Season 5 Plot
The Ultimate Fighter 5 was the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. As with the show's usual format, sixteen prospective mixed martial arts fighters were secluded in a house near Las Vegas, Nevada and trained together while participating in a single-elimination tournament, with the winner being awarded a six-figure UFC contract. This season featured only one weight class, lightweights and the fighters were divided into two teams; one coached by former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver and the other by former UFC Welterweight Champion and former lightweight champion B.J. Penn. The season was well-known among fans for the large number of fighters kicked off of the show. The two coaches, along with the finalists of the tournament, fought at The Ultimate Finale, a televised MMA fight card that aired live at the completion of the series. The series premiered on April 5, 2007 on Spike TV in the United States and Canada at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and concluded on June 23. Filming began in mid-January 2007.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 aired on April 5th, 2007.
Season 5 Episodes
1. It's Like Anarchy Here
Sixteen lightweight mixed martial artists head to Vegas for their chance at a UFC glory and a six-figure contract. And for the first time on the series, coaches BJ Penn and Jens Pulver will fight each other on the season finale.
2. Not In The House
BJ Penn has a surprise for Jens Pulver. Choice words cause an eruption at The Ultimate Fighter House. And another lightweight’s dream of a UFC contract is crushed in the Octagon.
3. This Is My Zone
Team Pulver is 2-0 against Team Penn and BJ is not happy. Gabe continues to struggle with his weight making him a possible target for the next fight. And Team Pulver gets a surprise guest coach.
4. Waah, Waah!
One fighter tries to take an easy path through the competition while another fighter disappoints his coach during crunch time. Team Pulver gets a surprise visitor and two more fighters step onto the battlefield.
5. Put Me Back In
Team Pulver has racked up four wins in a row against Team Penn. Still struggling with his weight, Gabe Ruediger is the likely target for Team Pulver’s winning machine.
6. All Your Might
It’s two fights in one show. It’s Joe Lauzon vs. Brian Geraghty, followed by Rob Emerson vs. Corey Hill. Who will move on to the next round and gets a shot at the ultimate prize?
7. Be The General
After five humiliating losses, BJ shakes things up and kicks one of his fighters off his team and the next two fights marks the end of the preliminary round of the competition.
8. Not On The Concrete
Tensions at The Ultimate Fighter house reach an all time high and a fight breaks out. The quarterfinal match ups are announced. Who will be the first lightweight to make it into the semi-final round?
9. It Was A Brawl
Guest Coach Randy “The Natural” Couture pays a visit to Team Penn to offer his expertise and to support one of his protégés’ Gray Maynard as he prepares to enter the quarterfinals against Brandon Melendez.
10. Traitor
It’s the last two quarterfinal match ups. Two fighters from Team Pulver go head to head in the third quarterfinal fight but only one will advance to the semi-finals. And Manny gets a visitor as he prepares for the last quarterfinal bout.
11. I Humbly Apologize
Manny Gamburyan’s cousin and UFC veteran Karo Parisyan almost gets into a fist fight with Nate Diaz and the first semi-final fight takes place with the winner moving one step closer to becoming the next Ultimate Fighter.
12. Gave A Hundred
It’s mayhem at The Ultimate Fighter® House as the fighters go stir crazy. And Gray Maynard faces Nate Diaz in the last semi-final match to determine who will move on to fight Manny Gamburyan in the live finale on June 23rd at the Palms Hotel.
13. The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale - Penn vs Pulver II
UFC returns to The Pearl at The Palms for The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale. The main event will feature Jens “Lil’ Evil” Pulver vs. BJ “The Prodigy” Penn while Nate Diaz faces Manny Gamburyan for the title of Ultimate Fighter.