Boxing legend Laila Ali steps into the kitchen as host of Chef Grudge Match
Boxing legend Laila Ali is trading her boxing gloves for a chef's apron as she takes on hosting duties for Food Network's explosive new series, Chef Grudge Match.
Image: Supplied / Burson
Get ready for the ultimate culinary showdown! Boxing legend Laila Ali, an American television personality and retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007, is set to host the Food Network's new series, Chef Grudge Match.
This high-stakes competition brings together top chefs from around the world to settle long-standing feuds and bitter rivalries.
In each episode, two chefs with unresolved beef will face off in a single-round battle, with the winner taking home $10,000 cash, the losing chef's most coveted knife, and ultimate bragging rights. The competition will feature heated battles over business disputes, recipe rivalries, student-teacher conflicts, and even husband versus wife showdowns.
"I'm thrilled to be joining the Food Network family," said Ali. "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 Gabe Bertaccini, a Food Network favourite, who has been holding a 15-year grudge against his protégé, Tyler Romine, who left Gabe's catering business with only three days' notice. The second match showcases Taylor Frankel from Vail, Colorado, who has a bone to pick with her former sous chef, Maria Busato, after she opened a rival catering company in the same small town.
Throughout the eight-episode season, viewers can expect heated battles, all taking place in front of a live studio audience with the electric atmosphere of a boxing match.
The Judges
Resident judge Jet Tila will be joined by an impressive lineup of guest judges, including Eric Adjepong, Maneet Chauhan, Adrienne Cheatham, Tiffani Faison, Stephanie Izard, Eddie Jackson, Chris Oh, and Claudette Zepeda.
When and Where to Watch
Chef Grudge Match premieres on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 5pm CAT on Food Network (DStv channel 175) and will be available for streaming on DStv's Catch Up service. You can also catch it on GOtv channel 104 (Kenya, Malawi) and 404 (Uganda).