Pearson and Sotiropoulos to coach The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs UK

Last night following UFC on FUEL TV 4, UFC President Dana White announced to Ariel Helwani that TUF veterans Ross Pearson (13-6) and George Sotiropoulos (14-4) will serve as coaches for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK.

This international version of the UFC’s reality show, nicknamed “The Smashes” in honor of the cricket rivalry between the two nations, will match fighters from Australia (Team Sotiropoulos) against their counterparts from the United Kingdom (Team Pearson). Pearson and Sotiropoulos will face each other in the season’s finale.

Pearson was the winner of Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter. The former Lightweight has recently dropped to featherweight for his his last two bouts. His first fight at this weight gave him a unanimous decision win over Junior Assuncao in December 2011, however his most recent match at this weight was a loss vis TKO to Cub Swanson at UFC on FX 4.

Sotiropoulos is a veteran of Season 6 of The Ultimate Fighter. The Australian fighter started out on a seven fight win streak with the promotion, but has suffered two losses to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos, respectively.