The complete roster for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter has been announced, featuring bantamweight men and strawweight women. The men's division includes ten fighters from diverse international backgrounds, including Rodrigo Vera (21-1-1) from Peru, Abdul Hussein (15-2) from Finland, Artem Belakh (11-2) from Kazakhstan/Russia, and Mehemmedeli Osmanli (12-1) from Azerbaijan among others. The women's strawweight division features ten fighters including Natalia Alves (8-0), Melissa Amaya (8-0), and Valeska Machado (15-4). The lineup represents multiple countries and continents, continuing TUF's tradition of international talent discovery.
The complete cast for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter has been unveiled, with the show set to feature two divisions — bantamweight men and strawweight women — drawing competitors from across the globe.
The men's side of the bracket brings together ten fighters with notably varied international backgrounds. Among the standouts is Rodrigo Vera, a Peruvian bantamweight carrying a record of 21-1-1, making him one of the more seasoned veterans in the cast. Abdul Hussein of Finland enters at 15-2, while Artem Belakh, representing Kazakhstan and Russia, brings an 11-2 mark into the competition. Mehemmedeli Osmanli of Azerbaijan rounds out the headliners on the men's side with a 12-1 record.
The women's strawweight field is headlined by two undefeated fighters. Natalia Alves and Melissa Amaya both arrive with perfect 8-0 records, setting up the possibility of a collision between two fighters who have yet to taste defeat at the professional level. Valeska Machado, the most experienced woman in the cast, carries a 15-4 record into the house.
Also included in the bantamweight men's lineup is Xavier Franklin, a 29-year-old southpaw from the United States training out of George's MMA and Boxing Gym. Franklin stands five-foot-six with a 66-inch reach and holds a professional record of 5-1.
Why it matters
- The dual-division format gives the season added stakes, with both a men's bantamweight and a women's strawweight contract on the line.
- Several fighters arrive with extensive records, raising the overall competitive level compared to earlier TUF seasons built around prospects with limited experience.
- The international spread — spanning South America, Europe, Central Asia, and North America — continues the show's recent push toward global talent scouting rather than a predominantly American roster.
