Indianapolis gets 'TUF 19' tryouts Aug. 27 for middleweights, light heavyweights

Open fighter tryouts for Season 19 of “The Ultimate Fighter” are slated for Aug. 27 in Indianapolis, with 185- and 205-pound fighters invited.

Middleweights also were featured on Season 17 of the show, which was coached by light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen. But the last time light heavyweights were contestants on the show was Season 8, which was coached by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir, with Ryan Bader emerging as the winner.

Indianapolis’ Westin Hotel will host the tryouts for the show, which is expected to begin filming in early 2014 for a broadcast later that spring on FOX Sports 1.

UFC officials today released the details for the session. Registration begins at 7 a.m. ET local time on the day of the tryouts, which take place the day before the UFC’s return to Indianapolis for UFC Fight Night 27, which will take place at the nearby Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Aug. 28. The tryouts themselves begin at 9 a.m. ET. in the Capitol Room at the Westin.

Coaches for Season 19 have not yet been announced. Season 18 of the show airs on FOX Sports 1 starting Wednesdays on Sept. 4 and features coaches Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate – and women competing in the house for the first time, right along side their male bantamweight counterparts.

At the open tryouts, fighters typically demonstrate their striking and grappling abilities to UFC President Dana White and matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby. Those who make it beyond the initial stage are interviewed by the show’s producers, and the advancing fighters are then flown to Las Vegas for medical screenings.

Once again for Season 19, hopefuls need at least three pro fights, have a winning record and must be between the ages of 21-34. An application is available on ufc.com/TUF19. Prospective candidates should bring their completed applications to the tryouts.

“The Ultimate Fighter” debuted in 2005 and has launched the UFC careers of nearly 200 fighters.

(Pictured: Joe Silva and Dana White)