The cast for season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter features 16 champions from around the world, all competing for a shot at undisputed UFC belt holder Demetrious Johnson.
Coached by former title challengers Joe Benavidez and Henry Cejudo, the 16 competitors will first be seeded. Each episode’s winner will advance in the single-elimination tournament. And in a new twist from previous TUF season, the two finalists will meet in the last fight in the house to determine who will receive a shot at the UFC flyweight world title at the finale in December.
The line-up of champions includes RFA title holder Alexandre Pantoga, Legacy’s veteran kingpin Damacio Page, Shooto champ’s Ronaldo Candido (South America) and Hiromasa Ogikubo (Japan), plus former MTV Uncaged star Matt Schnell, now Legacy interim title holder.
Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, Benavidez (24-4) has met current 125lb kingpin Demetrious Johnson twice and will utilize the experience gained in those two encounters to help guide his squad of eight fighters from around the world. Coaching opposite Benavidez this season is Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo (10-1), whose only professional loss has come at the hands of Johnson.
TUF 24 will feature 12 episodes airing Wednesday’s from August 31st on Fox Sports 1 in the US and BT Sport in the UK.
