UFC to induct Craig Piligian into the Hall of Fame
Craig Piligian is inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Variety only learned.
Piligian will be inducted into the Contributor Wing of the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. The induction ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas and be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Piligian has a relationship with the UFC that dates back two decades, when he was approached by Dana White and former UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta to help develop the unscripted series that would become the smash hit “The Ultimate Fighter.” Piligian is credited as co-creator of the show, along with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III, while Piligian’s Pilgrim Media Group produces. It debuted on January 17, 2005 on Spike TV, with the main event of the Season 1 finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar helping to put the UFC on the map.
“The Ultimate Fighter” now consists of 32 main seasons, 10 international seasons and almost 500 episodes. It has helped launch the careers of UFC greats like Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans, Tony Ferguson, Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas and Nate Diaz, among many others.
“Craig Piligian is one of the most influential and respected executives in the history of television,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “Craig was instrumental in shaping ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ into one of the sport’s premier unscripted television shows and helping to make UFC a global phenomenon. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”
Piligian began his career in television in TV news, working for the Las Vegas ABC affiliate KNVV. He then founded Pilgrim Films & Television (now Pilgrim Media Group) in 1997. Including “The Ultimate Fighter,” he has produced more than 140 projects, including being one of the original executive producers of “Survivor.” His other credits include ‘American Chopper’, ‘Dirty Jobs’, ‘Street Outlaws’, ‘Top Shot’ and ‘Ghost Hunters’.
Piligian was named president of Lionsgate Nonfiction Television, while still serving as CEO of Pilgrim Media Group. Most recently, he was named general manager of Lionsgate’s new alternative television division in January 2024. The new division combined Pilgrim Media Group with the unscripted brands eOne, Blackfin, Renegade and Daisybeck Studios.
