The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion (8 May 1997)

Monica begs Pete to stop fighting after he is beaten up. Chandler is unnerved when his boss slaps his butt. Ross starts dating a new woman.

Director:

Robby Benson

Writers:

David Crane (creator), Marta Kauffman (creator),

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Rachel Green
Courteney Cox	...	Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow	...	Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc	...	Joey Tribbiani (as Matt Le Blanc)
Matthew Perry	...	Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer	...	Dr. Ross Geller
Jon Favreau	...	Pete Becker
James Hong	...	Hoshi
Christine Taylor	...	Bonnie
Sam McMurray	...	Doug (as Sam MacMurray)
Steve Park	...	Phil
Joe O'Connor	...	Stevens
'Big' John McCarthy	...	Referee (as John McCarthy)
Bruce Buffer	...	Announcer

Storyline

Chandler is greatly appreciated by his boisterous boss Doug, but finds it unsettling to receive the highest praise in the form of systematical swatting of his posterior, to the point of its pain and his colleagues' envy... Millionaire Pete chose as his new challenge after business to 'conquer' the brutal martial art of Ultimate Fighting, but despite an expensive entourage his confidence is so obviously and utterly misplaced that Monica can't watch his physical pain and public humiliation, even makes a breaking point of his persistence... Rachel gave her blessing to Phoebe presenting Ross with her friend Bonnie as date, without realizing she's no longer eerily bold, in fact quite to Ross's taste...

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Plot Keywords:

public humiliation | ultimate fighting | male bonding | mixed martial arts | slapping | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

8 May 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Dijon Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Billy Crystal and Robin Williams's appearance wasn't in the original script. They were by coincidence in the same building, or the one across the street from where "Friends" was being filmed, and the writers asked if they wanted to make a guest appearance. This was the day of shooting so it was just quickly thrown in.

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Goofs

Before the friends attend Pete's UFC match, an exterior shot of the venue is shown. However, the venue depicted is the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which is in Minneapolis, not New York City.

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Quotes

Pete: It's okay, it's not as bad as it looks. It's a precaution. I'm not supposed to move my spine.
Monica Geller: Please tell me you're stopping now.
Pete: I'm fine! I'd fight tonight if they'd let me. See this circle I'm marking off here? This is my zone of terror.

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Connections

References Fame (1980)

User Reviews

The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion

The best part of this episode is the butt slapping story of Chandler and his new boss. It is absolutely hilarious especially when other guys are jealous of it. And also when Chandler checks if it is normal by slapping Ross's butt. And also when at the end everyone is leaving the meeting room and gets a slap from their boss

I am kind of sad that Monica separated from Pete. This character could have been great for more story lines. And the break up doesn't make much sense to me too. If Monica cared so much about him she would have stayed on his side. I guess the actor just couldn't do more on the show, that would explain it

And the story with Rachel is the one most can connect to. Even though she doesn't want to be with Ross and wants him to be happy, it upsets her that he is happy so soon. Great point to make in a sitcom