The final season of The Ultimate fighter on Spike TV has begun with 16 bantamweights and 16 featherweights vying for a spot in the house to be coached by either Michael Bisping or Jason “Mayhem” Miller.

The fighters arrive at the Mandalay Bay and enter the Octagon where UFC president Dana White is waiting for them. White tells the fighters that if a UFC 6 figure contract isn’t enough, this season fans will get to vote for the best knockout, submission and fight of the year. The bonuses will be worth 25k each and the winners will be revealed at the TUF 14 finale. White closed the talk with a little pep talk, Dana White style:

“If you think you want to fucking fight and this is what you want to do, give everything you got, 100%. Fight your fucking ass off to send the dude that is in the cage across from you on that plane ride home, don’t let it be you!”

It’s now time for the 16 fights (8 bantamweights / 8 featherweights) elimination fights, with a spot in the TUF 14 house on the line.

135 lbs.: Josh Ferguson (7-3) vs. Casey Dyer (5-1)

Four straight lefts, one overhand right, followed by some ground and pound and 15 seconds into the fight it’s a TKO win for Ferguson.

145 lbs.: Diego Brandao (13-7) vs. Jesse Newell (6-1)

Newell pushes early, Brandao gets the fight to the ground and when the two stand again, it’s a left followed by a flying elbow that finishes Newell to end the fight.

135 lbs.: John Dodson (11-5) vs. Brandon Merkt (11-0)

Dodson softens up Merkt with multiple kicks before landing a big body shot that stops Merkt in his tracks. A little clean up and Dodson advances with a TKO win.

145 lbs.: “Look at me now bitch” Dennis Bermudez (7-2) vs. Jimmy Rivera (8-1)

With a knockdown and top control twice, the opening round was all Rivera, but he couldn’t finish. In round two Bermudez drops a very tired Rivera and finishes him off.

135 lbs.: BJ Ferguson (6-2) vs. Roland Delorme (6-2)

Ferguson took the fight to the ground and from there Delorme made him pay as a kimura attempt turned to an armbar which ended in a triangle submission win for Delorme.

145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage (3-1) vs. Bryson Wallehua-Hansen (6-1)

Hansen gets an early takedown but Brimage stays cool and survives giving up his back to come back and throw everything he had at Hansen who would not go down. In the second round the referee had seen enough punishment and stopped the fight, even though Hansen was still standing.

135 lbs.: Carson Beebe (6-1) vs. Johnny Bedford (17-9-1)

Lots of scrambling to open the fight.Bedfordoutworks the wrestler and when the two scramble again its Bedford who sinks in a choke for the win.

135 lbs.: Dustin Pague (10-4) vs. Tateki Matsuda (6-2)

Close Fight! Matsuda showed good kicks and grappling, while Pague also displayed grappling skills. Even though the coaches and Dana White saw it 1-1 after two rounds that judges gave Pague a majority decision.

135 lbs.: Paul McVeigh (18-6) vs. Luis Gaudinot (5-1)

A three round war, back and forth action packed scrap with Gaudinot getting the late win.

145 lbs.: Eric Marriott (20-5) vs. Bryan Caraway (15-5)

Caraway played it safe and rode out a unanimous decision win

145 lbs.: Josh Clopton (4-0-1) vs. Dustin Neace (22-17-1)

Another close fight that had the coaches and White thinking Clopton had won but the judges gave it to Neace.

135 lbs.: Matt Jaggers (20-7) vs. TJ Dillashaw (4-0)

Team alpha males Dillashaw kept his hands down the whole time and got away with it. Using his wrestling Dillashaw was able to finish Jaggers with seconds left in the fight.

145 lbs.: Steven Siler (17-6) vs. Micah Miller (17-4)

Crossed off by Dana White before the fight even started, Siler took the veteran Miller into the third round and defeated him with a guillotine.

135 lbs.: John Albert (6-4) vs. Orville Smith (11-3)

Albert out strikes Smith, takes him down and after being told to stand up 20+ times he locks in a rear naked choke for the win.

145 lbs.: Stephen Bass (10-0) vs. Karsten Lenjoint (7-1)

Yet another close fight. After a back and forth first round, Lenjoint gassed in round two and Bass capitalized and triangle choked him for the win.

145 lbs.: Brian Pearman (7-1) vs. Akira Corassani (9-3)

Corassani survives an early submission attempt from Pearman to start unloading on him. Pearman can take a punch but finally it was enough and the lights went out.

This season looks like its going to be great! How could it not with bantamweights, featherweights and season previews that show jackasses, a mariachi band and fire extinguishers……

Check back here each and every Wednesday for Full TUF 14 episode recaps.