The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir

Cast

Team Nogueira was led by head coach Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, with assistant coach Alex "Pitmonster" Alves, jiu jitsu coach Daniel Valverde, and striking coach Al Stankiewicz. Team Mir was led by head coach Frank Mir, with striking coach Ken Hahn, and jiu jitsu coaches Robert Drysdale and Demian Maia. Team Mir's Light Heavyweights included Krzysztof Soszynski, Vinny Magalhães, Eliot Marshall, and Tom Lawlor; their Lightweights were Junie Browning, Shane Nelson, Dave Kaplan, and George Roop.

Team Nogueira's Light Heavyweights were Ryan Bader, Shane Primm, Kyle Kingsbury, and Jules Bruchez; their Lightweights were Phillipe Nover, Efraín Escudero, John Polakowski, and Rolando Delgado. Several fighters were eliminated in the entry round, and Antwain Britt, Karn Grigoryan, and Brian McLaughlin were unassigned; Britt was replaced by Marshall due to injury, and later McLaughlin and Grigoryan were replaced by Delgado and Kingsbury.

Episodes

Before the show began, Phillipe Nover fainted from heat exhaustion. Dana White introduced the coaches and announced fighters must fight into the house. Preliminary matches were two five-minute rounds. Jason Guida failed to make weight and was replaced by Mike Stewart.

Krzysztof Soszynski defeated Stewart by TKO at 17 seconds. Dave Kaplan submitted Fernando Bernstein via rear naked choke. Phillipe Nover submitted Joe Duarte via rear naked choke. Jules Bruchez submitted Eric Magee via rear naked choke.

Vinny Magalhães defeated Lance Evans by TKO due to rib injury. Antwain Britt defeated Ryan Jimmo by majority decision. Brian McLaughlin's match with Brandon Garner was ruled a no contest after Garner kneed a downed McLaughlin; White ruled McLaughlin moved on. Junie Browning defeated Jose Aguilar by TKO via forfeit.

In episode 2, John Polakowski defeated Wesley Murch by TKO. Shane Primm submitted Sean O'Connell via rear naked choke. Efrain Escudero submitted Ido Pariente via rear naked choke. Tom Lawlor submitted Ryan Lopez via rear naked choke.

George Roop defeated Rolando Delgado by decision. Ryan Bader submitted Kyle Kingsbury via arm triangle choke. Shane Nelson defeated Charles Diaz by decision. Karn Grigoryan defeated Eliot Marshall by split decision.

White announced Britt broke his hand and could not compete; Marshall replaced him. In episode 3, Brian McLaughlin and Karn Grigoryan were found to have fractured noses and were suspended 180 days by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, forcing them to leave. Kyle Kingsbury replaced Grigoryan, and McLaughlin's replacement was initially a mystery.

The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale was held on December 13, 2008, featuring the finals in both the Lightweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. Wilson Gouveia weighed in at 189 pounds, missing the Middleweight limit, but the match proceeded at a catchweight with Gouveia forfeiting 20% of his earnings. Fight of the Night was Junie Browning vs. Dave Kaplan, Knockout of the Night went to Anthony Johnson, and Submission of the Night to Krzysztof Soszynski, each receiving $25,000.