8 Countries That Should Have the Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter reality series is the key to the continued growth of MMA around the world. With shows already in the United States and Brazil, we have already seen an influx of attention and fanbase due to the show.

With the success of TUF in Brazil during its first run, the UFC should be looking to expand the show into more countries. There is so much talent waiting to be discovered around the world that the show would be beneficial to the identity of these unknown fighters.

Here are eight countries that should get their own international version of TUF.

UK/Australia

Although the wheels are already in motion for the United Kingdom to face off against Australia, I feel this should still be mentioned. Both the UK and Australia are big markets for the UFC with tons of talent that need to be exposed. 

It has been decided that the show will feature welterweights and lightweights. I have already put my two cents in as to who should grace the show's cast. This show should be good, but should not be the only time these two have a season of TUF (ratings pending). 

Japan

People may think that MMA is dying in Japan, but there are still plenty of talented fighters that would benefit from The Ultimate Fighter. 

People in Japan still watch and attend mixed martial arts events in high numbers, so just imagine how many would tune in on TV to watch them every week. It could be a great series to have in "The Land of the Rising Sun."

This would be even better, considering the UFC's expansion into the lower weight classes. Japan is known for having elite fighters in these low-weight classes, which could push those weight classes' talent pools to a higher level.

Flyweights, bantamweights and featherweights would all be great options in this season, as Japan has an abundance of all three. 

Russia

Russia has a ton of talent in its country that has yet to be tapped, unless of course we are talking about Bellator. Bellator has exposed some great Russian prospects, making the possibilities on the show endless.

The UFC has recently exposed some of its own Russian talent, as guys like Khabib Nurmagomedov have made their entry to the company known. TUF could be a great way to expose really talented guys, so that they could develop a fanbase.

Lightweight, welterweight and middleweight are all viable options, as well as possibly a heavyweight class. Russia has a good number of submission artists, as well as strikers.

Canada

Canada is a hot spot for MMA talent right now, as well as a home for many hardcore fans. The UFC is constantly bringing cards to Canada, as they always have a great atmosphere for events.

Just imagine the ratings for The Ultimate Fighter: Canada. If they can sell out an arena in mere hours, millions will tune in weekly to watch the show.

There is also great talent in Canada that needs exposure. A season of light heavyweights and lightweights would be great for TV. Canada has some solid prospects at both weight divisions that could be staples in the UFC for years to come.  

South Korea

South Korea is rapidly becoming an MMA-crazed country as we speak. When the UFC went to Japan earlier this year, there were plenty of South Korean fans who were involved with the event.

There are also a number of young, up-and-coming prospects from South Korea who could benefit from training on the show. Again, most of the talent comes from the lower weight classes, which could benefit the upstart divisions.

Scandinavia

The UFC's first trip to Sweden was a great success this year, which leaves the door open for a version of The Ultimate Fighter in Scandinavia. Not only is Sweden a hotbed for MMA talent, but Norway and Finland have a good amount of talent as well.

Sweden has some intriguing middleweight prospects, including the Andreas Spang (as well as his welterweight brother Chris), Tor Troeng and Mats Nilsson. I have been keeping an eye on the Swedish MMA scene for some time now, so hopefully this show becomes a reality (no pun intended).

Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to many great kickboxers, but they also have many solid MMA fighters there. Even if it is an all-Europe version of the show, the Dutch should be somehow involved in a version of The Ultimate Fighter.

Imagine finding the next Alistair Overeem or Gegard Mousasi in Holland. That would be huge, but the search needs to begin through TUF.