On December 13, 2011, during the pre-UFC 142 press conference, Dana White announced that the coaches for the first season of this version would be Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. The UFC held open tryouts on December 14, 2011. The casting call was for Lightweight and Middleweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights. Of those who applied for the tryouts the UFC invited 350 fighters to participate. The fighters in the season were from the Featherweight and Middleweight weight classes.

The UFC held open tryouts for the show in October 2011. The casting call was for Welterweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights. More than 300 contestants showed up, hoping to be one of the 28 fighters selected. On October 30, 2012, it was announced that the coaches for the season would be Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabrício Werdum.

On October 22, 2013, Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen were announced as coaches for the season. The UFC held open tryouts for the show on November 11, 2013. The casting call was for Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights. It was announced on January 7, 2014 that the show would feature middleweight and heavyweight fighters. The cast was revealed on February 26, 2014

On October 29, 2014, it was announced that the coaches for the season would be Anderson Silva and Maurício Rua. Despite being coaches on the show, they were not expected to face each other at the end of the season. After Silva tested positive for anabolic steroids in a pre-fight drug test for UFC 183, Dana White initially announced that Silva would remain on the show as a coach. Subsequently, Silva was pulled as one of the coaches and was replaced by Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.