Blog: UFC tabs Colorado’s Justin Gaethje coach for season 26 of ‘TUF’
For the second consecutive season of the UFC reality show “The Ultimate Fighter” a Colorado-based mixed martial artist will be a coach.
On Thursday it was confirmed that Justin Gaethje, the talk of the MMA world after last week’s UFC debut victory, will coach on season 26 of “TUF,” Luke Thomas of Sirius XM reported.
Gaethje, who trains in Arvada, and Eddie Alvarez will coach the first women’s flyweights in the UFC, a new division the promotional organization has opened.
The show will crown the first women’s flyweight champion and will also be expected to have Alvarez and Gaethje square off in the finale.
However, that wasn’t exactly the case for the most recent season. In “TUF: Redemption” coaches T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt were supposed to fight for Garbrandt’s bantamweight title. Instead, Garbrandt injured his back while training for the bout and pulled out of the fight.
That fight has yet to be officially rescheduled, though rumors have circulated that the fight will take place later this year.
(Highlights start at 1:03.)
Gaethje wrestled at Northern Colorado where he was a two-time NCAA All-American. The lightweight fighter is 18-0 (1-0 in the UFC), fresh off his second-round TKO of Michael Johnson in one of the year’s most engaging fights.
Gaethje still lives in Colorado and trains in Arvada under Trevor Wittman at Genesis Training Center.
Dillashaw still trains in Colorado, though he recently said he’s been splitting time training in Southern California.
UFC president Dana White told Thomas that the show started filming Wednesday.
Justin Gaethje is seen with his belt after his title defense against Luiz Firmino for the WSOF lightweight title fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, December 31, 2016. Gaethje won by doctor stoppage after the 3rd round when Firmino could not see out of his right eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Justin Gaethje, left, in action against Luiz Firmino for the WSOF lightweight title fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, December 31, 2016. Gaethje won by doctor stoppage after the 3rd round when Firmino could not see out of his right eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje is seen at the WSOF 34 Open workouts on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 in New York. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Justin Gaethje, left, in action against Luiz Firmino for the WSOF lightweight title fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, December 31, 2016. Gaethje won by doctor stoppage after the 3rd round when Firmino could not see out of his right eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje is seen at the WSOF 34 Open workouts on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 in New York. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Justin Gaethje is seen with his belt after his title defense against Luiz Firmino for the WSOF lightweight title fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, December 31, 2016. Gaethje won by doctor stoppage after the 3rd round when Firmino could not see out of his right eye. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)