"The success of "The Ultimate Fighter" has long been credited as the Ultimate Fighting Championship 's gateway into the mainstream. Beyond cultivating a new generation of fighters and fans, the series inspired production companies around the world to create their own adaptations of the mixed martial arts reality television format. Eleven years after first season of TUF first aired, a similar concept emerged in Quito, Ecuador, with the launch of a new MMA reality series titled "Ultima Pelea.""
""Ultima Pelea" aired for four seasons on Ecuadorian television network CNT Sports. The program featured young, up-and-coming Ecuadorian mixed martial artists competing in exhibition bouts contested over two five-minute rounds. Among the participants in the second and fourth seasons was Michael Morales, who would later rise to prominence as a top-ranked UFC welterweight title contender."
"During that season, Morales competed twice. His first bout came against Christian Arroyo, who was also making his mixed martial arts debut, in the second episode. Morales later faced Ricardo Centeno in the 10th episode; Centeno had already made his professional debut and entered the bout with a record of 1-5. All bouts leading up to the season finals were filmed in local gyms with limited attendance, consisting primarily of fellow competitors and a production crew mirroring the intimate setting seen in "The Ultimate Fighter.""
The Ultimate Fighter's success prompted international adaptations, leading to the creation of Ultima Pelea in Quito, Ecuador. Ultima Pelea aired four seasons on CNT Sports and showcased young Ecuadorian mixed martial artists in exhibition bouts of two five-minute rounds. Michael Morales participated in the second and fourth seasons, entering the second season at age 17 with no prior professional experience. Morales recorded a stoppage victory over Christian Arroyo via strikes from the mount in a second-round finish and later lost to Ricardo Centeno by deep triangle choke in the first round. All preliminary bouts were filmed in local gyms with limited attendance. Footage from the tapings has been publicly available on YouTube since 2018.
Read at Sherdog
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