A pair of divisions that haven’t been utilized for years on “The Ultimate Fighter” will return in 2025.
Season 33 of the UFC-owned reality series will feature talents from the men’s welterweight and flyweight divisions, per a recent press release issued by the promotion.
The upcoming season will be the first time since 2016 that male flyweights have been featured on the show. The last time the class appeared was on Season 24, which was won by Tim Elliott.
For welterweights, the upcoming season will mark the division’s first “TUF” appearance since 2017, when Jesse Taylor beat Dhiego Lima in the finals.
Tryouts for the show will begin later this week and run through to mid-December. While the show’s season premiere date hasn’t been announced, seasons in recent years have started in May at the earliest and carried through to mid-August at the latest. It’s also not yet known which UFC pros will serve as the coaches this season.
Since its launch in 2005, “The Ultimate Fighter” has been a pathway for prospects to join the UFC roster. On the show, a pair of eight-fighter brackets play out, with the winner earning a contract with the top MMA tour. Mairon Santos and Ryan Loder joined the promotion earlier this year after winning Season 32.
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