MMA Fighters You Didn’t Realize Have Been on Reality TV Shows

MMA fighters on reality TV have found themselves navigating awkward dates, forming unlikely alliances, and competing for six-figure prizes.

Some, like Miesha Tate and Luke Rockhold, arrived with established fighting careers. Others, including Matt Schnell, gave viewers an early look at their journey before reaching MMA’s biggest stages.

Whether they were winning big, making cameos, or getting caught up in the drama, these fighters found themselves facing a different kind of challenge.

Michael Dakessian – FBoy Island

Michael Dakessian was featured on Season 1 of HBO Max’s reality dating series FBoy Island. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and social media personality appeared in the show’s first three episodes before being eliminated. Though his time was short-lived, Dakessian brought his mix of humor, intensity, and East Coast energy to the island.

Before stepping onto the island, Dakessian competed on the regional MMA circuit. He compiled a 4–2 amateur record through his 2021 appearance at CFFC 98. There, he dropped a decision to Jonathan Di Lorenzo shortly before the show’s premiere.

Beyond his television appearance, Dakessian has built his presence in martial arts through Dak BJJ and his social media accounts under the handle @dakjitsu. His content combines grappling instruction with the humor that made him a natural fit for reality television.

Josh Demas – Love Is Blind

Before making headlines on Season 4 of Love Is Blind in 2023, Josh Demas was a standout collegiate wrestler at Ohio State University and a four-time state placewinner in high school. He later transitioned into no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and amateur MMA, bringing the same competitive edge to each discipline.

Demas compiled a 2–1 amateur MMA record through his 2017 appearance at Gladius Fights 29, where he suffered his first loss. He also competed in grappling matches featured on FloGrappling. Viewers of the Netflix series quickly noticed his cauliflower ears, a visible sign of his combat sports experience.

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On Love Is Blind, Josh initially connected with Jackie Bonds in the pods. Although she accepted a proposal from Marshall Glaze, Josh re-entered the picture after their split and began dating Jackie. The two were together publicly for over a year before eventually going their separate ways.

Throughout the season and its aftermath, his involvement in the relationship drama led many viewers to regard him as one of the season’s villains.

Biniyam Shibre – 90 Day Fiancé

Biniyam Shibre is best known for his time on the reality television franchise 90 Day Fiancé. He made his debut on Season 2 of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, where viewers followed his relationship with Ariela Weinberg. The two met while Ariela was traveling in Ethiopia, and their romance led to the birth of their son, Aviel, in December 2019.

Their story continued on Season 9 of 90 Day Fiancé, which followed Biniyam’s move to the United States on a K-1 visa and their eventual marriage. Despite their efforts to make the relationship work, they faced ongoing challenges and appeared on Season 2 of 90 Day: The Last Resort to try to salvage their marriage through therapy. They ultimately chose to separate.

Biniyam’s background also includes work as a personal trainer and entertainer. His athletic ambitions became part of his reality TV storyline, introducing viewers to his interest in pursuing MMA.

Inside the cage, Biniyam won his first four amateur fights, all by finish. He trained in martial arts from childhood and spoke about his dream of competing in the UFC. His victories included a first-round knockout of Joshua Simpson at 559 Fights 93 in 2022.

Janay Harding – The Traitors New Zealand

Janay Harding appeared as a contestant on Season 2 of The Traitors New Zealand. With a fierce competitive spirit, Harding wasn’t afraid to get involved in the game. Unfortunately, her willingness to play hard did not translate into a long stay. She became the season’s first contestant to be “murdered.”

Harding admitted she had hoped to be chosen as a Traitor, which would have allowed her to embrace the deception at the center of the competition. Instead, she entered as a Faithful and was eliminated before she could put much of her strategy into action.

Even with her short stay, Harding formed connections with other contestants and identified people she hoped to work alongside. Her early departure cut those plans short.

Outside of reality television, Harding built a professional MMA career that included appearances in Bellator’s featherweight division. Her fighting experience made her an intriguing addition to a competition where being perceived as a threat could get her eliminated without a vote.

Matt Schnell – Caged

Before becoming a UFC flyweight, Matt Schnell made his first splash in MMA on the MTV reality series Caged. Premiering in 2012, the show followed a group of young amateur fighters from small-town Louisiana as they chased their dreams of going pro while juggling everyday life.

