Spike TV Reveals TUF 9 Cast

Las Vegas, Nevada

Taken from http://www.sherdog.com/Monday, March 09, 2009by Brian KnappFighters from opposite sides of the globe will carry the banners of the United States and the United Kingdom on season nine of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the cast for which was released on Monday by Spike TV representatives. UFC superstars Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping will serve as coaches. Henderson, a two-time Olympian, remains the only man to ever hold major titles in two different weight classes simultaneously. The 30-year-old Bisping, the light heavyweight winner on “The Ultimate Fighter 3,” has posted three consecutive wins since he dropped to 185 pounds. The show -- which will feature lightweights and welterweights -- will premiere on Spike TV at 10 p.m. ET/PT on April 1 and will culminate at “The Ultimate Fighter 9” Finale on June 20 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Kevin Knabjian (10-3-1) and former International Fight League standout Mark Miller (8-5) headline the American cast, along with journeyman Ray Elbe (20-11) and Miletich Fighting Systems products Jason Pierce (6-0) and Kiel Reid (0-1). The 24-year-old Knabjian, a wrestler spawned by the same university, Eastern Illinois, as future UFC hall of famer Matt Hughes, will carry a four-fight winning streak into his appearance on the show. Miller, meanwhile, holds victories against UFC veterans Brad Blackburn and Josh Neer. In fact, he remains the only man to knock out Neer in 33 career bouts. Welterweight prospect Che Mells, who cut his teeth inside the Cage Rage promotion, carries the hopes of the United Kingdom roster, along with Team Rough House product Andre Winner (9-2-1), Jeff Lawson (12-2) and Alex Reid (8-8-1, 1 NC). Though the 33-year-old Reid has lost six fights in a row, he has tested himself against high-caliber competition, including Murilo Rua, Jorge Rivera and one-time UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne. The UK cast also includes Gary Kelly (2-1, 1 NC), the brother of UFC veteran Paul Kelly. “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series has served as a launching pad for some of the sport’s best-known fighters, including reigning UFC light heavyweight king Rashad Evans, former 205-pound titleholder Forrest Griffin and lightweight contenders Diego Sanchez and Kenny Florian. The full cast for “The Ultimate Fighter 9” follows: Team USA cast.United States Welterweights• Ryan Biglar• Ray Elbe• Christian Fulgium• Damarques Johnson• Kevin Knabjian• Mark Miller• Jason Pierce• Kiel Reid United Kingdom Welterweights• Dean Amasinger• James Bateman• David Faulkner• Tommy Maguire• Che Mills• Nicholas Osipczak• Alex Reid• James Wilks United States Lightweights• Paul Bird• Santino Defranco• Jason Dent• Cameron Dollar• Tom Hayden• Waylon Lowe• Josh Souder• Richie Whitson United Kingdom Lightweights• James Bryan• Dan James• Gary Kelly• Jeff Lawson• Ross Pearson• Martin Stapleton• AJ Wenn• Andre Winner