Former Iowa wrestler Edwin Cooper is competing in TUF 32. TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) is a production for the UFC. Cooper is competing in the Featherweight division of 145 lbs.
The two teams for TUF 32 are coached by Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso. The season opener for TUF 32 was on Tuesday, June 4. Cooper is a member of Team Shevchenko.
TUF is a reality TV show with twelve episodes where the winner of each weight will receive a contract to compete in the UFC.
Cooper is one of eight fighters in the Featherweight competition and the only American. Cooper will compete with fighters from England, Lithuania, South Africa, Tajikistan, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
With a career 6-1 MMA record Cooper has been training in MMA since he left Iowa. He is currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico and competes for legendary Jackson Wink MMA.
UFC champions Holly Holm and Jon Jones have competed for Jackson Wink MMA for years.
Through Facebook I have been able to keep up with Cooper’s MMA career since he left Iowa. He has not competed since 2022 and this is a great opportunity to make a huge move in his MMA career.
Cooper was a 2016 NCAA National Qualifier for the University of Iowa at 157 lbs.
Originally from Joliet, Illinois, Cooper was a two-time Illinois state champion and four-time finalist at Providence Catholic and also a Cadet and Junior freestyle national champion. He won a Junior College national title at 149 lbs. for Iowa Central in 2012.
I will keep you up to date on this blog with results for Cooper on TUF 32.
Best of luck to Edwin Cooper.
The Ultimate Fighter 32: Men’s Featherweights
- Edwin Cooper Jr. ( 6-1)
- Nathan Fletcher (8-1)
- Zygimantas Ramaska (9-2)
- Roedie Roets (7-1)
- Bekhzod Usmonov (12-4)
- Guillermo Torres (7-1)
- Kaan Ofli (11-2-1)
- Mairon Santos (13-1)
TUF 32 Schedule
| Date | Episode | Location | How to watch |
| June 4 | 1 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| June 11 | 2 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| Jun 18 | 3 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| June 25 | 4 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| July 2 | 5 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| July 9 | 6 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| July 16 | 7 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| July 23 | 8 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| July 30 | 9 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| August 6 | 10 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| August 13 | 11 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
| August 20 | 12 | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, USA | ESPN+, Fubo |
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
