The next generation of UFC stars are produced in an intense elimination tournament that separates the contenders from the pretenders.

UFC Fight Night 21: Florian vs. Gomi was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 31, 2010 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, This was the third time the UFC held an event in Charlotte, but the first since UFC 5.

UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on November 14, 2009 in Manchester, England at the Manchester Evening News Arena. This event aired on the same day, via tape delay, on Spike in the U.S.

UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 2, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 20, 2009. Featured were finals from The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom in both the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions as well as a main event between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida.

UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 13, 2010 at König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. Vitor Belfort was set to face Yushin Okami in the main event, with the winner receiving a middleweight title shot. However, on September 21, 2010, Belfort withdrew from the fight to face Anderson Silva. Nate Marquardt ended up fighting Yushin Okami in the main event, which would still determine the next #1 contender.

UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 28, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.