Coaches Announced For The Ultimate Fighter’s 28th season.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 28: Team Whittaker Vs. Team Gastelum

Having just wrapped up season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter, the coaches have been set for season 28 which also may be the show’s last. Set for premier on August 29th 2018, season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter pits Team Whittaker vs. Team Gastelum.

Leading up to UFC 225, Whittaker was set to defend against the middleweight title against Yoel Romero. Romero subsequently missed weight nullifying the title bout, and Whittaker went on to beat Romero by split decision. In the days following UFC 225 many names were thrown around as potential suitors for Whittaker’s next bout.

Job done 👊🏽 👊🏽👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/OXOKoc9VMZ

— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) June 10, 2018

Unfortunately, due to hand injuries sustained during the Romero fight, Whittaker will not be able to fight until early 2019. Let’s be honest, the middle weight division is in shambles regardless, perhaps some time between fights will allow the contender’s to sort through the wreckage. The truth is that Whittaker has plenty of contenders lining up for a title shot, but they’ve fought and lost to each-other so confusingly, there is no clear cut fighter next in line. After the conclusion of Team Whittaker Vs. Team Gastelum; Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum will go head to head for the middleweight title.

Team Whittaker checking in, getting prepped for a run at #TUF28 https://t.co/wizgJivE8t

— Corey Roveri (@CoreyRoveri) July 12, 2018

The TUF 28 Cast

Season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter will feature fighters from the men’s heavyweight and women’s featherweight divisions. Although Team Whittaker vs. Team Gastelum rosters are not yet finalized, we do know which fighters will be part of the cast.

Men’s Heavyweight Breakdown:

Juan Francisco Espino Diepa – 37 years old, from Las Palmas, Spain. Professional record: 8-1
Przemyslaw Mysiala – 35 years of age, from Maidenhead, England. Professional record: 22-9-1.
Michel Batista – 34 years of age, from Miami, Florida. Professional Record: 4-0
Maurice Greene – 31 years of age, from St. Cloud, Minnesota. Professional Record: 5-2
Anderson Da Silva – 31 years of age, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Professional Record: 3-0-1
Justin Frazier – 28 years of age, from Cave City, Arkansas. Professional Record: 10-2
Josh Parisian – 28 years of age, from Brighton Michigan. Professional Record: 7-2
Ben Sosoli – 28 years of age, from Melbourne, Australia. Professional Record: 6-2

Women’s Featherweight Breakdown:

Marciea Allen – 36 years of age, from Wood Dale, Illinois. Professional record: 7-2
Katharina Lehner – 28 years of age, from Cologne, Germany. Professional record: 7-1.
Pannie Kianzad – 26 years of age, from Copenhagen, Denmark. Professional Record: 9-3
Bea Malecki – 26 years of age, from Stockholm, Sweden. Professional Record: 2-0
Macy Chiasson – 26 years of age, from New Orleans, Louisiana. Professional Record: 2-0
Julija Stoliarenko – 25 years of age, from Kaunas, Lithuania. Professional Record: 4-2-1
Leah Letson – 25 years of age, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Professional Record: 4-1
Larissa Pacheco – 23 years of age, from Belem, Brazil. Professional Record: 11-2

Team Whittaker Vs. Team Gastelum

Admittedly, it would be difficult to outline the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter on the roster. Until we can get a closer look, the continued story-line here is how the UFC came to the conclusion to set Gastelum up for a title shot.

Gastelum is the fourth ranked middleweight contender among names like Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman who currently hold the number two and number three contender’s spots respectively (only behind Yoel Romero).

The current middleweight rankings coupled with the fact that Gastelum has lost to Weidman by way of submission, and Rockhold has been knocked out by Weidman certainly leaves many unanswered questions. Why have Rockhold and Weidman square off in a November rematch, instead of one actually fighting for the title?