UFE’s Tier System
As the leading drug tested organization in North America, UFE has adopted a tier system in order to differentiate the different levels of competitors that exist based on physical and experiential achievements. There are 3 levels of competition in the UFE organization: Open, Elite and Professional.
Open Division
The Open division is open to competitors of all ages and all experience levels except for UFE PRO competitors (Elite division competitors ARE permitted to compete in an Open division). The Open division is a good place to start for first time competitors or those that are new to UFE. These events feature top notch stage production and prizes for our competitors. They are a great opportunity to set a goal to compete and be seen, as many top photographers will be scouting for talent to shoot and/or feature in industry magazines or ad campaigns for companies within the fitness industry. Top placing competitors will qualify to compete in the Elite division. There are also 2 special Open division events in which the overall winners in the categories of bodybuilding, fitness model (male and female), bikini and figure will become eligible UFE PRO’s! These events are UFE Spring Bash and UFE Halloween Mayhem.
The placings required for Elite status are the following:
Bodybuilding: top 2 from a weight-class division, top 1 from an age division
Figure: top 5 from Open division, top 3 from a Masters division
Fitness: top 3 from Open division, top 1 from Junior division
Fitness Model: top 10 females from Open division, top 5 females from Masters division, top 5 males from Open division
Bikini: top 10 from Open division, top 5 from Masters division
Women’s Physique: top 5 from Open division, top 3 from a Masters division
Shows featuring Open divisions:
UFE Spring Bash – Mississauga, ON** (also PRO qualifying event)
UFE Uprising – Buffalo, NY
UFE Chaos – Montreal, QC
UFE Fury – Chicago, IL
UFE Showdown – London, ON
UFE Havoc – Dearborn, MI
UFE Halloween Mayhem – Hamilton, ON** (also PRO qualifying event)
Elite Division
The Elite division is open to competitors who have qualified from a UFE event according to the criteria listed in the “Open Division” section or who have qualified from another organization based on the criteria listed below. UFE PRO competitors are also permitted to compete in the Elite division. Competitors are qualified for Elite division status for a 2 year period from the time in which they qualify. Should a competitor fail to re-qualify for Elite status in that 2 year period,
they will become an Open division competitor again. Elite competitors can re-qualify for Elite status by receiving a top placing at an Open UFE event again, through another organization based on the criteria set forth, or by achieving the following placings in an Elite competition:
Men’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Male Fitness Model, Women’s Physique – Top 5
Female Fitness Model, Bikini – Top 10
Currently, each UFE contest year consists of 2 Elite division competitions; 1 during the Spring Series (UFE Showdown) and 1 during the Fall Series (UFE North American Championships). Elite division competitors are also able to compete in the Open division at any event. The top 3 placing competitors in each category will become eligible for UFE PRO status* while the winner will also have their entry paid into the Professional Division competition should they accept PRO status with UFE. Due to the caliber that UFE has established in our Elite division, our competitors also receive many opportunities to forward their career through contacts that seek our competitors out and are there at the Elite events for our competitors to network with.
* eligible UFE PRO’s must sign the UFE Professional division contract in order to become UFE PRO’s
The following standings in other organizations will qualify a competitor to compete in UFE’s Elite division:
WBFF – Top 3 from all divisions (and any Pro)
NPC – Top 2 from all categories/divisions at a State or National level event
Provincial Organizations Under the CBBF – Top 2 from all categories/divisions at a Provincial or National level event
IDFA – Top 2 from all Open divisions (and any Pro)
NGA – Top 2 from all Open divisions (and any Pro)
MuscleMania/Fitness America – Top 2 from all divisions (and any Pro)
Fitness Star – All Pros
SAF – All Elite division competitors
FAME – All Pros
IFPA – All Pros
If you have met the criteria as part of any of these organizations, please specify your organization and your level or placing on your entry form. Please contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to qualify for the Elite division as part of an organization not listed here.
**NOTE:
Elite division competitors will NOT be split into height or weight classes since we are simply looking for the best of the best competitors in this division.
Shows featuring Elite divisions:
UFE Showdown – London, ON
UFE North American Championships – Hamilton, ON
PRO Division
UFE’s PRO division is the pinnacle of success within the realm of natural fitness competition. Our PRO competitors are of the highest caliber and the prizes awarded to our PROs are a reflection of this fact: $2500 in CASH, a 1 year sponsorship contract from our Title Sponsors, a portfolio photo shoot worth $1500 that will be marketed to magazines and supplement companies by the photographers and by UFE in addition to prizes as announced closer to the event. Our PROs will be a force in the industry, being heavily marketed by UFE to the many connections we have established in the industry and as UFE continues to grow, the opportunities that will be available to our competitors are endless. These opportunities will involve massive exposure and, in some cases, significant cash compensation. Our PRO competitors will be awarded the most impressive PRO cards in the industry, real silver cards! PRO signings will take place annually at the UFE North American Championships and will be covered by print, internet and television.
PRO status is achieved through a top 3 placing at an Elite division show in any category (or an overall placing at one of our specially designated Open shows) and becomes a permanent designation barring any failure to honor the terms of the contract that each PRO competitor will sign. UFE PRO competitors may also compete in the Elite division, but may not compete in the Open division.
**NOTE:
The PRO division is not further split into weight or height classes. Also, UFE reserves the right to feature only the PRO division categories that have a suitable amount of competition at any of our PRO events and the amount we consider suitable is at our sole discretion.
Shows featuring PRO divisions:
UFE North American Championships – Hamilton, ON
For a complete listing of UFE’s Professional Division competitors, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does UFE allow Elite competitors to compete in the Open division and PROs to compete in the Elite division?
UFE wants to give all of our competitors an amazing experience and as many opportunities as possible, however, it is important to maintain the high standards of our Elite and PRO divisions so that these designations remain in high distinction within the industry. By allowing Elite competitors to compete in Open events, it raises the caliber of the competition, making it harder to achieve an Elite designation and keeping the quality those qualifying for the Elite division at a high level. The same applies to PROs competing in the Elite division. Also, keep in mind, that on various occasions, it has been proven that competitors at a higher position in the tier system are beatable by competitors that are not as high in the tier system. Another reason is that we want to give Elite and PRO competitors several opportunities to compete with UFE each year as circumstances may not always allow them to compete on the specific dates that feature competition at their level.
Does UFE allow Pros from other organizations to compete in the Open division?
UFE’s Open division is open to everyone of all ages and all levels. The only competitors not allowed to compete in the Open division are the UFE PRO’s. It has been our experience that many organizations do not have rigorous standards in order to achieve Pro status as evidenced by many of them failing to achieve top placings at our shows. Because there is no strict control on Pro competitors within some other organizations, their status would not necessarily qualify them to be PROs with UFE and hence, they would be allowed to compete in the Open division.
Can I compete with other organizations once I am a UFE PRO?
The UFE Professional division is specifically for competitors who would like to brand themselves as UFE athletes, take advantage of our ability to market our athletes within the organization and to the industry as a whole. These athletes will have the privilege of competing for the biggest prizes in the entire world of natural fitness on the most electrifying stage ever seen at a natural fitness event, they will have the opportunity to take advantage of other paid opportunities including judging and guest appearances. Furthermore, these athletes will have the chance to participate in special events and take part in other exciting initiatives that UFE is and will continue to work on. Based on the special investments we make in these athletes and to protect the integrity of the Professional division in general, we do not allow our Professional competitors to compete outside of UFE.
