The Ultimate Fighter 7 Debuts and 8 Fighters Earn Their Spot

Season 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter” kicked off last night debuting a new 32 man format that shocked the fighters as they entered the training facility on last nights episode.

This season the fighters learned that they had to fight their way into the house. On top of that they only had 24 hours until weigh ins and 48 hours until fight day.

This new format was Dana’s answer to previous fighters on the show not wanting it bad enough.

All 32 middleweight fighters would have to fight for a spot on the show and 8 of the elimination fights took place on last nights premier. It definitely made for an exciting show. As if the pressure of being on live television wasn’t enough, the fighters also had to perform while Dana White, Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin eagerly watched on.

On previous seasons the coaches would evaluate the fighters during a training session but this time they got to evaluate them in an actual fight. Jackson and Griffin took notes as they watched 16 fighters put it all on the line for a possible life changing victory. It was a chance of a lifetime for the competitors and some took full advantage of the situation solidifying their spot in the Ultimate Fighter house.

Here are the first 8 fighters that earned a spot on the show and how they got there:

1. Mike Dolce (Defeated Prince McLean via TKO)
2. Cale Yarbrough (Defeated John Clarke via KO)
3. Amir Sadollah (Defeated Steve Byrnes via Armbar)
4. CB Dollaway (Defeated David Baggett via TKO)
5. Dante Rivera (Defeated John Wood via Kimura)
6. Nick Klein (Defeated David Mewborn via Arm Triangle Choke)
7. Paul Bradley (Defeated Reggie Orr via Unanimous Decision)
8. Jeremy May (Defeated Dave Roberts via Armbar)

The remaining 16 fighters will battle inside the octagon on next week’s episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest”. The show airs next Wednesday, April 9 at 10pm ET on Spike TV. The final cast of 16 middleweight fighters will be revealed and the real competition will begin.Stand by for more MMA news!