Cast of ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK’ to Feature 8 Lightweights, 8 Welterweights

---

The cast of “The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.” will feature eight lightweights and eight welterweights, promotion officials announced Tuesday night.

Team Australia will be comprised of lightweights Grant Blackler, Patrick Iodice, Richie Vaculik and Ben Wall, as well as welterweights Ben Alloway, Xavier Lucas, Manuel Rodriguez and Robert Whittaker.

Meanwhile, the British team features 155-pound talents Colin Fletcher, Norman Parke, Michael Pastou, Mike Wilkinson. Luke Newman, Bola Omoyele, Valentino Petrescu and Bradley Scott will represent the U.K. at welterweight.

Georges Sotiropoulos will captain the Aussie squad, while Ross Pearson will coach the Brits. Both lightweight coaches are “TUF” alumni, with Sotiropoulos fighting his way to the semifinals of Season 6 and Pearson winning Season 9 of the reality series.

Subtitled “The Smashes,” this upcoming iteration of the show marks the second time the UFC has pitted one nation against another within the context of the team-based competition. The season’s three-hour live finale is expected to take place in December and will feature both the lightweight and welterweight finals as well as a showdown between coaches. The season debuts Sept. 19 and airs Wednesdays on FX in Australia at 7:30 p.m. AEST.