Following a two-year layoff, The Ultimate Fighter is finally set to return next March. The Ultimate Fighter’s last installment aired on FS1 in Nov. 2018, but its 29th season will be available exclusively on ESPN+.
UFC moved its TV package to ESPN in 2019 and The Worldwide Leader’s streaming service had been hopeful of a revival for The Ultimate Fighter, now it appears they’ll get it in early 2021. In addition to serving as the home for season 29 of TUF, ESPN+ will also soon offer seasons 1-28 on demand.
According to the press release from ESPN, casting for male bantamweight (135 lb.) and middleweight (185 lb.) athletes is currently open through Nov. 13 and will be conducted remotely. Coaches have yet to be decided and finalists for TUF29 will be selected by late Nov. 2020. Last month, it was revealed Dana White had hoped to use Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov as coaches for the reality series, but Khabib refused to take part in any event involving McGregor.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
