Cruz, Faber Tabbed as 'TUF 15' Coaches on FX in March
Tell
somebody: Urijah Faber will coach TUF 15 opposite rival Dominick
Cruz. | Photo: Dave Mandel
Season 14 was the first installment of “The Ultimate Fighter” to feature bantamweight contestants, and Season 15 will be the first to showcase 135-pound coaches.
The UFC Tuesday announced that divisional kingpin Dominick Cruz will coach against rival Urijah Faber in the series' FX debut in March.
Advertisement
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts,” Cruz said. “This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach 'TUF' and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of 'The Ultimate Fighter.'”
The series recently completed its 14th season on Spike TV, featuring bantamweight and featherweight competitors coached by Michael Bisping and Jason Miller. The show will undergo a makeover in its FX debut, as fights will be held live each week.
“I can’t wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter,” said Faber. “I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn. Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect. I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.”
The show will set up a rubber match between Cruz and Faber, who first met for Faber's World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight title in 2007. The pair would next meet as bantamweights in July 2011, and this time it would be for Cruz's UFC title.
While “The California Kid” was dominant in his first bout with “The Dominator,” Cruz exacted revenge on his rival in their second meeting, outpointing Faber to retain his 135-pound title at UFC 132.
Since that confrontation, both Cruz and Faber have earned wins. Cruz successfully defended his title against a game Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live 6, while Faber submitted fellow former WEC titlist Brian Bowles at UFC 139 in November.
Related Articles
