The Ultimate Fighter returns for season 32 on June 4, with Dana White confirming the new coaches will be Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
As fans countdown to UFC 299 this weekend, Dana White has confirmed that the long-running reality TV show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ will be returning this summer for its 32nd season.
Coaching the latest generation of talent will be flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and rival Valentina Shevchenko; the Mexican stunned the world when she finished ‘The Bullet’ to win the title in 2023 before their Fight Night rematch ended in a rare draw later in the year.
Dana White confirms TUF season 32 coaches and start date
Taking to social media to celebrate International Women’s Day, Dana White today confirmed that Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko will be the new coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 32.
The new season will begin its broadcast on June 4, to be shown on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
“We have just confirmed the coaches for season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, and it will be UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko.”
Grasso wrote herself into Mexican history books when she submitted the then-dominant champion to win the UFC flyweight championship in early 2023 via fourth-round rear naked choke, before retaining her shiny customized belt by going to a draw at UFC Noche 1.
“I don’t have to tell you, but these are two of the most badass women on the planet and this should be a very fun season,” said White.
“[Alexa] Grasso became the first Mexican UFC women’s champ after defeating [Valentina] Shevchenko and their last fight resulted in a draw. Before their last two fights, Valentina had successfully defended the belt seven times.”
The Ultimate Fighter typically ends with the two coaches facing each other in a professional contest shortly after the season finale, with now an expectation that Grasso vs Shevchenko 3 will happen sometime in the Summer or Fall.
Luckily, there is the perfect opportunity for the pair to do battle for a third time in September 2024 at UFC 306.
UFC 306 is set to take place in The Sphere in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Day and will be the promotion’s second ‘Noche UFC’ event after holding Grasso vs Shevchenko’s rematch the year prior.
The roster of young athletes who will be competing on TUF season 32 has not yet been revealed, previous stars to have come out of the show include Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, Juliana Pena, Carla Esparza, Michael Chiesa, Kamaru Usman, and Rose Namajunas.