The lineup for the new season of The Ultimate Fighter has been revealed, featuring bantamweight men and strawweight women. The men's bantamweight division includes notable names such as Rodrigo Vera (21-1-1) from Peru, Abdul Hussein (15-2) from Finland, Artem Belakh (11-2) from Kazakhstan/Russia, and several other prospects. The women's strawweight division features fighters like Natalia Alves (8-0), Melissa Amaya (8-0), and Valeska Machado (15-4) among others. The roster represents multiple countries including Peru, Finland, Kazakhstan, Russia, USA, UK, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. All fighters bring varying levels of experience with both undefeated prospects and veterans in the mix.
The Ultimate Fighter is returning with a new season built around the bantamweight men's and women's strawweight divisions, with a wide-ranging international roster now officially revealed.
The men's bantamweight field features a mix of proven veterans and unbeaten prospects from across the globe. Rodrigo Vera of Peru enters with a record of 21-1-1, making him one of the most experienced competitors in the cast. Abdul Hussein from Finland brings a 15-2 mark, while Artem Belakh, representing Kazakhstan and Russia, carries an 11-2 record into the house. The division draws competitors from countries including the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, giving the season a genuinely international flavor.
Among the men's cast is American bantamweight Xavier Franklin, who competes out of George's MMA and Boxing Gym. The 29-year-old southpaw holds a 5-1 record and stands five-foot-six with a 66-inch reach. Franklin lands 3.07 significant strikes per minute, though his striking accuracy currently sits at 33 percent.
The women's strawweight division adds further depth to the season. Natalia Alves and Melissa Amaya both enter undefeated at 8-0, while veteran Valeska Machado brings considerable experience at 15-4.
Why it matters
- The bantamweight men's field combines experienced fighters like Vera (21-1-1) with undefeated prospects, setting up competitive stylistic contrasts throughout the season.
- The women's strawweight bracket includes two unbeaten fighters in Alves and Amaya, while Machado's 15 wins give the division a seasoned anchor.
- The roster's multinational makeup — spanning at least ten countries — reflects the UFC's continued effort to broaden TUF's global reach.
- A successful showing could vault any of these fighters directly into the UFC bantamweight or strawweight rankings picture.
