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After what may have been the biggest season in the history of "The Ultimate Fighter" -- as Conor McGregor, MMA's biggest star, made his second run as a coach -- the show is back for Season 32 in June.
TUF was instrumental in the UFC's explosion of popularity in the early 2000s, shining a spotlight on fighters such as Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, who coached MMA hopefuls in a season-long competition in which the participants shared a house for several weeks.
Over the course of 31 seasons, all of which can be seen on ESPN+, the show has featured several UFC champions: Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, TJ Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas, as well as stars Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson and Diego Sanchez. Each season tension tends to rise between the coaches building up to a big fight of their own. Fans get to see it all play out behind the scenes.
The 32nd season of "The Ultimate Fighter" features a coaching matchup between women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champ Valentina Shevchenko. The two are expected to square off in a trilogy bout for Grasso's title after the conclusion of this season. In the first bout, Grasso beat Shevchenko by submission to claim the title. The two fought to a split draw in the second fight.
This season's TUF competition, which will begin airing June 4 on ESPN and ESPN+, is at featherweight and middleweight. Results of this season can be found at the bottom of this story.
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The coaches Alexa GrassoRecord: 16-3-1 Age: 30 From: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Notable:
Notable wins over Shevchenko and Maycee Barber Third fighter to win UFC women's flyweight title Trains with fellow UFC contenders Irene Aldana and Diego Lopes Valentina ShevchenkoRecord: 23-4-1 Age: 36 From: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Notable:
Notable wins over Holly Holm, Julianna Peña, Jonna Jedrzejczyk, Liz Carmouche, Jessica Andrade and Taila Santos Held the UFC women's flyweight title from December 2018 to March 2023 Her three UFC losses are against Amanda Nunes (2) and Grasso Holds the UFC divisional record for wins by knockout (4) The fighters Featherweights Edwin Cooper Jr.Record: 6-1 Age: 31 Fighting out of: Albuquerque, New Mexico Notable:
Fought on the PFL Challengers Series in 2022 Trains at Jackson Wink MMA -- the same gym as UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones and former UFC champions Holly Holm and Michelle Waterson-Gomez Nathan FletcherRecord: 8-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: England Notable:
Six wins by submission Trains at Next Generation MMA Liverpool; the same gym as UFC fighters Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann Kaan OfliRecord: 10-2-1 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Melbourne, Australia Notable:
Nickname is Genghis Won Hex Fight Series featherweight title in last fight Riding an eight-fight winning streak Zygimantas RamaskaRecord: 9-2 Age: 24 Fighting out of: Lithuania Notable:
Has had only one professional fight go the distance Riding a three-fight winning streak, all wins have come via KO/TKO Roedie RoetsRecord: 7-1 Age: 27 Fighting out of: South Africa Notable:
No fights between January 2020 and April 2023 Won four of his past five fights Mairon SantosRecord: 13-1 Age: 23 Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Notable:
Trains at Paraná Vale Tudo -- the same gym as Jessica Andrade and Denise Gomes Was supposed to face now-UFC featherweight Sean Woodson in August 2023 but bout was cancelled Guillermo TorresRecord: 7-1 Age: 37 Fighting out of: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Notable:
Each of his past four fights have ended in KO/TKO (three wins, one loss) The oldest fighter on this season of TUF Bekhzod UsmonovRecord: 11-4 Age: 28 Fighting out of: Russia Notable:
Has not fought since December 2022 Middleweights Giannis BacharRecord: 9-2 Age: 33 Fighting out of: Athens, Greece Notable:
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship welterweight champion Both of his losses have come by submission Omran ChaabanRecord: 6-1 Age: 23 Fighting out of: Helsinki, Finland Notable:
UAE Warriors welterweight champion Riding a five-fight win streak Has finished each of his past five opponents (two knockouts, three submissions) Mark HulmeRecord: 12-3 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Johannesburg, South Africa Notable:
Riding a four-fight winning streak Ryan LoderRecord: 6-1 Age: 32 Fighting out of: Roseville, California Notable:
Trains at Team Alpha Male, a gym founded by former UFC fighter Urijah Faber Shamidkhan MagomedovRecord: 8-1 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Dagestan Notable:
LFA interim welterweight champion Fought on Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC from 2021 to 2022 Paddy McCorryRecord: 4-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: West Belfast, Ireland Notable:
Each of his wins has come via finish (two knockouts, two submissions) Tom TheocharisRecord: 9-5 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Toronto Notable:
Seven of his eight wins have come by KO/TKO Won the Alaska Combat Entertainment middleweight championship twice Robert ValentinRecord: 10-3, 1 NC Age: 29 Fighting out of: Zurich, Switzerland
Results:Episode 1: Featherweight -- Roedie Roets def. Guillermo Torres by decision
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Episode 2: Middleweight -- Robert Valentin def. Giannis Bachar by KO1
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Episode 3: Featherweight -- Kaan Ofli def. Nathan Fletcher by decision
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Episode 4: Featherweight -- Omran Chaaban def. Shamidkhan Magomedov by SUB2
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