UFC Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin return as reality show coaches

A pair of Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famers will return to coach the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” the organization announced Monday.

Chuck Liddell, who coached Season 1 of the original version of the show in 2005, will coach against Forrest Griffin, who emerged as a star that season and eventually won the title.

“We have come a long way from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter,” Liddell said in a statement. “I feel honored to be a part of the Latin American series. We have great fighters competing in the region and I’m excited to get a chance to train them and teach them a few things I learned during my career.”

Both former light heavyweight champions have also coached subsequent seasons of the show.

Liddell, 46, will not fight the 36-year-old Griffin at the end of the season.

This will mark the first season filmed in Buenos Aires with production set to begin in late spring. Episodes will begin streaming on UFC Fight Pass in August leading up to the live finale on Nov. 5 in Mexico City.

“I’m very excited to be participating in The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3,” Griffin said in a statement. “I know how much of a competitor Chuck is so I will be bringing my ‘A’ game. UFC is still very new in Latin America and for that reason I am thrilled to be a part of this opportunity in helping grow the sport in the region.”

The series will air on television throughout Latin America.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj