The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega
GenreReality, Sports
Created byFrank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White
StarringDana White
Alexander Volkanovski
Brian Ortega
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original networkESPN+
Original releaseJune 1, 2021 (2021-06-01)
Chronology
Preceded byThe Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters

The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 29) is an installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.[1] The show has been off-air for a few years, following The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters in 2018 broadcast by Fox Sports 1.[2] The UFC officially announced its return in October 2020, now broadcast by ESPN+.[1]

There were no physical tryouts for this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, a remote casting took place on November 13, 2020, featuring male bantamweights and middleweights.[3] Current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and former title challenger Brian Ortega were announced as the head coaches in early April 2021.[4] They were previously expected to meet in a title bout at UFC 260, but the pairing was delayed due to the champion testing positive for COVID-19.[5]

The full cast was officially announced on April 18, with the show debuting on June 1.[6]

Cast[]

Coaches[]

Fighters[]

  • Team Volkanovski
    • Bantamweights: Mitch Raposo, Dustin Lampros, Ricky Turcios and Brady Hiestand.
    • Middleweights: Ryder Newman, Gilbert Urbina, Aaron Phillips and Bryan Battle.
  • Team Ortega
    • Bantamweights: Daniel Argueta, Liudvik Sholinian, Joshua Rettinghouse and Vince Murdock.
    • Middleweights: Andre Petroski, Tresean Gore, Miles Hunsinger, Kemran Lachinov and Michael Gillmore.

[6]

Episodes[]

Episode 1 (June 1, 2021)[7]

  • For the first time in "TUF" history, the show will take place inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. UFC president Dana White emphasized his excitement for this new chapter.
  • Both coaches get a chance to evaluate the fighters before picking teams.
  • Volkanovski wins the coin toss and chose to pick the first fighter. That means Ortega would have the first fight pick and the fighters were picked in the following order:
Coach 1st Pick 2nd Pick 3rd Pick 4th Pick 5th Pick 6th Pick 7th Pick 8th Pick
Volkanovski Mitch Raposo (BW) Ryder Newman (MW) Dustin Lampros (BW) Gilbert Urbina (MW) Ricky Turcios (BW) Aaron Phillips (MW) Brady Hiestand (BW) Bryan Battle (MW)
Ortega Daniel Argueta (BW) Andre Petroski (MW) Liudvik Sholinian (BW) Tresean Gore (MW) Joshua Rettinghouse (BW) Miles Hunsinger (MW) Vince Murdock (BW) Kemran Lachinov (MW)
  • With control of fight selection for the first matchup, Ortega chose his No. 2 pick Andre Petroski to take on Team Volkanovski's No. 6 pick Aaron Phillips in a middleweight matchup.
  • Andre Petroski defeated Aaron Phillips via submission (guillotine choke) in round 1.
  • Team Ortega retained control of fight selection, and with a bantamweight bout up next, he selected his No. 3 pick Liudvik Sholinian to fight Team Volkanovski's No. 1 pick Mitch Raposo.

Episode 2 (June 8, 2021)[8]

  • Liudvik Sholinian defeated Mitch Raposo via unanimous decision.
  • Team Volkanovski controlled the next fight selection - a middleweight bout. He selected his No. 2 pick Ryder Newman to take on Team Ortega's 4th pick Tresean Gore, at Newman's recommendation.

Tournament bracket[]

Middleweight bracket[]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Andre PetroskiSUB
 
 
 
  Aaron Phillips1
 
  Andre Petroski2
 
 
 
  Bryan BattleSUB
 
  Kemran Lachinov2
 
 
 
  Bryan BattleUD
 
  Bryan BattleSUB
 
 
 
  Gilbert Urbina2
 
  Tresean GoreUD
 
 
 
  Ryder Newman2
 
  Tresean GoreKO
 
 
 
  Gilbert Urbina2
 
  Michael Gillmore* 1
 
 
  Gilbert UrbinaSUB
 

* Miles Hunsinger injured his knee and was replaced by Gillmore.
** Gore injured his knee after the show and was replaced by Urbina.

Bantamweight bracket[]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Liudvik SholinianUD
 
 
 
  Mitch Raposo3
 
  Liudvik Sholinian3
 
 
 
  Ricky TurciosUD
 
  Daniel Argueta3
 
 
 
  Ricky TurciosUD
 
  Ricky TurciosSD
 
 
 
  Brady Hiestand3
 
  Vince MurdockTKO
 
 
 
  Dustin Lampros1
 
  Vince Murdock1
 
 
 
  Brady HiestandTKO
 
  Joshua Rettinghouse3
 
 
  Brady HiestandSD
 
Legend
  Team Volkanovski
  Team Ortega
UD
   Unanimous Decision
MD
   Majority Decision
SD
   Split Decision
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out

See also[]

  • List of UFC events
  • 2021 in UFC
  • List of current UFC fighters

References[]

  1. ^ a b Thomas Albano (2020-10-31). "The Ultimate Fighter to return with 29th season in March 2021". fansided.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  2. ^ Sherdog.com. "Robert Whittaker to Defend UFC Title vs. Kelvin Gastelum Following 'TUF 28' Coaching Stint". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  3. ^ Brett Okamoto (2020-10-31). "The Ultimate Fighter series back for 29th season, to air March 2021". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  4. ^ "Volkanovski, Ortega named coaches for next TUF". ESPN.com. 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  5. ^ Damon Martin (2021-03-20). "Alexander Volkanovski out of UFC 260 due to COVID-19 protocols, fight against Brian Ortega to be rescheduled". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  6. ^ a b Anderson, Jay (2021-04-18). "The Return of The Ultimate Fighter to Debut on June 1, Roster Revealed". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  7. ^ Matthew Wells (2021-06-03). "'The Ultimate Fighter 29,' Episode 1 highlights". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  8. ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter 29,' Episode 2 highlights". MMA Junkie. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
Retrieved from ""