UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and no. 2 contender Brian Ortega will coach men’s bantamweights and middleweights in the The Return of The Ultimate Fighter®.
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ®:Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega (TUF 29) will feature a dynamic cast of 16 ascending athletes in the men’s bantamweight (135 lbs.) and middleweight (185 lbs.) divisions, who are putting it all on the line for a chance to pursue their UFC dreams.
The Ultimate Fighter is an iconic reality television series that has introduced millions of fans to future UFC® champions and top contenders. Those whose careers have been shaped by their participation inThe 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.
Who is on TUF 29?
The highly anticipated The Return of The Ultimate Fighter®: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega will see UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski and No. 2 contender Brian Ortega coach men’s bantamweights and middleweights competing to make the UFC roster.
Alexander Volkanovski
Undisputed UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (22-1, fighting out of Windang, New South Wales, Australia) is unbeaten for 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.
Brian Ortega
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 pass on 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 competitors
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
Josh 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
When and Where?
EMEA fans will be able to follow weekly on UFC Fight Pass, where the episodes will be uploaded after airing. Find details on how to subscribe to UFC Fight Pass here.