Alvarez, Gaethje to coach TUF 26
Dana White confirms that Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez will be opposing coaches in TUF 26; the season will crown the UFC’s debut women’s flyweight champion.
As it so often does, the news broke via Twitter. Justin Gaethje was considered the greatest prospect at lightweight outside the UFC, and made a fight of the year UFC debut vs. Michael Johnson last week. The league is now putting one of their greatest fighter awareness tools to bear on him, as he and former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will be opposing coaches on the 26th season of The Ultimate Fighter.
https://twitter.com/lthomasnews/status/885631561491677184
White confirmed it on video.
https://twitter.com/lthomasnews/status/885631561491677184
“>@lthomasnews that Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje will be the next coaches of The Ultimate Fighter. #TLTSpic.twitter.com/PLpGHoh8VX
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) July 13, 2017
Filming is already underway, and the pair have reportedly already shot the first episode. The season will feature the debut of the women’s flyweight division, and the Finale winner will be the league’s inaugural women’s flyweight champion. Gaethje and Alvarez will also fight. And given that the fighter in the UFC most likely to bite down and throw is Eddie Alvarez, the fight promises to be epic.
White says he expects fighters to move up from strawweight and down from bantamweight for the opportunity to be first.