The Ultimate Fighter – American Top Team V Blackzilians

The next season of the Ultimate Fighter will see two teams compete against each for the first time.

On one side of the competition sits American Top Team — a storied team of fighters first founded in 2001 and home to dozens of UFC competitors including current UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.

On the other side are the Blackzilians — a gym founded by four former members of American Top Team, who defected from the gym to start their own team and now train alongside some of the best fighters on the planet including top ranked middleweight contender Vitor Belfort as well as former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.

The new season of The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians will kick off with a special two-hour episode at 10p ET on April 22 on FOX Sports 1.

This season features eight rising welterweights from each team who will be selected by their respective gym owner to live in a South Florida house alongside their competition. The fighters will continue to train at their home gym with their own coaches and sparring partners. However, fights will no longer be held at a neutral site and now move to the teams’ respective gyms, always leaving one fighter to compete in enemy territory. Adding to the anticipation ahead of each bout, opponents won’t be known until the weigh-in. The culmination of the season will see two fighters meet at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in summer 2015, where the winning gym will be crowned.

The fighters are