All previous seasons of the show were taped over a six-week period in Las Vegas, then aired over 13 weeks on Spike TV. The new format will see cast members and coaches staying in Las Vegas for thirteen weeks, with the coaches conducting their training camps alongside the fighters.
The show will debut with a 2-hour live premiere that will see 16 elimination fights with fighters attempting to get into the house. After that, the production team will film in the house and the TUF gym from Saturday through Friday morning, leading into a live fight broadcast on FX.
No word on where the fights will take place. The show has historically been filmed at the TUF gym, but the live fights could take place in a location that allows fans to see the fights.
The show is also going interactive in a brand new way. Each week, the coaches will name several fighters who are eligible for the next week’s fight. Fans will then have the opportunity to vote on the pairings for each weekly fight via the web and text messaging.
Ultimate Fighter Finale events will air live on FX as well.
