Spike TV brings back Kimbo Slice to counter-program “The Ultimate Fighter Live” debut on FX

It’s no coincidence that UFC and TUF 10 veteran Kimbo Slice will host the premiere of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter Fridays” on March 9 at the very same time the UFC debuts with “The Ultimate Fighter Live” on FX.

It’s called counter-programming and that is how you play ball in the television world; especially when you have six years and 14 seasons worth of TUF programming in your archives.

The new season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX is a huge deal for the UFC. It is a whole new format where all the fights will be live and the debut episode on March 9 is slated for 16 LIVE elimination fights to see who makes it in the house.

What better way could Spike TV try and spoil the party than bring back on the biggest TUF star in history, Kimbo Slice? Kimbo could not cut it in the Octagon, but he might at least be able to knockout a few potential FX viewers.

According to Spike TV, Kimbo will discuss behind-the-scenes details about his time as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights (season 10). TUF 10 was the highest-rated of all 14 seasons on Spike with an average of 3.4 million viewers per week.

Although the UFC has officially moved their programming from Spike TV to the FOX Sports Media Group family of networks (FOX, Fuel TV, FX), Spike TV still has the right to air UFC archival footage throughout 2012.

Earlier this month when the UFC held their first live event on Fuel TV with Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger in the main event, Spike TV counter-programmed with a Diego Sanchez marathon.

Beginning Friday, March 9, “The Ultimate Fighter Fridays” will air from 9:00 p.m. – Midnight ET/PT on Spike TV and feature select episodes from the past 14 seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Spike TV is also asking for input from fans on Facebook and Twitter to share what episodes they would like to see.