Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko To Coach TUF 32 – Cast Revealed
UFC today announced that The Ultimate Fighter is returning for an historic 32nd season and will feature UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso coaching opposite former champion and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko. Following the series, which exclusively debuts Tuesday, June 4 on ESPN, the two coaches will prepare to square off for the third time at a future date.
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko will feature the most international cast ever assembled for the show, with 14 nations being represented by the 16 rising prospects in the men’s featherweight (145 lbs.) and middleweight (185 lbs.) divisions, who have put everything else in their lives aside to pursue their UFC dreams.
The entire 12-episode season of TUF 32 will be available exclusively on ESPN, with one episode dropping each Tuesday beginning June 4 at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Episodes will be available to stream on demand on ESPN+. In addition, UFC fans can re-watch all 31 previous seasons of TUF on ESPN+.
Produced by Lionsgate Alternative Television’s Pilgrim Media Group, The Ultimate Fighter is the iconic reality television series that has introduced millions of new and die-hard fans to future UFC champions and top contenders. Those whose careers have been shaped by their participation in The Ultimate Fighter include: Julianna Peña, Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, T.J. Dillashaw, Amanda Nunes, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.
No. 1 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter Grasso (16-3-1, fighting out of Guadalajara, Mexico) intends to make a statement in her coaching debut. She will look to pass on the skills and experience that have earned her notable victories over Shevchenko, Maycee Barber and Joanne Wood. Grasso now has her sights set on shutting out Shevchenko as coach and building momentum towards their inevitable rematch later this year.
Former UFC flyweight champion Shevchenko (23-4-1, fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) is considered by many to be one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. A Master of Sport in taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, Shevchenko has claimed highlight-reel victories over Lauren Murphy, Jéssica Andrade, and Katlyn Chookagian. She now plans on adding a successful TUF coaching season to her impressive resume on the way to reclaiming her belt from Grasso.
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHTS (145)
Edwin Cooper Jr | 31 | 6-1 | Albuquerque, N.M.
Nathan Fletcher | 26 | 8-1 | Liverpool, England
Zygimantas Ramaska | 27 | 9-2 | Ukmergė, Lithuania
Roedie Roets | 27 | 7-1 | Polokwane, South Africa
Bekhzod Usmonov | 28 | 12-4 | Tajikistan
Guillermo Torres | 37 | 7-1 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Kaan Ofli | 30 | 11-2-1 | Melbourne, Australia
Mairon Santos | 23 | 13-1 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHTS (185)
Omran Chaaban | 23 | 6-1 | Finland
Shamidkhan Magomedov | 29 | 8-1 | Gubkinsky, Russia
Robert Valentin | 28 | 10-3 | Switzerland
Mark Hulme | 29 | 12-3 | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Ryan Loder | 31 | 6-1 | Sacramento, Calif.
Giannis Bachar | 33 | 9-2 | Athens, Greece
Thomas Theocharis | 30 | 9-5 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Paddy McCorry | 26 | 4-1 | West Belfast, Ireland
