Dana White has announced that UFC Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and the number one ranked Valentina Shevchenko will feature as the coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.
The two will likely then meet in their long awaited trilogy bout following the conclusion of the show, as Shevchenko will to become a two time world champion and Grasso looks to cement her legacy and end the rivalry once and for all.
UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to announce the news. In a reel, he said:
"What's up everybody, we have just confirmed the coaches for season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter and it will be UFC Womens Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko.
"Grasso became the first Mexican UFC Womens Champion after defeating Shevchenko and their last fight resulted in a draw.
"Before their last two fights, Valentina had successfully defended the belt 7 times.
"This show will premier on June 4th on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
"I don't have to tell you, these are two of the most bad ass women on the planet and this should be a very fun season!"
After dominating the Flyweight division for four years, claiming the vacant title with a unanimous decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231. It looked as though nobody would even be able to come close to taking the belt from Shevchenko, that was until Grasso stepped up to the plate at UFC 285. Grasso shocked the words when she submitted the long reigning champion in the fourth round of their contest.
The two met again 6 months later with Grasso retaining the belt following a split decision draw.
The Ultimate Fighter has produced some serious talent through the years, with the season one finale between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin going down as not only one of the greatest fights to ever take place in the cage, but a bout that ultimately changed the trajectory for the UFC.
The show's alumni include a monumental list of names who went on to become UFC champions or star names within the promotion such as Michael Bisping, T J Dillashaw and Nate Diaz, to name but a few.
