Former Defensive Tackle Matt Mitrione ('01) will debut his fighting skills as part of the cast of The Ultimate Fighter Season 10: Heavyweights. The Ultimate Fighter is UFC's reality TV show pitting up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters against each other to win the ultimate prize - being declared the "Ultimate Fighter" and earning a six-figure contract and a cash prize from the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter Season 10: Heavyweights begins September 16, 2009 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV.

Mitrione played for the Boilermakers from 1997-2001 prior to his stint as an NFL player with both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants. During his professional career, Mitrione suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury but after intense multiple surgeries and intense rehab, Mitrione made the active roster for the Minnesota Vikings before finishing his NFL career.

To read more about the cast of The Ultimate Fighter Season 10: Heavyweights, click here.

Already in the UFC, former Purdue Wrestler Jon Fitch (’02) was the "unofficial" main event at the UFC 100 in Las Vegas, NV July 10-11 as he took down Paulo Thiago on Saturday night in the last fight of the night. Jon has been a professional MMA fighter since 2002 and holds a 23-3-0, 1 NC record.  To learn more about Fitch's fighting journey since graduating from Purdue, click here.