TUF 14 to Feature 135, 145'ers; Cruz, Faber Possible as Coaches

---

It appears the UFC will give lighter fighters some love in the 14th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby tweeted Wednesday that “TUF 14” would feature fighters in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions and that tryouts for the upcoming season will take place March 21 at the Marriott Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel in Newark, N.J.

While not officially announced by the promotion, sources close to the situation have informed Sherdog.com that the UFC’s tentative hope is to use bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber as the coaches for the 14th season, should Faber triumph in his March 19 bout with Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 in Newark.

Cruz and Faber contested the WEC featherweight title in March 2007, with the then-champion Faber submitting Cruz with a guillotine in just 98 seconds.

Now entering its 13th season, “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show first aired in 2005. Season winners include such notables as Forrest Griffin, Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans and Matt Serra. Most recently, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 was won by lightweight Jonathan Brookins, who bested Michael Johnson in the series finale in December.

The 13th season, featuring welterweights, will premiere on Spike TV on March 30, with heavyweight coaches Junior dos Santos and former UFC champion Brock Lesnar.