Reality TV is definitely not beneath me. Just ask my wife. I love MTV's The Hills and My Super Sweet 16, and Fox's American Idol to name a few.

Of course, I love MMA as well. So, that's why I am happy to say that after watching The Ultimate Fighter season 5 premiere episode Thursday on Spike TV, I am very excited about the new season. It looks like TUF 5 will give me the best of both worlds -- reality TV drama and MMA action.

I will be the first to admit that I didn't really watch TUF season 4 last summer, and based on the ratings many MMA fans could say the same. After a fantastic TUF 3 featuring rival coaches Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz and some good talent, I was burnt out on TUF. And TUF 4 didn't really interest me -- the premise or the coaches.

But, TUF 5 is a whole different story. Based on the first episode and their interview with Joe Rogan at UFC Fight Night 9 Thursday, the two coaches -- BJ Penn and Jens Pulver -- despise each other. Penn and Pulver already have history coming into this show -- Pulver defeated Penn in UFC 35 to win the UFC lightweight title -- and they will be fighting again at the end of the season at The Ultimate Fighter Finale. Both snipped at each other in episode one, doing as much as they could to disrespect the other.

As for the fighters, all sixteen fight in the lightweight division. Based on episode one there will be no shortage of drama for these guys, who will be shacked up in the same house for six weeks with no outside contact. The very tall Corey Hill (Team Pulver) stands out as someone to follow and has already made a name for himself with his trash-talking. Gabe Ruediger (Team Penn) struggled to cut weight in episode one -- he needed to cut 20 pounds to fight at 155 pounds -- and was fortunate to not have to fight in the first elimination match. Other fighters on the show include two belonging to familiar MMA families -- Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon.

As for the episode one elimination match, the fight was between Cole Miller (Team Pulver) and Allen Berube (Team Penn). I'm not sure how the inexperienced Berube made the show (could he be TUF 5's Sanjaya Malakar?) but he was easily disposed of by the brash and talented Miller via triangle choke in the first round.

With all this action in episode one, I'll be back for episode two this Thursday at 10 p.m. on Spike TV.  I have a very good feeling about this season.