UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 15)*

                     BALLY TOTAL FITNESS HOLDING CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    05873K108
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                 MR. JOSEPH R. THORNTON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
                         PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.
                           1001 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                                   SUITE 1100
                               NEW YORK, NY 10018
                                 (212) 719-7550

                     (Name, Address and Telephone Number of
                      Person Authorized to Receive Notices
                               and Communications)

                                 with a copy to

                             JEFFREY D. MARELL, ESQ.
                              CARL L. REISNER, ESQ.
                  PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP
                           1285 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                          NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-6064

                                JANUARY 17, 2006
                     (Date of Event which Requires Filing of
                                 this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject to this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
[ ].

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes.)





CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                                PAGE 2 OF 15

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus European Special Opportunities Master Fund L.P.

2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ ]       Not
         (b)  [x]       Applicable

3        SEC USE ONLY

4        SOURCE OF FUNDS
         WC

5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)
                        Not Applicable

6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         United States




                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    5,500,000*
                 NUMBER OF
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        0
                  OWNED BY
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          5,500,000*
                   PERSON
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    0


11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         5,500,000*

12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         [ ]  Not Applicable

13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         14.4%*

14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
         PN

* Pardus European Special Opportunities Master Fund L.P., a limited partnership
formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the "Fund"), is the beneficial
owner of 5,500,000 shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares"), of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"). Pardus Capital Management L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("PCM"), serves as the investment manager of the Fund and possesses sole power
to vote and direct the disposition of all Shares held by the Fund. Pardus
Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("PCM LLC"), as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC, may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund; however,
PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund. Based on information provided by the Company, as of December 20, 2005
there were 38,285,905 shares of the Company's common stock issued and
outstanding. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, the Fund and PCM
are deemed to beneficially own, and PCM LLC and Mr. Karim Samii may be deemed to
beneficially own, 5,500,000 Shares, or approximately 14.4% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.




CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                                PAGE 3 OF 15

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus Capital Management L.P. (34-2037131)

2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a)  [ ]       Not
         (b)  [x]       Applicable

3        SEC USE ONLY

4        SOURCE OF FUNDS
         WC

5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)
         [ ] Not Applicable

6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         United States




                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    5,500,000*
                 NUMBER OF
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        0
                  OWNED BY
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          5,500,000*
                   PERSON
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    0


11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         5,500,000*

12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         [ ]  Not Applicable

13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         14.4%*

14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
         IA

* The Fund is the beneficial owner of 5,500,000 Shares of the Company. PCM
serves as the investment manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the disposition of all Shares held by the Fund. PCM LLC, as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund; however,
PCM LLC, and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund. Based on information provided by the Company, as of December 20, 2005
there were 38,285,905 shares of the Company's common stock issued and
outstanding. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, the Fund and PCM
are deemed to beneficially own, and PCM LLC and Mr. Karim Samii may be deemed to
beneficially own, 5,500,000 Shares, or approximately 14.4% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.





CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                                PAGE 4 OF 15

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus Capital Management LLC

2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a) [ ]        Not
         (b) [x]        Applicable

3        SEC USE ONLY

4        SOURCE OF FUNDS
         WC

5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)
         [ ] Not Applicable

6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         United States

                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    5,500,000*
                 NUMBER OF
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        0
                  OWNED BY
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          5,500,000*
                   PERSON
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    0

11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         5,500,000*

12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         [ ] Not Applicable

13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         14.4%*

14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
         OO

* The Fund is the beneficial owner of 5,500,000 Shares of the Company. PCM
serves as the investment manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the disposition of all Shares held by the Fund. PCM LLC, as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC, may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund; however,
PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund. Based on information provided by the Company, as of December 20, 2005
there were 38,285,905 shares of the Company's common stock issued and
outstanding. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, the Fund and PCM
are deemed to beneficially own, and PCM LLC and Mr. Karim Samii may be deemed to
beneficially own, 5,500,000 Shares, or approximately 14.4% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.





CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                                PAGE 5 OF 15

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Mr. Karim Samii

2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a) [ ]        Not
         (b) [x]        Applicable

3        SEC USE ONLY

4        SOURCE OF FUNDS
         WC

5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)
         [ ] Not Applicable

6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         United States

                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    5,500,000*
                 NUMBER OF
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        0
                  OWNED BY
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          5,500,000*
                   PERSON
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    0

11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         5,500,000*

12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         [ ] Not Applicable

13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         14.4%*

14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
         IN

* The Fund is the beneficial owner of 5,500,000 Shares of the Company. PCM
serves as the investment manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the disposition of all Shares held by the Fund. PCM LLC, as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC, may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund; however,
PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund. Based on information provided by the Company, as of December 20, 2005
there were 38,285,905 shares of the Company's common stock issued and
outstanding. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, the Fund and PCM
are deemed to beneficially own, and PCM LLC and Mr. Karim Samii may be deemed to
beneficially own, 5,500,000 Shares, or approximately 14.4% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.




CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                                PAGE 6 OF 15


         Pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), the undersigned
hereby amends the Schedule 13D Statement originally filed by Pardus Capital
Management L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("PCM"), dated September 6,
2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated September 6, 2005, Amendment No. 2,
dated September 6, 2005, Amendment No. 3, dated September 8, 2005, Amendment No.
4, dated September 15, 2005, Amendment No. 5, dated September 23, 2005,
Amendment No. 6, dated October 6, 2005, Amendment No. 7, dated October 17, 2005,
Amendment No. 8, dated October 24, 2005, Amendment No. 9, 2005, dated November
17, 2005, Amendment No. 10, dated December 5, 2005, Amendment No. 11, dated
December 8, 2005, Amendment No.12, dated December 29, 2005, Amendment No. 13,
dated January 10, 2006, and Amendment No. 14, dated January 12, 2006 (as
amended, the "Schedule 13D"), relating to the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Shares"), of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). This Amendment No. 15 to the Schedule 13D is being
filed on behalf of Pardus European Special Opportunities Master Fund L.P., a
limited partnership formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the "Fund"),
PCM, Pardus Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("PCM
LLC"), and Mr. Karim Samii (individually, a "Reporting Person", and
collectively, the "Reporting Persons").

Item 1.  Security and Issuer.

         No material change.

Item 2.  Identity and Background.

         No material change.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

         No material change.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction.

         This Item 4 is hereby amended by adding the following:

            "On January 17, 2006, the Fund filed a letter to stockholders with
the Securities Exchange Commission commenting on (i) the recommendation of
Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") in its report released on January 13,
2006 on how Company stockholders should vote at the upcoming annual meeting of
stockholders and (ii) the Company's January 14, 2006 press release responding to
the ISS recommendation. A copy of the letter to stockholders has been attached
hereto as Exhibit 17.

         Except as otherwise described in this Item 4 of this Schedule 13D, as
amended, the acquisition of the Shares by the Fund is for investment purposes on
behalf of the Fund."

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

         No material change.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect 
         to Securities of the Issuer. 

         No material change.

Item 7.  Material To Be Filed as Exhibits.

                  Exhibit 16:       Joint Filing Agreement, dated January 17, 
                                    2006, among the Reporting Persons.

                  Exhibit 17:       Letter to Stockholders of Bally Total 
                                    Fitness Holding Corporation, dated January 
                                    17, 2006.






                                    SIGNATURE


                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its or his
knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  January 17, 2006


                                PARDUS EUROPEAN SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES 
                                MASTER FUND L.P.

                                  By:  Pardus Capital Management L.P., its 
                                       Investment Manager

                                  By:  Pardus Capital Management LLC, its 
                                       general partner


                                  By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Karim Samii
                                       Title:  Sole Member


                                PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.

                                  By:  Pardus Capital Management LLC, its 
                                       general partner


                                  By:  /s/ Karim Samii
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Karim Samii
                                       Title:  Sole Member


                                PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC


                                  By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Karim Samii
                                       Title:  Sole Member

                                  By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Karim Samii
                                       Title:  Sole Member




Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).