Dana White announces Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso for new TUF season on International Women’s day

Top WMMA staples, Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso are tapped as 'TUF 32' coaches with a June premiere.

Dana White announces Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso for new TUF season on International Women’s day

TUF 32 adds Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko as head coaches and probable future rivals yet again (Source: IMAGO)

UFC CEO, Dana White doesn’t give in to standard deviation and gags about disrespecting WMMA. This Friday was International Women’s Day; as such he took to X to acclaim his 2 top fighters. The Ultimate Fighter is back with TUF 32, adding big names Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso as opposing coaches. It is an American reality television series under the UFC and Pilgrim Media Group umbrella. Having aired for 14 seasons on Spike TV, it now airs on ESPN+.

In typical reality show format, it follows rising prospects living together and fighting for a six-figure contract with the UFC. Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega were name-dropped as prospect coaches for TUF 29. While P4P king Kamaru Usman lauded the showcasing format on the biggest platform in the world. Even Team Michael Chandler‘s debut rocked the world at TUF 31.

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The Ultimate Fighter always brings in new flavors and promises. Many staple fighters are now TUF alums. TUF 31 concurrently boasts one of the best face-offs of the 2023 season. This was between Chandler and rival Conor McGregor. Brad Katona‘s historic run and win against Carlos Vera also happened at TUF 31. This season adds Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso to the mix.

They faced off last in the Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso rematch. Grasso retained her UFC featherweight gold at UFC Noche, in a controversial 10-8 strain that even had White fuming. The last women-coached affair was TUF 30: Team Peña vs. Team Nunes. Now the matter is setting up to turn heads yet again, stacked with top coaches.

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso for TUFC 32: The Story So Far

TUF 32 just added two big names. UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champ Valentina Shevchenko will be coaches this year.

The season features male featherweights and middleweights in both teams. Casting calls ended as of Jan. 19, 2024. Filming is beginning later this month. Grasso and Shevchenko are already in Las Vegas for the same. News Editor, Damon Martin (of MMAFighting on SBN) contributed to reporting it, after ClubDeLasMMA on X.

Alexa grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Noche
Alexa grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Noche (Via UFC)

As is customary, the fighters are expectant rivals for a future card, while Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler await their turn. Consequently, after the show airs, the duo might end up meeting at UFC 306 on Sept. 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas as a landing spot.

This marks the Mexican Independence Day. Grasso, the UFC’s first Mexican-born women’s champion would thus be a good addition. Her last battle with Valentina Shevchenko was at last year’s Noche UFC event for Mexican Independence Day. They fought to a draw, with a rather controversial result.

Alexa Grasso earned the MMA Fighting’s Submission of the Year and MMA Junkie’s Female Fighter of 2023 with her massive upset over her rival. Shevchenko went to blows with her yet again in 2023 in the inaugural UFC Noche, but that ended in a draw. Often considered one of the best in WMMA, she is looking to resolve this open-ended rivalry.

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