Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently announced the full cast of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 24, coached by top flyweight contenders Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo, which premieres on FOX Sports 1 on Weds., Aug. 31, 2016 at 10 p.m. ET.
Instead of holding an open casting call, the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion instead scoured the globe for 16 flyweight champions competing in regional and international promotions, then selected the best of the best to make hay while the sun shines in "Sin City."
A few names will undoubtedly be recognizable to longtime fans.
16 fighters will be split into two groups of eight with the remaining two competing at the Dec. 3 live finale on FOX Sports 1, an event to be headlined by the 125-pound grudge match featuring Benavidez vs. Cejudo. The TUF 24 champ moves on to challenge Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson in early 2017.
Unless the 125-pound title somehow changes hands between now and then.