The latest episode of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ has caused unpleasant flashbacks for the coaches, the fighters, and Dana White! TUF 32 features current UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champion, Valentina Shevchenko as head coaches on the reality series. The show’s format involves the pair picking fighters to form teams which then go head-to-head against one another, along with various challenges and training sessions under the watchful eyes of the coaches.

During episode 2 of the current season, a matchup was abruptly called off due to a medical reason which surprisingly, has also happened in last year’s TUF 31 season, which featured Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as the coaches on the show. Let’s take a look at what went down!

Dana White handed a dose of ‘deja vu’ on the latest episode of TUF 32

In a clip from TUF 32 shared on X by the ESPN MMA account, it was revealed that “A fight cancelation due to cold sores happened in back-to-back TUF seasons”. The video shows Team Alexa Grasso’s fighter, Omran Chaaban, being informed by the show’s medical staff that he will be unable to compete in his upcoming fight against Team Valentina Shevchenko’s, Shamidkhan Magomedov.

The fighter then reveals that it was the flare up of a cold sore that caused the fight postponement, and the bout has been rescheduled for next week. Both coaches are also shown having a conversation indicating that they were eager for the fight to happen, but since it’s a decision by the medical commission, they can’t argue against it.

UFC CEO Dana White then makes an appearance where he reveals, “It’s crazy, almost the exact same situation happened last season (TUF 31: McGregor vs Chandler), Trevor Wells and Timur Valiev got to the gym on fight day, but the fight was postponed because of a cold sore.”

Cold sores are often misunderstood and surrounded by misinformation as many people mistakenly associate them with sexually transmitted diseases. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, cold sores are also known as fever blisters and are a fairly common viral infection that can be triggered by various factors like exposure to high temperatures, extremely cold winds, illness, or stress.

Considering the fact that the show is being filmed in Las Vegas, it’s not surprising that fighters may experience cold sore flare-ups due to the extreme temperatures and stress. However, it’s interesting that back-to-back seasons of the show have faced identical hurdles with fights being canceled due to the same medical condition. But while the show faces a bump in the road, Alexa Grasso has made it clear that she has one goal in mind once her duties on TUF come to an end!

Alexa Grasso is determined to finish the story with Valentina Shevchenko

Alexa Grasso has a score to settle with Valentina Shevchenko and she’s determined to get that fight made! In a recent interview shared by Sports Illustrated, the current flyweight champion stated, “I’m asking every day, hopefully it happens at The Sphere. We’re still waiting for news.”

The two women have built up an intense rivalry which began when Grasso defeated ‘Bullet’ at UFC 285 in 2023 to win the flyweight title. The pair had their rematch later in the year at ‘Noche UFC’ but the fight ended in a controversial split draw, with Grasso retaining her title.

As such, she revealed, “When I won the title, life only changed in one way, and that’s by making me work harder.” If she manages to beat Shevchenko for the second time, she’ll hold the rare distinction of being only the second fighter after Amanda Nunes to hold two wins over ‘Bullet’ in the UFC.

As TUF 32 continues to unfold, fans eagerly anticipate the culmination of this intense rivalry. Grasso’s determination and focus are evident, and her quest to solidify her legacy by defeating Shevchenko once more adds an extra layer of excitement to the season.

Does Alexa Grasso have what it takes to close out the rivalry against Valentina Shevchenko? Or will ‘Bullet’ return to claim her dominance over the division? Share your thoughts in the comments below!