Season 1 Plot
The series was officially announced by the UFC in May 2012.[3] The name The Smashes is a play on the 130-year-old cricket rivalry between England and Australia called "The Ashes."[1] The UFC held open tryouts during June 2012. The casting call was for Lightweight and Welterweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights. On 12 July 2012, Dana White announced that the coaches for the season would be Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos to represent the UK and Australia respectively.
The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK - The Smashes Season 1 aired on September 18th, 2012.
Season 1 Episodes
1. National Pride
16 of the most talented unsigned mixed martial artists from Australia and the United Kingdom enter the house for the first time. After the fighters get acquainted, two welterweights look to advance to the semi-final of the 2nd international version of The Ultimate Fighter.
2. Freak or Unique
UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos visits the fighters in the house. Tensions rise between the British team and Australian Ben Wall. And two fighters battle it out to become the first lightweight in the semi-finals.
3. Action in the House Heats Up
Team Australia retaliate against the UK's poster prank. Colin Fletcher and Ben Wall are persuaded so snort lines of Wasabi and Peri Peri sauce. A UK fighter has difficulty making weight. And two contestants battle it out in the second welterweight fight.
4. Pick Me!
Team Australia are fed up with Team UK's lack of cleanliness. The pranks get out of hand as the teams retaliate against one another for escalating attacks on each other's dressing rooms. Team Australia undertake some outdoors training with a jog on the beach and some uphill sprints. And the second pair of lightweights fight to determine the next semi-finalists.
5. Fight For Your Family
Team Australia are agitated by the UK team's late night partying. A UK fighter threatens to leave the show. Colin 'The Freak Show' Fletcher entertains his team by wearing a women's bathing suit to training. And the third welterweight semifinalist is decided.
6. True Warrior
The Australian team is ripped apart when one of their fighters is forced to leave the competition. The UK's Colin 'The Freak Show Fletcher reinvents himself as an Australian. And the winner of the episode's fight becomes the third lightweight semi-finalist.
7. Unwise Words
Penrith's James Vainikoto settles into the house as a replacement for an injured fighter and is told to ready himself to fight at short notice. Team UK takes the mischief to a whole new level, unleashing an all-out food fight. A major falling out between UK teammates occurs. And the fourth welterweight quarterfinal fight.
8. Phone Home
The welterweight division is shaken up once again. UFC president Dana white is furious with the conduct of some of the fighters which he calls "the worst thing that could possibly happen on the show". And the last semi-finalist is decided in a lightweight fight.
9. Easy Route
Temperatures rise between coaching staff and teammates. Bad news destroys the dream of one fighter. After 8 dynamic battles, Dana white talks to the fighters, then chooses the semi-final match ups. And the first two fighters get their chance to move into the finale, and move one step closer to becoming The Ultimate Fighter.
10. Smash It Up
Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos battle it out in the coaches' challenge, and two teammates fight to decide the first lightweight finalist.
12. Little And Large
Episode 12 saw both teams plan their tactics for the final fight of the competition between Colin Fletcher (UK) and Richie Vaculik (AUS).