFC, Karalexis managed to win his first fight, but then lost two in a row. Since going back to the indies, Karalexis has now won 4 straight fights. Since the show, Karalexis has steadily improved and has become a prominent part of WEC, going 3-0 in the UFC's minor league promotion.
BIGGEST KARALEXIS WIN: over Thomas "Wildman" Denny in WEC
BIGGEST KARALEXIS LOSS: to Jason Von Flue in UFC, hasn't been in UFC since
6. NATE QUARRY (3-1)
+ Lodune Sincaid by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Shonie Carter by TKO at UFC 53 (June 2005)
+ Pete Sell by TKO at UFC Fight Night 1 (August 2005)
- Rich Franklin by KO at UFC 56 (November 2005)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Nate Quarry didn't get to fight. He suffered a training injury on Episode 5. By Episode 8, it was clear Quarry would not be able to participate, so he was eliminated from the competition. Quarry was so well liked and respected, that Dana White asked him to stay on the show as an assistant coach. Quarry remained on the show and helped his teammates train. When he finally got to see UFC action, Quarry tore through the competition, on his way to a UFC Middleweight Championship fight with Rich Franklin. Franklin knocked out Quarry, and since this fight, injuries have kept Quarry out of action, for what has been a year and a half now. Quarry has indicated he is eager to get back, but like his time on TUF 1, things haven't been going so well for Quarry. Most recently, Quarry
talked about how he was kicked off Team Quest. Only time will tell if Quarry is ever able to live up to his immense potential.
BIGGEST QUARRY WIN: over Shonie Carter, a veteran UFC fighter
BIGGEST QUARRY LOSS: only loss to Rich Franklin
7. JOSH RAFFERTY (2-1)
- Alex Karalexis by TKO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Aristides Britto by Submission at RCF Heatwave (August 2005)
+ Eli Ayars by Submission at Extreme Challenge 77 (April 2007)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Josh Rafferty lost to Diego Sanchez. Rafferty lost his first and only UFC fight to Alex Karalexis. Rafferty fought on a small show 4 months later and got a win. Rafferty didn't fight for quite awhile then, coming back in April of 2007 and winning again. Will it be nearly two years again, until we get another Rafferty sighting? Stay tuned to MMATorch over the next year and eight months to find out.
8. CHRIS SANFORD (1-1)
- Josh Koscheck by KO at UFC TUF 1 Finale (April 2005)
+ Josh Green by Submission at WEC 16 (August 2005)
NEXT FIGHT vs. ?
On TUF 1, Chris Sanford wasn't even given the decency of a chance. His performance in a physical challenge resulted in him being booted from the show before he got the chance to fight. Sanford was then fed to Josh Koscheck at the finale.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE TUF 1 MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHTER
ROWLES: Where Are They Now? - UFC's The Ultimate Fighter 1 Light Heavyweight Edition
