Two major figures in the world of mixed martial arts, Jon Jones and Nate Diaz, are slated to face off in a unique setting: as coaches on a Russian reality television program.
These prominent MMA stars have officially signed on to mentor opposing teams during the second season of the Russian fight-themed show, titled ALF Reality. The program is the creation of influencer Alfredo Auditore.
The precise requirements for Jones and Diaz in their coaching capacities have not been explicitly detailed. However, if the dynamic and interactions between the coaches of the first season, Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, offer any insight, it is expected that both fighters will have ample opportunity to showcase their personalities and potentially engage in confrontational exchanges.
In the show`s initial season, Aljamain Sterling stepped in to replace his friend and teammate, Merab Dvalishvili, coaching against Petr Yan. This arrangement allowed the former UFC rivals to continue their contentious history, which included Sterling`s controversial disqualification victory over Yan for the bantamweight title—a moment the Russian fighter frequently brought up.
For Jon Jones, the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, this reality show commitment represents another project undertaken while he awaits confirmation of his next fight. His future in the Octagon is reportedly linked to his willingness to face interim champion Tom Aspinall, a matchup Jones has publicly shown little interest in. His most recent bout occurred at UFC 309 last November, where he successfully defended his championship by defeating Stipe Miocic via third-round technical knockout.
Nate Diaz, conversely, has remained quite active since his departure from the UFC in 2022, concluding a career spanning fifteen years with the promotion. Since leaving the UFC, Diaz has competed in professional boxing on two occasions. He suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jake Paul in 2023, followed by securing a majority decision victory over fellow notable MMA competitor Jorge Masvidal in 2024.
