Kelvin Gastelum, Efrain Escudero to Serve as Coaches on ‘TUF: Latin America 2’

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Kelvin Gastelum and Efrain Escudero have signed on to coach the upcoming second season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship made the announcement on Tuesday. The show begins filming on March 17 in Las Vegas and will air sometime in August. “TUF: Latin America 2” will not air on television in the U.S., but UFC Fight Pass subscribers will have access to the reality program.

The news comes on the heels of the UFC announcing ”TUF 21,” which will feature fighters from the Blackzilians camp taking on prospects from American Top Team.

This season’s pool of talent will feature lightweight and welterweight competitors who come exclusively from Mexico and the rest of Latin America. The names of participants have not yet been announced, but will be revealed in the coming weeks.

“My experience traveling throughout Latin America and my fight in Mexico City has opened my eyes to the incredible talent this region,” Gastelum stated in a press release. “With this new generation of Latin American fighters, I gained a new level of responsibility to support and help grow the sport in these countries. I am excited to have this incredible opportunity and help these fighters fulfill their dreams as they were made ​​mine.”

“Being one of the coaches of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ is something I had always dreamed of,” Escudero added. “The experience of spend the whole process to try to be in the show and then be selected and later winning is really amazing and something I will never forget. Now as a coach, I have the opportunity to give participants 100 percent of me, of my knowledge from my experience, those who have the dream of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I hope to help these young people achieve their dream. I can assure you, this will be a great season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.’”

Gastelum and Escudero both entered the UFC by way of “TUF.” Gastelum, a 23-year-old Yuma, Ariz., native, defeated Uriah Hall at the “TUF 17” finale to win the season, while Escudero was the season eight victor.

It remains unclear whether the coaches will compete against one another in the show’s finale, but the conclusion of “TUF: Latin America 2” will take place somewhere in Mexico.