The lineup for the new season of The Ultimate Fighter has been revealed, featuring ten bantamweight men and ten strawweight women. Notable bantamweight participants include Rodrigo Vera (21-1-1), Abdul Hussein (15-2), Artem Belakh (11-2), and Illimbek Akylbek uulu (10-3). The women's strawweight division features fighters like Natalia Alves (8-0), Melissa Amaya (8-0), Valeska Machado (15-4), and Camila Reynoso (9-1). The roster includes competitors from diverse countries including Peru, Finland, Kazakhstan, Russia, United States, Cuba, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan.
The Ultimate Fighter is returning with a 20-fighter cast split across two weight classes, the UFC announced, with ten men competing at bantamweight and ten women at strawweight.
The bantamweight bracket features a strong blend of experienced regional talent. Rodrigo Vera brings a 21-1-1 record into the competition, while Abdul Hussein (15-2) and Artem Belakh (11-2) add further depth to a division that figures to be hotly contested. Illimbek Akylbek uulu (10-3) rounds out the notable names on the men's side, representing Kyrgyzstan in what is shaping up to be a geographically diverse season.
On the women's side, the strawweight bracket carries significant intrigue. Natalia Alves and Melissa Amaya both enter the house with unblemished 8-0 records, setting up a potential collision of undefeated prospects. Valeska Machado brings the most experience of the group with a 15-4 mark, while Camila Reynoso (9-1) adds another contender with a strong win percentage to the mix.
Why it matters
- Two undefeated strawweights, Alves and Amaya, are on a collision course if the bracket sets up accordingly
- The bantamweight field is stacked with veterans carrying records above ten wins, raising the overall competitive ceiling for the men's bracket
- The roster draws from more than ten countries, including Peru, Finland, Kazakhstan, Russia, Cuba, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, making this one of the most internationally diverse TUF casts in recent memory
- A strong TUF showing can deliver fighters directly onto the UFC roster, giving every competitor meaningful stakes beyond the competition itself
