32 Welterweights Revealed for Sept. 14 ‘TUF 16’ Debut; Carwin, Nelson Meet at Dec. 15 Finale

Several recognizable names were among those announced for the cast, including Bellator veteran Sam Alvey, ex-Strikeforce talent Saad Awad and former International Fight League competitor Bristol Marunde, among others. The season features heavyweights Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson as coaches and debuts Sept. 14 on FX.

The competitors, aged 22 to 34, will compete in 16 elimination fights to gain entry into the “TUF” house during the two-hour season premiere beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Season 16 marks a departure from the show’s previous live installment and will return to the pre-recorded format used for the first 14 seasons of the series.

The two finalists who advance through the single elimination tournament will face off at the live finale on Dec. 15, as will coaches Carwin and Nelson, promotion officials announced.

Cast of ‘TUF 16’:

Bristol Marunde (12-7), 30, Las Vegas, Nev.
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.
Mike Ricci (7-2), 26, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ricky Legere Jr. (14-4), 26, Corona, Calif.
George Lockhart (10-4), 29, Atlanta, Ga.
Jesse Barrett (8-0), 26, Tempe, Ariz.
Diego Bautista (7-1), 26, Lakewood, Calif.
Frank Camacho (10-2), 23, Camp Springs, Md.
Joey Rivera (7-1), 32, Tucson, Ariz.
Tim Ruberg (9-1), 30, Harrison, Ohio
Matt Secor (1-1), 25, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
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
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.
Leo Kuntz (14-1-1), 28, Bismarck, N.D.
Julian Lane (4-0), 25, Mansfield, Ohio
Lev Magen (4-0), 25, Las Vegas, Nev.
Neil Magny (7-1), 24, Chicago, Ill.
John Manley (7-1), 26, Ludlow, Mass.
David Michaud (4-0), 23, Pine Ridge, S.D.
Kevin Nowaczyk (11-2), 23, Chicago, Ill.