The Ultimate Fighter , the acclaimed UFC reality series, debuts Tuesday, June 1 at 9 pm ET , exclusively on ESPN +. The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega - the 29 th season of the reality series iconic - will see UFC ® featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and No. 2 contender Brian Ortega coach men's bantamweights and middleweights for a coveted UFC contract. Each Tuesday, ESPN + will debut a new TUF 29 episode, followed by a new episode of After TUF, an original recap and discussion show hosted by ESPN's Charly Arnolt and analyst TJ Lavin, from reality show The Challenge, in his ESPN debut.
Following the series, the two coaches will prepare to square off for the featherweight title at a date that will be determined in the near future.
Watch TUF-related content across ESPN platforms:
Fans can sign-up for ESPN + at any time at ESPN.com , ESPNPlus .com, or on the ESPN App.
The Ultimate Fighter is the iconic reality series that has introduced millions of new and die-hard fans to future UFC champions and top contenders. Those whose careers have been shaped by their participation in The Ultimate Fighter include: Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, TJ Dillashaw, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta , Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.
About The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega
Undisputed UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (22-1, fighting out of Windang, New South Wales, Australia) is unbeaten in 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.
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 apply 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 Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega (name, age, professional record and fighting out of):
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
Joshua 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
* All athletes are subject to change
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Monday, May 24, 2021
The Ultimate Fighter , the UFC's acclaimed reality series , will debut Tuesday, June 1 at 9 pm ET , exclusively on ESPN +. The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega, the 29 ° season of this iconic series reality, is the meeting point of the featherweight champion of the UFC ® Alexander Volkanovski and challenger No. 2 Brian Ortega , each coaching fighters bantamweight and middleweight, looking for a coveted contract with the UFC. Every Tuesday, ESPN + will host a new episode of TUF 29, followed by After TUF,a post-episode show hosted by Charly Arnolt , with the ESPN debut of TJ Lavin, host of the reality show The Challenge, as analyst.
All 12 episodes of TUF 29 will be available simultaneously with Spanish subtitles on ESPN +.
Following the series, the two coaches will prepare for a featherweight title match on a date to be announced.
TUF-related content on ESPN platforms:
Fans can subscribe to ESPN + anytime on ESPN.com , ESPNPlus .com or on the ESPN App.
The Ultimate Fighter is the iconic reality series that serves as a platform to introduce millions of UFC fans to future champions and the sport's top challengers. Some of the names that have participated in The Ultimate Fighter include: Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, TJ Dillashaw, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.
About The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega
UFC UFC Featherweight Champion Volkanovski (22-1, based in Windang, New South Wales, Australia) has been undefeated for nearly eight years, including nine consecutive UFC victories. Volkanovski has proven to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC, with two title wins against Max Holloway, alongside dominant fights against Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins. Volkanovski now hopes to repeat the same success in his first opportunity as head coach.
Ortega (15-1, based in Los Angeles, California) is determined to realize his dream of finally winning the UFC title in 2021. After two years of his first title challenge, Ortega hopes to apply the same skills as allowed to beat opponents such as Chan Sung Jung, Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano, to promote the careers of future UFC stars.
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter ® : Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega (name, age, professional record and base place):
MALE ROOSTER WEIGHT
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
Joshua Rettinghouse | 31 | 16-5 | Spokane, WA
Liudvik Sholinian | 30 | 9-1 | Kiev, ukraine
Ricky Turcios | 27 | 10-2 | Houston, TX
MEDIUM WEIGHT
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
* The list of athletes could change.