Alexa Grasso, Valentina Shevchenko tapped as 'TUF 32' coaches with June premiere
“The Ultimate Fighter” is back again.
As announced Friday by UFC CEO Dana White, “TUF 32” will feature UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko with a premiere date scheduled for June 4 on ESPN.
The cast has not yet been revealed but men’s featherweights and middleweights will be featured.
Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) were expected to face each other in a trilogy fight as the division’s next title bout, though no timeline was revealed. Both are coming off injuries and will fight following the conclusion of the season.
Happy International Women's Day!#TUF32 coaches will be @AlexaGrasso and @BulletValentina premiering June 4th on @ESPN! @UltimateFighter pic.twitter.com/JC4msNmWuY
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 8, 2024
The first meeting in March 2023 saw Grasso pull off a major betting upset over-then champion Shevchenko. The rematch took place at the promotion’s inaugural Noche UFC event in September and ended in a majority draw.
“TUF” nears its 20-year anniversary since it’s initial airing in 2004. The most recent season ran in 2023 and was coached by Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.