The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion

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Friends season three September 1996 - May 1997 List of Friends episodes
Episodes: The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy The One Where No One's Ready The One with the Jam The One With the Metaphorical Tunnel The One with Frank, Jr. The One with the Flashback The One with the Race Car Bed The One with the Giant Poking Device The One with the Football The One Where Rachel Quits The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister The One with All the Jealousy The One Where Monica and Richard Are Just Friends The One with Phoebe's Ex-partner The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break The One the Morning After The One Without the Ski Trip The One with the Hypnosis Tape The One with the Tiny T-Shirt The One with the Dollhouse The One with a Chick. And a Duck. The One with the Screamer The One with Ross's Thing The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion The One at the Beach

"The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion" is the twenty-fourth episode of season three of the television situation comedy Friends.

First aired: May 8, 1997

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Plot

The episode begins with the gang gathered at Central Perk, listening to Monica tell a story. They're interrupted by two men, Tim and Thomas. Thomas can't understand why his wife left him; Tim confesses it's because he slept with Thomas's wife. Tim and Thomas argue, then leave.

Monica reveals that Pete didn't ask her to marry him - instead, he'll be competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The gang, having gotten to know Pete, is less than excited.

Chandler has a new boss at work, Doug. Doug has a weird habit of slapping people on the buttocks - especially Chandler. He asks for advice on how to handle the situation; Ross suggests not turning his back to Doug. He finally tells Doug that the slapping makes him uncomfortable. Doug responds by smacking everyone else's butt - making Chandler feel somewhat left out. Later, he slaps Chandler's buttocks and Chandler is only too happy about it.

Phoebe asks Rachel if she can set Ross up with her friend Bonnie. Rachel remembers Bonnie as the friend who shaves her head, so she's more than happy to let Phoebe play matchmaker. She's dismayed to learn that Bonnie now has a full head of hair. Ross and Bonnie hit it off, which upsets Rachel - she thinks he should have waited longer to move on.

Ross and Monica go to see Pete compete in the UFC. Trouble is, Pete isn't any good and gets beaten. Pete's trainer, Hoshi, thinks Monica is a distraction and bars her from coming to Pete's matches. That doesn't work either, as Pete keeps getting beaten up. Monica, tired of watching Pete get knocked around, delivers an ultimatum: If he wants to stay with her, he'll have to give up the fighting. Since Pete says he's succeeded at everything he's done up until now, he can't give up the fighting, despite that he is obviously a horrible fighter who can't even land a single hit, so the two part ways.

In the credits they watch the delusional Pete fight his latest opponent. A particularly violent attack causes Ross to observe: "Richard didn't wanna have kids, and now Pete can't."

[edit] Trivia

Phoebe fixes Ross up with her friend Bonnie, who shaves her head. In episode 14 of the first season, "The One With The Candy Hearts", she referred to her friend Abby who shaved her head.