UFC reality series The Ultimate Fighter debuts its latest season The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs Team Ortega on Wednesday June 2 at 9.30pm AEST on ESPN.
This will be the 29th edition of the reality series and sees Australia’s UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski join number two-ranked contender Brian Ortega as TUF coaches.
The pair will coach men’s bantamweights and middleweights, who are all vying for a coveted UFC contract.
Undisputed UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (22-1, fighting out of Windang, New South Wales, Australia) is unbeaten in almost eight years, including nine straight wins in the UFC. Volkanovski proved himself as one of UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters with two title fight victories over Max Holloway, along with dominant performances against Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins. Volkanovski now hopes to experience the same type of success in his first opportunity as a head coach.
Ortega (15-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) is determined to make 2021 the year his UFC title dreams become a reality. Two years removed from his first title challenge, Ortega hopes to apply the same skills that helped him defeat the likes of Chan Sung Jung, Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano, to foster the careers of future UFC stars.
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 29) will feature a dynamic cast of 16 fighters pursuing their UFC dreams.
Episodes of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs Team Ortega will premiere each Wednesday on ESPN. The entire TUF 29 season will be available exclusively on ESPN.
Following the series, the two coaches will prepare to square off for the UFC featherweight title at a date that will be determined in the near future.
The Ultimate Fighter is the reality 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: Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, T.J. Dillashaw, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega Fighter List
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS
Daniel Argueta | 27 | 5-0 | Chicago, IL
Brady Hiestand | 21 | 4-1 | Spokane, WA
Dustin Lampros | 26 | 5-0 | Deerfield Beach, FL
Vince Murdock | 30 | 11-6 | Sacramento, CA
Mitch Raposo | 22 | 5-0 | Fall River, MA
Joshua Rettinghouse | 31 | 16-5 | Spokane, WA
Liudvik Sholinian | 30 | 9-1 | Kiev, Ukraine
Ricky Turcios | 27 | 10-2 | Houston, TX
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Aaron Phillips | 29 | 5-1 | Kotzbue, AK
Andre Petroski | 29 | 5-1 | Philadelphia, PA
Bryan Battle | 26 | 4-1 | Charlotte, NC
Ryder Newman | 25 | 3-1 | Las Vegas, NV
Tresean Gore | 26 | 3-0 | Decatur, GA
Miles Hunsinger | 30 | 7-0 | Las Vegas, NV
Kemran Lachinov | 30 | 10-3 | West Springfield, MA
Gilbert Urbina | 25 | 6-1 | Rio Grande Valley, TX
*All athletes are subject to change
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs Team Ortega Premieres Wednesday June 2 at 9.30pm AEST on ESPN.