The Ultimate Fighter 11: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz debuts tonight on Spike TV, and two veterans are among the contestants battling for a spot on the popular reality show.
Former Army reservist Kris McCray and former sailor Woody Weatherby will join 26 other middleweights fighting in elimination matches to determine the 14 fighters who will be permanent members of this season’s cast. McCray, 26, is 5-0 as a pro. He is sponsored by Ranger Up, an MMA apparel company founded by vets that also sponsors Strikeforce fighter Tim Kennedy. Weatherby, 27, served four years on active duty in the Navy, including a stint aboard the carrier Carl Vinson. He is 7-3 as a pro.
Before McCray and Weatherby appear on TUF, Jorge Rivera will be fighting in UFC Fight Night, which will be aired on Spike at 8 p.m. ET. Rivera, 38, is another Ranger Up-sponsored fighter and served in the Army. The longtime MMA vet has won three of his last four bouts, and he’ll be squaring off against Nate Quarry.
For a preview of Wednesday’s TUF episode, check out the video below. Both McCray and Weatherby get some face time right away.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbl8nmR7TR0[/youtube]