With just two fights remaining in the quarterfinals, one in each weight class, the final matchups are set and this week light heavyweights Krzysztof Soszynski and Kyle Kingsbury clash for the remaining spot in the semis.

Earlier in the season Soszynski injured his hand in training, and though the hand isn’t yet fully recovered the 205-pounder does his best to overcome the injury, attempting to train as normal while also receiving treatment for the injury.

The 155-pound tournament resumes this week as two of the remaining four lightweights clash to secure a spot in the semis.

Team Nogueira has been pilaging Tom Lawlor’s fruit trays while Team Mir has been eating Phillipe Nover’s sushi. Each squad devises a plan to punish the other with Team Mir peeing in the fruit tray and Team Nogueira depositing some sperm onto the sushi. In one of the grosser moments ever broadcast both teams, as anticipated, proceed to down the tainted food.

At fight selection Team Mir chooses Dave Kaplan to face Phillipe Nover in this week’s lightweight contest.

In a recent interview with The Sun, UFC President Dana White offered sharp criticism of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, which is slated to feature a United States vs. United Kingdom format.

“I said from day one I hate the UK v USA idea. It’s dumb, I don’t like it — it’s not USA v the UK, we’re looking for the best fighter in the world. We put on a card one time, the USA v Canada, it was f***ing retarded.

Recent casting calls for The Ultimate Fighter 9, which will feature lightweights and welterweights, in London and Chicago netted a record number of participants despite more strict guidelines.

UK star Michael Bisping is slated to coach the UK squad while the US is likely to be coached by Dan Henderson. The coaches are then likely to square off in a featured middleweight bout in mid-2009.

This week’s installment of “The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir” starts off with discussion on Junie Browning’s underwhelming win on last weeks episode over Roli Delgado. Though Browning walked away with a controversial split decision victory much of the praise is for Delgado’s surprising showing while Browning is criticized for his lackluster performance.

With Browning’s victory the teams are even at two wins apiece, but Team Mir now holds the upper hand as it retains the selection of the next light heavyweight matchup.

Continue reading to find out who advances in the 205-pound tournament and what’s on tap for next week…

In a recent interview former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin dispelled rumors that he had been tapped as a possible coach for season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter: US vs. UK. Franklin made it pretty clear that he had no desire to serve as a TUF coach yet again, but would always consider it for the all mighty dollar.

“There’s been rumors and supposedly news that I’m going to be the coach of the next season (of TUF) with a victory over Dan (Henderson), but the UFC hasn’t actually approached me about that or not. I know that they spoke to Dan several months ago about him being a coach, and that was probably well before this fight was planned. But as for me, they haven’t talked to me about it. I actually tried putting a phone call in to Dana himself to ask him about it, and he hasn’t gotten back to me yet. So, I can’t confirm or deny that rumor at this point … I never say never, but it’s not really something that I’m particularly interested in doing again. But with the right incentive, anything can look appealing.”

During the post-UFC 90 press conference UFC President Dana White offered Kimbo Slice a spot on an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series, but cast doubt that Slice, who recently suffered the first loss of his career to TUF veteran Seth Petruzelli, would emerge victorious from the heavyweight tournament.

“He can be on The Ultimate Fighter. What’s he done other than get 10 million hits on YouTube? What’s he done to deserve to be in the UFC? Nothing,” said White. “I don’t consider him a real athlete. He won’t win The Ultimate Fighter. The offer’s out there if he wants to take it, (but) he won’t win it.”

This week on “The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir” Junie Browning will look to back up his talk, squaring off with a fellow lightweight Roli Delgado for a spot in the 155-pound tournament semis.

Both fighters are confident they’ll come out victorious, while Team Mir is energized by their first win of the season and is looking to keep the momentum going.

Episode 5 of “The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir” immediately picks up where last week’s left off as lightweight Junie Browning jumps over the fence and into the octagon to confront Efrain Escudero following his victory over Shane Nelson.

Also, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva stops by to train with Team Nogueira and two light heavyweights clash with a spot in the semis on the line.

CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED
Last week on The Ultimate Fighter 8 “Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir” Ryan Bader became the first light heavyweight to advance to the 205-pound tournament semifinals, defeating Tom Lawlor via first-round knockout.
We open up this week’s episode with the fighters sitting around the house watching UFC 84, which featured UFC lightweight champion BJ [...]

During last night’s Spike TV broadcast of UFC Fight Night 15 UFC announcer Mike Goldberg revealed that the UFC has begun its search for fighters for the ninth installment of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.
The Ultimate Fighter 9 will feature welterweights (170 pounds) and middleweights (185 pounds) in a United States versus United Kingdom format.
Auditions [...]