Spike TV has finally announced the welterweight cast for its debut season of "Fight Master," which includes Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Joe Riggs among the 32 contestants vying for a spot in the upcoming Bellator 170-pound tournament.
Along with a cool $100,000 payday.
Bellator's "Fight Master," which has evolved from Spike TV's original Ultimate Fighter (TUF) combat sports reality show (now on FX), will be coached by mixed martial arts (MMA) notables Randy Couture, Greg Jackson, Frank Shamrock, and Joe Warren.
This is who they'll be instructing.
Marcus "Lelo" Aurelio
Age: 26
Record: 6-2-0
Vancouver, British Columbia
Twitter: @barraozinho
Nick Barnes
Age: 22
Record: 5-0-0
San Diego, CA
Twitter: @Nick_phoenix170
Eric Bradley
Age: 31
Record: 5-1-0
Las Vegas, NV
Twitter: @ericbradleymma
Mike Bronzoulis
Age: 34
Record: 15-5-1
Houston, TX
Twitter: @thegreekmikeb
Frank Carrillo
Age: 29
Record: 6-3-0
Miami, FL
Twitter: @CarrilloMMA
Darryl Cobb
Age: 32
Record: 6-6-0
East St. Louis, IL
Twitter: @devistatdarryl
Christopher Curtis
Age: 25
Record: 7-2-0
Cincinnati, OH
Twitter: @TheActionman513
Evan Cutts
Age: 22
Record: 5-1-0
Dallas, TX
Twitter: @TheButcherCutts
Mike Dubois
Age: 30
Record: 3-0-0
Thomasville, GA
Twitter: @zombiemikemma
Tom Gallicchio
Age: 26
Record: 16-8-0
Howell, NJ
Twitter: @TomDaTank5
Ismael Gonzalez
Age: 32
Record: 11-10-0
Los Angeles, CA
Twitter: @Ismael_mma
Gareth Joseph
Age: 28
Record: 9-5-0
San Diego, CA
Twitter: @garethjoseph
Chris Lozano
Age: 30
Record: 9-3-0
Cleveland, OH
Twitter: @CLE_assassin
AJ Matthews
Age: 24
Record: 5-2-0
Carlsbad, CA
Twitter: @AJ_MMA
Rob Mills
Age: 35
Record: 8-2-0
Newcastle, United Kingdom
Twitter: @robmillsmma
Steve Montgomery
Age: 22
Record: 3-1-0
Florence, SC
Twitter: @WeaselSteve
Chip Moraza-Pollard
Age: 24
Record: 7-4-0
Plymouth, MA
Twitter: @chipthesurgeon
Brett Nakamura
Age: 30
Record: 6-1-0
Maui, HI
Jason Norwood
Age: 28
Record: 12-3-0
Fort Hood, TX
Twitter: @rightfight170
Dom O'Grady
Age: 31
Record: 15-5-1
Detroit, MI
Twitter: @Dom_OGrady
Jacob Ortiz
Age: 31
Record: 8-4-0
San Manuel, AZ
Twitter: @KobeTheStunna
Josh Quayhagen
Age: 26
Record: 6-1-0
Lake Charles, LA
Twitter: @JoshQuayhagen
Joe Riggs
Age: 30
Record: 39-14-0
Phoenix, AZ
Twitter: @DIESELRIGGSMMA
Eric Scallan
Age: 27
Record: 11-4-0
Lafayette, LA
Twitter: @EricScallan
Cristiano Souza
Age: 30
Record: 5-0-0
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Twitter: @SouzaSoldierBoy
Brendan Tierney
Age: 37
Record: 10-5-0
Queens, NY
Twitter: @Tiny_Shorts
Bryan Travers
Age: 29
Record: 13-3-0
Bakersfield, CA
Twitter: @BryanTravers
Andy Uhrich
Age: 27
Record: 8-3-0
Gering, NE
Twitter: @stunneruhrich
Tim Welch
Age: 22
Record: 8-4-0
Great Falls, MT
Twitter: @TimWelchMT
Cole Williams
Age: 30
Record: 5-1-0
Darian, WI
Twitter: @havocole
Joe Williams
Age: 27
Record: 7-1-0
Tustin, CA
Twitter: @jawmma
Artenas Young
Age: 32
Record: 9-5-0
Houston, TX
Twitter: @MachineGunYoung
Click to enlarge.
Despite being 39-14, Riggs is just 30 years old and has won five straight fights (with five straight finishes) on the regional circuit.
The coaches will break up the cast into four different camps (eight participants each). The fighters will also control their own destiny by choosing which camp to train with and which opponent to fight. The Spike TV Live Finale will crown a tournament winner, who gains entry into the next Bellator 170-pound tournament.
More on that here.
"Fight Master" will premiere on Weds., June 19, 2013 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV.
Will you watch?
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