Image: The Ultimate Fighter

In 2004, the UFC was struggling financially, having lost roughly under its new ownership. The owners viewed The Ultimate Fighter as a final "roll of the dice".

The gamble paid off during the on April 9, 2005. The Light Heavyweight final between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar is widely considered the most important fight in company history. The three-round war peaked at approximately 3.3 million viewers , convincing cable networks and fans alike that MMA was a viable mainstream spectacle. The Ultimate Fighter image

Since its 2005 debut, the reality series has followed professional fighters living together in a Las Vegas house, training and competing in a tournament format for a lucrative six-figure UFC contract. In 2004, the UFC was struggling financially, having

is a cornerstone of mixed martial arts history, often credited with saving the UFC from bankruptcy and propelling the sport into the mainstream. The Light Heavyweight final between Forrest Griffin and