Azerbaijani MMA fighter Muhammadali Osmonov is preparing to participate in the 34th season of the UFC's "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. The project is scheduled to start on June 14.
Idman.Biz reports that Muhammadali Osmonov is currently in the final stage of preparation for the upcoming show.
The new season of the project will start on the same day as the historic "UFC Freedom 250" tournament, which will be held near the White House in Washington. This schedule turns the return of "The Ultimate Fighter" (TUF) reality show into a major media event for the UFC.
However, Muhammadali Osmanov's participation in this project is not only about the chance to get into the world's strongest league. The documents prepared for the TUF 34 participants separately note a very strict rule regarding confidentiality. Fighters are prohibited from disclosing the application process, selection stage, participation, filming, opponents, results, and any internal information related to the show without the permission of the producers or Paramount representatives.
Violation of this requirement may result in a payment of $5 million for the participant. The document describes this not as an ordinary fine, but as pre-determined compensation for the dissemination of confidential information. The ban comes into force from the moment the contract is signed and lasts for another three years after the broadcast of the final episode of the season.
This may also explain the lack of information about Osmanov's participation. Until the episodes are aired, the fighters cannot disclose to the public which team they are on, who they fought with, how the filming went, and what results their performances ended with.
TUF 34 also has other features. Participants must be between 21-34 years old and have the right to live and work in the United States. Foreign fighters must submit a criminal record check document. In addition, the questionnaire includes questions about injuries, surgeries, arrests, steroid use in the past year, and use of banned substances in the past six months.
Another unusual condition is that the participant must not be a candidate for public office and must disclose all existing contracts with fighting organizations. Also, all contacts with the media regarding the show must be carried out only through authorized representatives.
Former UFC champions Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping will be coaches in the 34th season. In the project, men will compete in the lightweight category, and women will compete in the minimum weight category, and the winners will have the opportunity to win a contract with the UFC. For Osmanli, this could be one of the most important stages of his career.