The full 32-man roster has officially been released for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter - United States vs. United Kingdom, which premieres on Spike on April 1st at 10 p.m., immediately after Ultimate Fight Night 18. The competition will feature eight lightweight fighters and eight welterweight fighters. The major change this season is the United States vs. United Kingdom format. A team of eight American fighters coached by Dan Henderson will face a team of eight British fighters coached by Michael Bisping for the chance to be crowned The Ultimate Fighter in each weight class.

As in previous seasons, the first two episodes will consist of the 32 selected fighters competing in head-to-head matches to determine the 16 regular cast members. The in-house drama is set to begin in the third episode, but the Day 1 fights to earn a spot in the house will begin in the first few minutes of the season premiere. The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale will take place at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 20, 2009. Then three weeks later, the two head coaches of TUF 9, Henderson and Bisping will fight each other at UFC 100 on July 11th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Welterweight:

Ryan Biglar
Fighting out of: Las Vegas, Nevada
MMA record: 8-1
Weight: 170
Height: 6'1
Age: 24

A member of team Cobra Kai in Las Vegas, Biglar is a 24-year-old jiu-jitsu artist originally from Guam.

Ray Elbe
Fighting out of: Phoenix, Arizona
MMA record: 20-11
Weight: 170
Height: 6'1
Age: 25

Born and raised in Arizona, the 25-year-old Elbe has spent parts of the last three years perfecting his Muay Thai skills in Phuket, Thailand.

Christian Fulgium
Fighting out of: Lafayette, Louisiana
MMA record: 6-2-1
Weight: 170
Height: 5'11
Age: 26

Fighting out of the Gladiator camp in Lafayette, Louisiana, Fulgium is a wrestler with a combined 6-2-1 mixed martial arts record.

DaMarques Johnson
Fighting out of: Salt Lake City, Utah
MMA record: 13-6
Weight: 170
Height: 6'1
Age: 26

Johnson, a member of Elite Performance in Utah, began training in mixed martial arts in 2001 while serving in the military. He has since amassed a 13-6 mixed martial arts record.

Kevin Knabjian
Fighting out of: Chicago, Illinois
MMA record: 10-3-1
Weight: 170
Height: 5'10
Age: 24

Born and raised in Chicago, Kevin wrestled at Division 1 Eastern Illinois University and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Knabjian trains out of Gilbert Grappling in Chicago.

Mark Miller
Fighting out of: Chicago, Illinois
MMA record: 10-4
Weight: 170
Height: 5'10
Age: 29

A 5'10 welterweight Muay Thai artist, Miller trains out of Dino Costeas and Torro Muay Thai in Chicago.

Jason Pierce
Fighting out of: Bettendorf, Iowa
MMA record: 9-0
Weight: 170
Height: 6'0
Age: 31

A former soccer standout at the University of Springfield, Pierce trains with Bettendorf's Miletich Fighting Systems camp.

Kiel Reid
Fighting out of: Bettendorf, Iowa
MMA record: 8-1
Weight: 170
Height: 6'0
Age: 27

Reid (8-1), born and raised in Bettendorf, Iowa, returned to the area in 2005 to take up mixed martial arts full-time with the Miletich Fighting Systems camp.