Season 23 opens with both light-heavyweight men and strawweight women facing off in 16 elimination bouts. Coaches Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha take in the fights alongside Dana White, then pick their teams from the winners.
The fighters move into the house, and the start of training brings animosity between the coaches. Then, in the first preliminary fight, a dangerous striker takes on a familiar opponent.
Helen Harper is distraught after getting injured in practice; Cory and Khalil have a donut-eating contest at the house; Dana White rewards the fighters with a night of video gaming; and two strawweights face off for the first time this season.
Season 20 winner Carla Esparza pays a visit and helps Team Joanna with training; and Abdel Medjedoub gets a call from home that puts his future in the competition in jeopardy. Then, two strawweights battle for a spot in the semifinals.
Dana chooses to intervene when Abdel's personal problems threaten his future in the competition. Meanwhile, a losing fighter eyes a second chance. Then, in the fifth preliminary fight, a determined young competitor faces a skilled veteran.
Cory gets the test results from his neck injury, and the coaches start training for their upcoming title fight. Then, two more strawweights clash for the last semifinals spot.
A bombshell is dropped as Joanna and Claudia compete in the biggest coaches challenge in "Ultimate Fighter" history. Then, in the first light-heavyweight semifinal, two friends battle it out for a spot in the finale.
Early prelims.
Prelims
Main card.