Author – Nicholas Holt
The UFC’s talent pool at lightweight and bantamweight has never been deeper… but what if we gathered the world’s best undefeated prospects into one house, split across two divisions, and let them battle for a UFC contract? Welcome to the fantasy season we’re calling “Someone’s 0 Has Got to Go.”
In this season, there are no journeymen and no easy fights. Every bout will end with a promising fighter losing their perfect record. The tension isn’t just about making it to the UFC — it’s about staying unbeaten in a house full of future stars.
The cast brings together fighters from eleven countries and some of the top regional promotions, including LFA, CFFC, ACA, Brave CF, UAE Warriors, and more. It’s the perfect mix of styles, nationalities, and personalities to make a season that feels both competitive and unpredictable.
With hungry strikers from Brazil, relentless Dagestani grapplers, and slick technicians from Europe and Southeast Asia, this would be one of the most high-stakes seasons of The Ultimate Fighter ever.
The Fighters
Lightweight Division (155 lb)
Amru Magomedov (9-0, Russia)
Magomedov prefers to close distance quickly, drag opponents down, and suffocate them with heavy top control. His composure and cardio make him a nightmare in the three-round TUF format. He’s a classic Dagestani grinder with superb positional wrestling.
Juan Pablo Viera (9-0, Brazil)
Only 21, Viera is a prodigy from Brazil’s LFA circuit. A slick jiu-jitsu finisher who attacks in scrambles and transitions seamlessly to striking in the pocket, he thrives in chaotic exchanges. His youth and highlight-reel finishing make him one of the season’s most watchable fighters, and perhaps the best finisher this roster has.
Omar Tugarev (8-0, Finland)
A rangy technical striker who controls distance behind a stiff jab and precise counters. Tugarev keeps a measured pace, punishing mistakes with crisp combinations and well-timed takedowns. His last finish came from a ground and pound from the crucifix position in his Cage Warriors debut.
Damian Rzepecki (9-0, Poland)
An aggressive all-action lightweight who mixes sharp boxing combinations with opportunistic takedowns. Rzepecki likes to push a high pace and wear opponents down, making him a threat in both striking and grappling exchanges. His past fights are pure violence with a major emphasis on the body; his liver shots and knees have proven unstoppable so far.
Dmitriy Kireev (11-0, Russia)
One of the most active lightweights on the regional scene, Kireev has fought three times already in 2025, a perfect fit for the quick turnarounds on TUF. Kireev’s relentless wrestling pressure, chain takedowns, and heavy ground-and-pound break opponents mentally as much as physically. His proven ability to dominate tough regional foes makes him a favorite.
Harry Webb (5-0, Australia)
A gritty, durable brawler who excels in wild back-and-forth fights. Webb’s toughness and willingness to wade into fire will quickly turn him into a fan-favorite. He’s the type of fighter who can steal the spotlight with gutsy performances and shocking finishes.
Ieuan Davies (6-0, Wales)
A composed grappler with strong clinch control and dangerous submissions, Davies is on an undeniable run right now, yet to see the third round in his professional career. The Welsh fighter possesses a ripping rear-naked choke and high-level jiu-jitsu. He’ll be tested by other high-level grapplers on the roster and will pose major issues for strike-heavy game plans.
Ramazan Gitinov (5-0, Bahrain)
A former world-class amateur with a polished clinch-to-mat game. Gitinov thrives in grinding fights, using underhooks, trips, and a smothering top game to drain opponents. His experience on the global amateur stage gives him the most mature skill set in this weight class, despite a short pro record.
Bantamweight Division (135 lb)
Aboubakar Younousov (7-0, France)
Younousov is a methodical grappler who uses clean entries to close distance, secure body locks, and drag opponents to the mat. Once on top, he stays heavy, chips away with short strikes, and wears opponents out. He isn’t as flashy as some of the other fighters here, but his calm demeanor and airtight positional control make him one of the most reliable grinders in the field.
Magomed-Giri Umarkhadzhiev (7-0, France)
Umarkhadzhiev brings raw physicality to the division. Short and stocky for a bantamweight, he excels in the clinch, where he ties opponents up and forces them to defend takedowns against the fence. In recent fights, he’s shown a growing mean streak, landing damaging elbows and short punches inside. He represents the classic wrestling-heavy prospect, suffocating on top, but still has unique offensive striking.
Kasib Murdoch (5-0, Australia)
Murdoch is the division’s rangy, dynamic kickboxer. He uses long jabs, teeps, and knees to frustrate wrestlers trying to close the gap. When pressured, he has a tendency to throw flying knees or elbows in the pocket. His creativity and highlight-reel mentality could make him a fan favorite and a wild card in the tournament.
Tiago Pereira (8-0, Brazil)
Pereira thrives on forward momentum. He works behind a high guard and a punishing jab, digging to the body early and wearing opponents down over time. His takedown defense has steadily improved, allowing him to keep the fight standing where his boxing shines. If he can dictate the pace, he’s the type of fighter who drowns opponents in volume and cardio.
Yryskeldi Duysheev (12-0, Kyrgyzstan)
Duysheev brings a relentless pace to the cage. “The Motor” doesn’t slow down even in the later rounds, if the fight even gets there. His submission skills and forward pressure will have fans loving his willingness to bite down on the mouthpiece and go.
Milijan Zdravkovic (9-0, Serbia)
Zdravkovic is a seasoned and gritty thrower in ugly fights. He’s hard to put away, has excellent defensive grappling, and can often outlast opponents in long, grinding battles. His durability and finishing ability will create a real threat for the TUF tournament.
Damien Anderson (4-0, USA)
A developing American prospect with strong wrestling roots, Anderson is quick to shoot doubles and transition to back control. What makes him compelling is his composure; he doesn’t panic under pressure and often finds ways to reverse bad positions. He’s one of the least experienced fighters, but has an extremely high ceiling.
Elton Armindo (8-0, Angola)
Armindo is an explosive striker who thrives on fast combinations and blitzing entries. Fighting out of Europe but representing Angola, he brings a unique style and international appeal. He’s shown strong defensive wrestling and good scrambles, which keep him dangerous even off his back. Armindo’s speed and aggression make him a live threat against both wrestlers and other strikers.
The Coaches: Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett
Two undefeated UFC stars take the helm to coach the next wave of unbeaten prospects. Ilia Topuria brings knockout artistry, legacy and status, while Paddy Pimblett brings charisma, grappling wizardry, and a knack for stealing the spotlight. Their rivalry promises fireworks before they ever step into the cage to face each other in the season finale with the lightweight title on the line.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Someone’s 0 Has Got to Go,” would capture the original spirit of TUF: raw, hungry prospects fighting for a place on the sport’s biggest stage. With a roster packed with undefeated talents from every corner of the globe, each bout carries the weight of pride, progress, and the loss of a perfect record. For fans, it’s more than just a tournament; it’s a glimpse at the next generation of UFC contenders, tested under the pressure that made TUF legendary in the first place.