Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs Team Sonnen Premieres Tonight on FX

The Cast of The Ultimate Fighter Season 17

Team Jones vs Team Sonnen Ep. 1 Tonight

The wait is finally over for what has already promised to be by far the most exciting season of The Ultimate Fighter to date as "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen" makes its two hour season premiere tonight at 8 p.m/5 p.m (ET/PT) on FX network.

The 17th season of the series literally has all the tools to live up to the vast amount of hype surrounding the follow up to the wildly unpopular 16th season. Tonight's episode will consist of 16 elimination fights to determine which middleweight fighters will be granted a spot in The Ultimate Fighter house and the chance to compete for a six figure contract with the UFC.

The two coaches will be light heavyweight newcomer and former middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Sonnen will challenge Jones for his championship belt at UFC 159 on April 27th.

There has been cloud of drama over the rivalry between Jones and Sonnen for some time now (mostly due to Chael's decision to leapfrog over former number one contender and good friend Dan Henderson for the title shot) and many believe that the verbal warfare that will ensue between Jon and Chael on the show will make the confrontations of Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson look like peaceful debates.

The always-outspoken Chael is the undisputed king of controversy in the UFC and has become just as well-known for trash-talking as he is for his incomparably aggressive wrestling ability. Jones usually just takes to the cage to put a beating on his adversaries but even Anderson Silva was unable to stay silent after one of Sonnen's mind-blowing insults.

UFC President Dana White has also done his part in advertising the thrills of this season by hinting at a mysterious cast member who has a reputation for sending his opponents to the hospital upon victory.

Whether you're looking to see two of the greatest fighters in the world get at each other's throats or discover the next big thing in the middleweight division, this season should not be missed. Each hour long episode will be aired Tuesday nights on FX.

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