“Danger” stood out on the show for both his skill and charisma. His time on Caged introduced him to UFC veteran Tito Ortiz, who played a role in helping him get signed with Legacy Fighting Championship.

The exposure helped Schnell grow as both a fighter and a personality in front of the camera. He later joined The Ultimate Fighter 24, which led to an opportunity to compete in the UFC’s flyweight division.

Although Caged drew mixed reviews from fans, it served as a valuable launchpad for Schnell. It offered a rare look into the grind of young fighters trying to break through, with his eventual UFC career giving viewers a reason to revisit where his story began.

Jeremiah Riggs – Daisy of Love

Jeremiah Riggs was a contestant on the VH1 reality show Daisy of Love, where he was one of 20 men competing for the affection of Daisy De La Hoya, the runner-up from Rock of Love Season 2.

Known as “Big Rig” on the show, Riggs made it to fifth place. One of his most memorable moments came during a producer-arranged fight with fellow contestant “12 Pack,” which left his opponent with a broken nose.

In addition to Daisy of Love, Riggs appeared on The Ultimate Fighter and WWE’s Tough Enough. Those appearances put him in three very different competitions, from pursuing a relationship to trying to establish himself in MMA and professional wrestling.

His MMA career included a run with Bellator that ended in 2013. He later returned to combat sports through BKFC, making his promotional debut in 2022 and competing at events including KnuckleMania 4 in 2024.

Ricco Rodriguez – Celebrity Rehab

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez appeared on the first season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008, opening up about his struggles with substance abuse. At the time, his use of cocaine, marijuana, and benzodiazepines such as Valium had taken a toll on both his personal life and fighting career.

His appearance on the VH1 reality series came during a difficult period after reaching the top of the sport. Rodriguez had won the UFC heavyweight championship by defeating Randy Couture, but the show introduced viewers to the personal problems behind the former champion’s public image.

Rodriguez entered treatment hoping to address his addiction and work toward regaining custody of his son. Those family stakes gave his appearance a more personal focus, as viewers watched him confront how his behavior had affected the people closest to him.

While Celebrity Rehab drew criticism for turning addiction treatment into television, Rodriguez’s participation documented his attempt to seek help. It showed a vulnerable side of a fighter whose struggles extended well beyond his results in the cage.

Michael Chandler – Total Bellas

Michael Chandler made a brief appearance on Season 1 of Total Bellas. The reality series, which premiered in October 2016, followed Nikki and Brie Bella and their family as they balanced life inside and outside WWE.

In the season finale, titled “Wedding Mania,” Chandler joined coach Neil Melanson for a grappling session with Brie. The training focused on helping her sharpen the “Yes Lock” submission ahead of her planned farewell match at WrestleMania 32.

Nikki also appeared during the visit, making the session an unexpected crossover between the Bella Twins and one of Bellator’s most recognizable fighters.

For fans who discovered Chandler through his UFC career, the cameo offers a glimpse of his television appearances before he joined the promotion.

Chael Sonnen – The New Celebrity Apprentice

Chael Sonnen appeared as a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Known for his creative thinking and willingness to push boundaries, he brought both qualities to the competition.

During one challenge, Sonnen deliberately cut a computer cable to create a technical problem, hoping to gain extra time for his team’s presentation. The tactic backfired when it came to Schwarzenegger’s attention, and Sonnen was terminated from the show.

This wasn’t Sonnen’s first experience with reality television. He previously coached opposite Jon Jones on The Ultimate Fighter and later took on coaching roles against Wanderlei Silva and Daniel Cormier.

Over his MMA career, Sonnen challenged for the UFC middleweight championship twice and the light heavyweight championship once. His wrestling, conditioning, and sharp trash talk made him a prominent figure in the sport, with notable wins over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Michael Bisping.

Though he never captured a UFC championship, Sonnen carried his ability to command attention into broadcasting and reality television. His attempt to bend the rules on The New Celebrity Apprentice fit comfortably into that public persona.

Tim Sylvia – Blind Date

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia appeared on the reality show Blind Date during a special “UFC Fighter Week” in November 2004. He took part at the UFC’s request as part of an effort to raise public awareness of MMA.

Sylvia later shared that the fighters were not paid much for their appearances. He estimated receiving around $800 from the show, along with a per diem from the UFC.

