Lightweights, welterweights invited to tryouts for 'TUF 22' in April in Las Vegas

UFC matchmaker Joe Silva

Open fighter tryouts for Season 22 of “The Ultimate Fighter” are slated for April 27 in Las Vegas, with lightweights and welterweights invited.

Las Vegas’ Palace Station Hotel & Casino (2411 W. Sahara Ave.) will host the tryouts for the show, which is expected to begin filming in May for a broadcast starting in September on FOX Sports 1. The tryouts typically are presided over by UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby, and oftentimes UFC President Dana White.

“TUF 22″ is expected to feature 155-pound and 170-pound contestants. Coaches for the season have not yet been announced by the UFC.

UFC officials today released the details for the open tryout session. Registration begins at 8 a.m. PT local time on the day of the tryouts, which will take place in Palace Station’s Grand Ballroom. Fighters will be expected to go through grappling sessions and hit pads, and are asked to bring appropriate gear for both activities. Candidates must be between the ages of 21 and 34. In addition, they must be legally able to live and work in the United States and have a verifiable winning professional MMA record with at least three pro fights.

Fighters should complete an application in advance, which is to be brought to the tryouts. Applications can be found at ufc.com/tuf22.

Fighters who are selected to take part in the casting finals process will be expected to remain in Las Vegas until May 1. Questions can be directed to tufcasting@ufc.com.

The finalists from “TUF 22″ are expected to fight for the season’s championship at the conclusion of the season, typically a live finale in Las Vegas.

Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter” wrapped this past fall and featured an all-women’s strawweight cast. Carla Esparza won the show and the UFC’s inaugural 115-pound title when she beat Rose Namajunas. On Saturday, she defends her title for the first time in the UFC 185 co-main event.

Season 21 of the show will debut next month and features a fight camp vs. fight camp theme for the first time with unsigned fighters from South Florida’s Blackzilians team taking on fighters from American Top Team.

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