5 Ultimate Fighter champions you probably forgot about

#3 Colton Smith (Season 16)

Colton Smith struggled in the UFC after winning TUF 16

Season 16 of TUF wasn’t too well-received even when it first aired back in 2012, so it’s hardly surprising that fans have largely forgotten the eventual winner, Colton Smith. Smith actually had a fascinating background, interestingly enough; a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, Smith completed two tours of Iraq during his time in the military.

Unfortunately though, inside the Octagon he didn’t quite share the exciting fighting style used by fellow military and UFC veterans Brian Stann and Tim Kennedy. A wrestler by trade, Smith used his powerful takedowns to ground his opponents, and largely looked to grind them out from there.

The tactic served him well during his time on TUF, as he defeated Jesse Barrett, Eddy Ellis, Igor Araujo and Jon Manley to advance to the final – although he was unable to finish any of his fights before the final buzzer. The final went largely the same way, as he outgrappled Canadian prospect Mike Ricci to take a unanimous decision.

Smith’s post-TUF career didn’t go so well, though. Faced with fighters who were far more well-rounded than he was – Robert Whittaker, Michael Chiesa and Diego Ferreira – Smith lost three fights in a row, one by knockout and two by submission.

Those losses signalled the end of his time in the UFC and although he’s gone 4-1 since, he has yet to return to the world’s biggest promotion. Due to his short tenure with the UFC and his victory in one of the lowest-rated TUF seasons, Smith has largely become forgotten in the years since.