According to Sylvia, producers deliberately paired him with someone who was the complete opposite of his ideal partner. That approach fit the show’s reputation for creating humorous and awkward dating scenarios through its matchups and editing.

Want to watch Sylvia’s appearance? Find it on our Patreon.

Luke Rockhold – The Millionaire Matchmaker

Luke Rockhold appeared on an episode of The Millionaire Matchmaker that aired on January 22, 2015. During the episode, he went on a date with a woman named Cara, but an inappropriate question led to a confrontation with matchmaker Patti Stanger.

Rockhold later disputed the way his appearance was presented. He said the question was scripted and argued that the editing made the exchange look worse than intended. He also claimed to have hooked up with one of the show’s co-hosts.

The appearance drew criticism from viewers, but his fighting career provided a very different headline later that year. In December 2015, Rockhold defeated Chris Weidman to capture the UFC middleweight championship.

His career beyond the UFC also took him into other forms of combat sports, including bare-knuckle fighting, Karate Combat, and boxing. His dating-show appearance remains one of the more unexpected detours on that résumé.

Bully Beatdown

Bully Beatdown was an MTV reality show hosted by Jason “Mayhem” Miller. Its premise involved people bringing their bullies onto the show, where they would face professional MMA fighters in separate grappling and striking rounds.

Prize money was at stake for both sides. How the bullies performed determined how much they could keep and how much would go to the people they had targeted.

The show featured several fighters who became major names in MMA, including:

• Eddie Alvarez: The UFC and Bellator lightweight champion appeared in multiple episodes, facing bullies ranging from a high school aggressor to a “Bronx gym rat.”
• Bobby Green: Green faced a bully who called himself “The King.” His opponent forfeited after the grappling round, awarding the prize money to the victims.
• Tyron Woodley: Before becoming UFC welterweight champion, Woodley dominated an opponent named Kevin in both the grappling and striking rounds.
• Daniel Cormier: The future two-division UFC champion faced a high school wrestler named Tyler. Years later, Cormier reconnected with Tyler, who credited the experience with helping him turn his life around.
• Andrei Arlovski: The former UFC heavyweight champion brought his experience to the show as another established fighter tasked with putting a bully through the challenge.
• Jake Shields: The Strikeforce welterweight champion and UFC title challenger also appeared, adding another accomplished grappler to the lineup.

Other notable fighters featured on the show included Daron Cruickshank, Michelle Waterson, Jeremy Horn, and Thomas Denny.

While viewers questioned the authenticity of Bully Beatdown, its cast gave MMA fans plenty of reasons to watch. Looking back, part of the appeal is seeing established champions alongside fighters who had yet to reach the biggest moments of their careers.

Shane Dougherty – Got To Get Out

Shane Dougherty brought a background in amateur MMA and late-night DJing to Hulu’s competition series Got to Get Out. Before his reality TV appearance, the Massachusetts fighter had compiled a 5–0 amateur record on the regional circuit.

Dougherty was one of the reality rookies competing alongside more experienced television personalities. Hosted by Simu Liu, the series challenged contestants to win or steal a share of a prize that could grow to $1 million.

He was among the 16 players who remained in the house until the end and split the final pot of $687,940, taking home approximately $42,996.

His fighting background included a quick submission victory at Cage Titans 49 in 2021, where he finished his opponent in under a minute. On Got to Get Out, he had to apply his competitive instincts to a game built around patience, trust, and deciding when to make a move.

Miesha Tate – Celebrity Big Brother

Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate won the third season of Celebrity Big Brother in 2022. Throughout the show, Tate displayed a fierce competitive spirit and formed a strong alliance with Todrick Hall.

She was one of three athletes competing that season, alongside former NBA player Lamar Odom and Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu. Her success in the house required balancing the physical competitions with the relationships and alliances that shaped the game.

Tate secured a decisive 7–1 vote to win, defeating Hall in the finale and taking home the $250,000 grand prize. She expressed surprise at the overwhelming support she received from the jury.

This wasn’t Tate’s first reality TV experience. She previously appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, serving as a coach opposite Ronda Rousey. However, Celebrity Big Brother presented a different mental challenge, requiring her to navigate a competition where athletic ability alone couldn’t guarantee the win.