Skip to main content

Mir's assistant coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 8 revealed

The Ultimate Fighter 8 features former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and current interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as the head coaches. Two of Mir's assistant coaches have been revealed according to a report on Tatame.com. Rafael Alejarra will serve as strength and conditioning coach, while multiple time Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Robert Drysdale will take on the role, of course, of jiu-jitsu coach.

In an interview with Tatame, Alejarra stated that the show is already in production and that he will assist Mir in getting his team ready, as the former champion asked him for assistance during the season.

Alejarra has served as conditioning coach most prominently of late to former Pride champion Wanderlei Silva, instituting his now famous "snorkel" training to help cardio and breathing during fights.

He also revealed Drysdale as the jiu-jitsu coach in the interview, but stated that because of his longtime relationship with Nogueira, the opposing coach on the show, that he would not train Mir personally for his fight against the champion.

The eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter will feature lightweights and light heavyweights and is expected to debut in September.