UFC’s ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ will spotlight White-Nelson friction

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White said the second season of “The Ultimate Fighter” on FX will feature a return to more household personal drama.

White’s relationship with coach and UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson is part of the tension.

“Roy and I don’t get along,” White said. “I think as part of this people will want to see me fight Roy … everything that comes out of his mouth bothers me, and the thing about Roy Nelson is he’s the ultimate underachiever.

“He says he wants more sponsors … mullet, scraggly beard, 30 pounds overweight, you think people want to invest in that? If he took himself seriously -- he went the distance with Junior Dos Santos! -- and trained and cleaned up …. He doesn’t want to do things right.”

Nelson and Shane Carwin will coach the teams of 32 welterweights, who will reside and fight in the UFC’s Las Vegas house and gym. The cast includes four Southern Californians: Diego Bautista of Lakewood, Corona’s Ricky Legere (a former three-sport athlete at Norco High School), San Bernardino’s Saad Away and Murrieta’s Sam Alvey.

In its 17th version, “The Ultimate Fighter” debuts Friday at 9 p.m. on FX. The competition eliminates fighters with bouts in the octagon, with the winner on Dec. 15 receiving a UFC contract.

“TUF has proven itself with guys who’ve become world champions and given the UFC some great fights, and this group has talent to do the same,” White said.

ALSO:

Michelle Kwan gets engaged to Clay Pell

USC football: Reporter’s suspension is lifted

Strasburg surgeon clarifies his role in pitcher’s shutdown

Lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter.com/latimespugmire