UFC to Induct ‘Ultimate Fighter’ Co-Creator Craig Piligian into Hall of Fame (EXCLUSIVE)

Craig Piligian is set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, EbMaster has learned exclusively.

In the summer of 2025, Piligian will officially join the Contributors’ Wing of the Hall of Fame. This honorary event will unfold in Las Vegas and can be viewed live via UFC Fight Pass.

For over two decades, Piligian has been connected to the UFC, starting when Dana White and former UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta asked him to assist in creating the reality series that eventually became the hit “The Ultimate Fighter.” Piligian is recognized as a co-creator of this show alongside Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III, with his company, Pilgrim Media Group, taking on production duties. The series premiered on Spike TV on January 17, 2005, and the main event of the Season 1 finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar played a significant role in boosting the UFC’s popularity.

Over its impressive run spanning 32 main series, 10 international editions, and almost 500 episodes, “The Ultimate Fighter” has played a significant role in propelling the careers of numerous UFC legends such as Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans, Tony Ferguson, Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas, and Nate Diaz to name but a few.

Dana White, UFC President & CEO, praised Craig Piligian as one of the most impactful and esteemed executives in TV history. He played a crucial role in transforming ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ into a key unscripted sports show on television and significantly contributing to UFC’s global success. It will be a privilege to welcome him into the UFC Hall of Fame this coming summer.

As a passionate movie buff, I kicked off my journey in the world of entertainment right here on television, working tirelessly for the Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV in the realm of news. Fast forward a few years, and I established Pilgrim Films & Television (now known as Pilgrim Media Group) back in 1997. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of producing over 140 projects, with hits like “The Ultimate Fighter” gracing my resume. To name a few more, I was one of the founding executive producers on the groundbreaking series “Survivor,” and I’ve also been associated with iconic shows such as “American Chopper,” “Dirty Jobs,” “Street Outlaws,” “Top Shot,” and “Ghost Hunters.

In January 2024, Piligian was appointed managing director of Lionsgate’s newly established Alternative Television Division, a merger of the unscripted brands of Pilgrim Media Group, eOne, Blackfin, Renegade, and Daisybeck Studios. Simultaneously, he continued to serve as CEO of Pilgrim Media Group, and prior to that, he was named president of Lionsgate Nonfiction Television.

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2025-01-19 06:16