The Ultimate Fighter 28 has been confirmed. On Friday, July 6, the UFC announced that the next season of the long-running reality television series will be coached by UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and TUF alum Kelvin Gastelum, who won season 17 of the show. The two men will then face off for the title later this year.
The announcement was made during the FOX Sports 1 broadcast of The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.
Tryouts for season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter were held in May, with the promotion targeting heavyweights and women’s featherweight prospects. There is currently no word on when the show will premiere.
It could also mark the final season of The Ultimate Fighter, with the UFC set to begin its broadcasting deal with ESPN next year.
🚨🚨JUST ANNOUNCED: Team @RobWhittakerMMA vs Team @KelvinGastelum set for #TUF28 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jJ3BUiAzBl
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) July 7, 2018
The 27-year-old Whittaker, who has a professional record of 20-4, is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak. He most recently defended his undisputed title with a split decision win over Yoel Romero at UFC 225 in June.
Gastelum, meanwhile, gets his first crack at UFC gold.
The 26-year-old Kings MMA product is currently on a two-fight winning streak with a knockout victory over Michael Bisping and split decision win over top 185-pound contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in his most recent outings. Gastelum also scored a TKO victory over former champion Vitor Belfort in March 2017, but the bout was overturned to a no contest after Gastelum tested positive for a cannabis metabolite.
Stay tuned for the latest news and information regarding The Ultimate Fighter 28, including cast rumors and the eventual premiere date.
