http://mmajunkie.com/news/30431/the-ultimate-fighter-16-cast-unveiled-with-32-ufc-welterweight-hopefuls.mmaFight fans, meet the official cast members for "The Ultimate Fighter 16."
The latest edition of the UFC's long-running reality series kicks off Sept. 14 on FX, and officials today revealed the welterweight fighters who will compete in the show's 13-week tournament.
Twenty-nine Americans, two Canadians and a Brazilian – ranging from ages 22 to 34 – made the official list of 32. Some big-show vets are part of the group.
"TUF 16," which also is dubbed "TUF Fridays," features heavyweight contenders Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson as head coaches. During the two-hour debut episode, which FX airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT, an elimination round of fights will cut the list of fighters from 32 to 16, who then will be drafted into teams of two for the single-elimination tournament. Unlike some prior seasons, the show doesn't feature and wild-card/second-chance opportunities aside from injury-replacement possibilities.
The pre-taped episodes air for 13 consecutive Fridays (10 p.m. ET/PT), and then the TUF 16 Finale takes place Dec. 15 in Las Vegas. The event's main card, which includes Carwin vs. Nelson, airs on FX following prelims on FUEL TV.
Notable fighters chosen for "TUF 16" include Bellator veteran Sam Alvey (19-4), onetime Strikeforce fighter Cortez Coleman (8-3), IFL vet Bristol Marunde (12-7), recent Strikeforce fighter Ricky Legere Jr. (14-4), experienced M-1 vet Igor Araujo (22-6) and former Bellator/Strikeforce fighter Saad Awad (11-4).
There's also the resurgent Eddy Ellis (17-15-1), who's won nine out of his past 10 fights following a 9-14-1 start to his career.
The official list of "TUF 16" fighters includes:
Sam Alvey (19-4), 26, Murrieta, Calif.
Igor Araujo (22-6), 31, Albuquerque, N.M. (via Patos De Minas, Brazil)
Saad Awad (11-4), 23, San Bernardino, Calif.
Jesse Barrett (8-0), 26, Tempe, Ariz.
Diego Bautista (7-1), 26, Lakewood, Calif.
Frank Camacho (10-2), 23, Camp Springs, Md.
James Chaney (7-2), 25, Klamath Falls, Ore.
Jerel Clark (5-1), 23, Reno, Nev.
Cortez Coleman (8-3), 30, Hugo, Okla.
Cameron Diffley (3-0), 27, Las Vegas, Nev.
Eddy Ellis (17-15-1), 29, Olympia, Wash.
Max Griffin (4-1), 26, Sacramento, Calif.
Nic Herron-Webb (11-3), 22, Anchorage, Alaska
Michael Hill (4-0), 25, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Zane Kamaka (4-0), 23, Klaianae, Hawaii
Leo Kuntz (14-1-1), 28, Bismarck, N.D.
Julian Lane (4-0), 25, Mansfield, Ohio
Ricky Legere Jr. (14-4), 26, Corona, Calif.
George Lockhart (10-4), 29, Atlanta, Ga.
Lev Magen (4-0), 25, Las Vegas, Nev.
Neil Magny (7-1), 24, Chicago, Ill.
Jon Manley (7-1), 26, Ludlow, Mass.
Bristol Marunde (12-7), 30, Las Vegas, Nev.
David Michaud (4-0), 23, Pine Ridge, S.D.
Kevin Nowaczyk (11-2), 23, Chicago, Ill.
Joey Rivera (7-1), 32, Tucson, Ariz.
Mike Ricci (7-2), 26, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tim Ruberg (9-1), 30, Harrison, Ohio
Matt Secor (1-1), 25, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
Colton Smith (3-1), 25, Fort Hood, Texas via Ankeny, Iowa
Jason South (8-0), 34, West Jordan, Utah
Dom Waters (4-1), 23, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Since its debut on Spike TV in 2005, "TUF" has launched the UFC careers of nearly 200 fighters. It's also produced past champions such as Matt Serra, Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin.
For more on "The Ultimate Fighter 16," stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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