It had to be bittersweet for Urijah Faber last Friday night at the Ultimate Fighter Live Finale. Both Mike Chiesa (8-0-0) and Al Iaquinta (5-2-1), members of Team Faber, were in the main event fighting
for the right to call themselves The Ultimate Fighter and of course the six-figure contract into the UFC. It would be Chiesa that would go on to win via rear naked choke in the first round. Known mostly as the fighter who lost his father early in the season, Chiesa quickly became the fan favorite over the season because of his come from behind wins.
“Everybody who watched the season, they know what I was going through,” said Chiesa. “Everyday, I had to just pull myself up and push through and keep fighting. I know I’m not the most technical guy, but just like Martin [Kampmann], you can’t count me out in a fight. I’ll stay in there and find a way to win.” The win over Iaquinta was his third fight in four weeks. With the new live format on FX, the fighters were made to fight more frequently then seasons past.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil is currently airing on FUEL TV and the UFC has just released to the public that they will continue with the international format with The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K. featuring the welterweight division and the lightweight division.