UFC planning Australia return for 2013 with another Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season

So nice, they have to do it twice.

The first Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season to be held exclusively in Australia, "The Smashes," a U.K. vs. Australia team competition season, is officially in the books after last night's (Fri., Dec. 14, 2012) UFC on FX 6: "Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson" event.

That show featured the crowning of the lightweight and welterweight winners, as Norman Parke and Robert Whittaker both earned six-figure contracts with the world's largest fight promotion. The coaches of this past season also fought, with Ross Pearson knocking out George Sotiropoulos in the third round of their 155-pound match-up.

After the show, UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik commented on plans for a return trip to "The Land Down Under," as well as yet another season of TUF (via MMA Weekly):

"We're looking at the same schedule as we had this year. We don't know if it will be 'The Smashes'; we're not sure if it will be country versus country. Those are some of the things we'll work out with the executives at FX. ... We've got one calendared basically a year from now. We're always looking and juggling our calendar; we could get another one. Obviously, we had two this year. We know the market can take four or six events, it's just a matter of trying to get them here, but definitely one and hopefully more than one."

Despite the fact that the UFC is planning to run upwards of 31 events next year, there's never enough Octagon to go around. Australia has proven to be a lucrative market for the promotion with a rabid base of fans who made UFC on FX 6 an enjoyable experience, lack of star power be damned.

Did you Maniacs who caught it enjoy the inaugural TUF season in Australia?

For complete results and coverage of UFC on FX 6 click here.