Kelvin Gastelum, Efrain Escudero to coach new season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America

Last year's first installment of "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America" featured UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and now-interim champion Fabricio Werdum as coaches and managed to draw a spectacular average of 7 million viewers per episode.

Now, the UFC announced a second season with Kelvin Gastelum and Efrain Escudero leading the two competing teams.

Gastelum made his way into the UFC by capturing the TUF crown himself. After winning season 17 he went 4-1 in the UFC and managed to beat the likes of Rick Story and Jake Ellenberger. The 23-year old is the son of Mexican immigrants.

"With this new generation of Latin American fighters, I gained a new level of responsibility to support and help grow the sport in these countries. I am excited to have this incredible opportunity and help these fighters fulfill their dreams as they were made mine," Gastelum said.

Mexican native Efrain "Made in Mexico" Escudero won season eight of The Ultimate Fighter and was later released and rehired two times by the UFC. At only 29 years of age, Escudero already contested in 31 professional fights and has lots of experience to share.

"Being one of the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter is something I had always dreamed of," Escudero said. "The experience of trying to be in the show, being selected and later winning it is really amazing and something I will never forget. Now as a coach, I have the opportunity to give the participants 100% of me, my knowledge and from my experience."

TUF: Latin America 2 will feature eight lightweights and eight welterweights from different Latin American countries. Filming for the new season will begin March 17 in Las Vegas, the live finale is scheduled for the second half of the year in Mexico. No exact date and venue have been named, yet.

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The series will be broadcasted on Channel 5 of Televisa in Latin America and on Fight Pass in the rest of the world. It remains to be seen, if a less star-studded coaches duo can repeat the first season's instant success.