Northwest FightScene - The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Tryouts

The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Tryouts - April 6th, 2009

The Marriot Hotel - Seatac, Washington

Photos by Mike Renouard

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Season 10 Tryouts - STEP ONE: GRAPPLING

Each applicant matched up with a random fellow hopeful from their respective weight class (middleweights, light heavyweights, or heavyweights), and got two minutes of grappling time in front of UFC Matchmaker, Joe Silva, and a panel of Spike TV VIPs, including Craig Piligian and Brian Diamond. Of course, each applicant was also grappling in front of a multitude of their peers.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Season 10 Tryouts - STEP TWO: HITTIN' THE PADS

Those who made it past the Grappling Stage squared off with a pad holder in the large Marriot Hotel Banquet room, along with 7 or 8 other fighters doing the same, as Joe Silva walked through and watched every fighter hitting pads.

Some he watched longer than others. None more than 15 or 20 seconds.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Season 10 Tryouts - STEP THREE: THE INTERVIEW

No pictures from Media were allowed for this stage of the tryouts.

Beforehand, Joe Silva thanked everyone who took part and urged fighters who hadn't made it to keep on fighting and keep on trying to get in the UFC, stating that "This is the Golden Age of MMA". TUF Executive Producer Craig Piligian, gave the fighters who made it to this stage a pep talk of sorts, urging them to show their personality in the interview and not treat it like a job interview. It will be a matter of weeks before the world learns who has made the final cut. When the final cast for Season 10 is determined, filming should begin sometime in the Summer, with the show to be aired in the Fall of this year. Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, "The United States vs United Kingdom" is currently airing on Spike TV. Visit Spike.com or UFC.com for more info.