LAS VEGAS – A total of 36 fighters are today trying out for the upcoming 20th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which is the second to feature female competitors.
MMAjunkie is at today’s tryouts, which take place at Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
As previously announced, “TUF 20″ debuts Sept. 20 on FOX Sports 1, and the upcoming installment of the long-running reality show will crown the UFC’s inaugural 115-pound strawweight champion. This past year, “TUF 18″ featured 135-pounders and was the first to feature female cast members.
Part of the cast is already set. Back in December, the UFC acquired the contracts of 11 Invicta FC fighters with plans to feature them on “TUF 20″: Carla Esparza (9-2), Alex Chambers (4-1), Claudia Gadelha (11-0), Felice Herrig (9-5), Bec Hyatt (5-3), Emily Kagan (3-1), Juliana Lima (6-1), Rose Namajunas (2-1), Tecia Torres (4-0), Paige VanZant (3-1) and Joanne Calderwood (8-0).
However, VanZant, Gadelha and Lima are no longer expected to be part of the cast. VanZant wasn’t the mandatory minimum age of 21, Gadelha determined she can’t continually make the 115-pound limit, and Lima lack of English ruled her out, UFC President Dana White told MMAjunkie. However, all three will receive UFC contracts and will be booked for non-“TUF” UFC bouts.
That means eight slots are open for “TUF 20.” The show won’t have an elimination round of fights (meaning all 16 fighters chosen for the show will become official cast members). Filming begins July 1 and ends in mid-August.
The fighters trying out today for those open spots include:
- Audrey Alvarez
- Maria Andaverde
- Nina Ansaroff
- Chelsea Bailey
- Kathina Catron
- Angelica Chavez
- Holly Cline
- Heather Jo Clark
- Aisling Daly
- Sharice Davids
- Lisa Ellis
- Claire Fryer
- Charlene Gellner
- Paulina Granados
- Helen Harper
- Angela Hill
- Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger
- Justine Kish
- Jennifer Liou
- Kristi Lopez
- Jillian Lybarger
- Angela Magana
- Randa Markos
- Amy Montenegro
- Melissa Myers
- Michelle Ould
- Jessica Penne
- Tyra Parker
- Mandy Polk
- Diana Rael
- Laura Salazar
- Sarah Schneider-Chance
- Tessa Rose Simpson
- Danielle Taylor
- Karina Taylor
- Ashley Yoder
Lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and contender Gilbert Melendez will serve as head coaches on the show. The eventual tournament winner will join bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey as the UFC’s only female titleholders.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.
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