The sporting feud between the UK and Australia is set to continue into mixed martial arts with the new 'Smashes' edition of the Ultimate Fighter.
Australia to host new international TUF series
The sporting feud between the UK and Australia is set to continue into mixed martial arts as the UFC have announced the new 'Smashes' edition of the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) which will take place later this year.
Based on the traditional rivalry from the Ashes cricket series, teams of fighters from each Hemisphere will face off in Australia with the winner earning a lucrative UFC contract.
This is only the second time since TUF started in 2005 that teams will represent their country of origin, the first taking place in 2009, when Team USA faced Team UK.
UFC Managing Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik believes the traditional rivalry lends itself well to the TUF format.
He said: "Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC's Octagon.
"The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries.
"There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn't had the chance to show the world what he can do - The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We're going to discover the UFC's future stars, you can bet on it."
While the coaches have yet to be decided for the series, British duo Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett have both expressed an interest in taking the reins for the UK as well as former TUF winner Ross Pearson.
The weight classes involved have not been finalised, but the weight limits on the entry form for fighters would suggest that the hopefuls will be competing for places in the Welterweight and Lightweight divisions.
