Boxing champion Laila Ali is stepping into a different kind of ring as the host of Food Network’s new series Chef Grudge Match. Premiering Tuesday, August 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the show pits elite chefs against each other in winner-takes-all culinary battles designed to settle long-standing rivalries. Episodes will also stream the next day on HBO Max.
In Chef Grudge Match, chefs with personal or professional disputes compete for $10,000 cash, the losing chef’s most prized knife, and bragging rights. From former employees challenging their ex-bosses to restaurateurs defending their reputations against copycats, each match promises to be an intense showdown. The series features two head-to-head battles per episode, judged by resident judge Jet Tila alongside rotating guest judges.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Food Network family,” Ali said. “As someone who’s always been passionate about both competition and delicious food, Chef Grudge Match is the perfect fit. From the ring to the kitchen, I’ve never shied away from a challenge—and now I get to have fun while bringing that same intensity to a show where culinary rivalries are settled once and for all.”
The premiere episode features Food Network favorite Gabe Bertaccini, who has held a grudge for 15 years against his former prodigy, Tyler Romine, after Romine quit his catering business with only three days’ notice. In the second match, Colorado chef Taylor Frankel faces off against former sous chef Maria Busato, who opened a rival catering company in the same small town. The eight-episode season will include matches between business rivals, recipe copycats, teachers and students, and even husband versus wife.
Guest judges this season include Eric Adjepong, Maneet Chauhan, Adrienne Cheatham, Tiffani Faison, Stephanie Izard, Eddie Jackson, Chris Oh, and Claudette Zepeda.
“With reputations and livelihoods on the line, competition in the food world has heightened stakes which have produced legendary grudges and rivalries,” said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Chef Grudge Match brings these grievances to a head in front of a studio audience, with all the energy of a live boxing match, and Laila Ali is the perfect ringmaster to oversee these battles for ultimate bragging rights.”
Ali, the youngest daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, is a five-time boxing world champion with an undefeated record of 24 wins, including 21 by knockout. She made history as the first woman to provide expert boxing commentary during the 2012 Olympic Games and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022. Beyond boxing, Ali is a home chef, wellness advocate, TV host, and founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand. Her television credits include co-hosting American Gladiators, guest hosting Beat Bobby Flay, and hosting Home Made Simple, All-In With Laila Ali, and Everyday Health. She is also a two-time Chopped champion and the author of Reach: Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power and her bestselling cookbook Food for Life: Delicious & Healthy Comfort Food from My Table to Yours!
Viewers can follow along with the competition on Food Network and social media using #ChefGrudgeMatch. More information about the show is available at FoodNetwork.com.
