UFC Releases 12 of the 16 Contestants from The Ultimate Fighter Season 16

At least 12 TUF contestants didn't make the cut

A lot of people weren't too satisfied with the lack of exciting fights or highly talented competitors on this past season of The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC feels the exact same way as they have unapologetically decided to send at least three-fourths of season 16's cast home, denying their chances for a contract or the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of one anytime in the near future.

The overwhelming opinion of UFC fans all over the world is that season 16 of The Ultimate Fighter was one of the most uncontroversial, boring, and least eventful seasons of the show to date. The subpar ratings this season earned are a product of this great disinterest, boasting multiple records for the lowest amount of viewers in the history of the series.

While there were definitely several other factors that contributed to these ratings (such as the Friday night time slot and the lack of drama between coaches Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin), it's safe to say that the majority of season 16's contestants didn't do that great of a job convincing the UFC that they indeed had the skills  to compete inside the octagon.

For some reason, most of this past season's contestants didn't really display the desire to put it all on the line to impress the UFC, to finish the fight in the most definitive manner possible. Very few of the matches that took place during the series ended in knockout or submission. Even tournament winner Colton Smith wasn't able to finish one opponent while competing on the show. He may very well be the first recipient of the coveted six-figure contract to win all of his matches by decision.

While these released fighters may have blown their chance to fight in the UFC at this point in their careers, they have most definitely provided a valuable lesson for any future contestants on the show. They have proven that there are indeed harmful consequences for not giving the best performances imaginable when they are clearly needed most.

Check out all of our The Ultimate Fighter Season 16 news