(Episode One, MatchUps and Teams, click on the spoiler tag)
TUF 20 Teams and First Round Matches
After an eventful promotional week for TUF 20, several sites are reporting the teams and opening round matches for the show, which will have its two hour premier Wednesday on Fox Sports 1.
Team Pettis (Green) : Alex Chambers, Felice Herrig, Carla Esparza, Joanne Calderwood, Ais Daly, Randa Markos Thomas, Jessica Penne, and Justine Kish
Team Melendez (Purple): Rose Namajunas, Heather Clark, Emily Kagan, Angela Magana, Tecia Torres, Lisa Ellis, Angela Hill, and Bec Hyatt.
After the teams were selected, they seeded the competitors and had each match have a representative from each time. The opening round matches contain two epic rematches – Penne vs. Ellis and Clark vs. Herrig. Here is the complete list:
•Rose Namajunas vs. Alex Chambers
•‘Heather Clark vs. Felice Herrig
•Joanne Calderwood vs. Emily Peters Kagan
•Aisling Daly vs. Angela Magana
•Tecia Torres vs. Randa Markos Thomas
•Jessica Penne vs. Lisa Ellis
•Carla Esparza vs. Angela Hill
•Justine Kish vs. Bec Hyatt
All the first round fights will air on Wednesday.
Further spoilers from footage I've seen sees...
-Tecia Torres being mounted by her opponent
-Carla Ezparza being knocked down
-Joanne Calderwood being viciously dumped on her head
-Aisling Daly passing out trying to make weight, and ambulances being called in
I'm impressed that this is how they are doing the first round. This is the kind of season where you can actually seed the competitors. So round one will indeed take place in episode one.
After what seemed like a long 9 months, we are ready to see the start of what will be the most exciting season of The Ultimate Fighter, whicjh will air on Fox Sports 1.
Sixteen fighters will vie for for the first ever UFC strawweight championship in what will be the most talent filed tournament in the company’s history. InvictaFC vets populate 12 of the sixteen spots and the rest range from rising stars to a few vets.
To get you prepared for the season premier, here are some things that will make your viewing just a bit enjoyable.
We are expecting two fights this first episode since it’s a two hour show tonight. Since there was no “get into the house” matches this time, the season won’t open with a series of matches to start. Expect teams to be picked right off the bat. The matches were made by seeding, with a Team Pettis fighter taking on a Team Melendez ones in the opening round.
We announced the teams and opening round matches last week, but let’s break them down.
As much experience Chambers has as a fighter in Muay Thai and MMA, Namajunas as proven to be one of the best submission specialists in the division. Even though Chambers will have no problem with making weight as she is an 105er normally, size maybe a factor. After a barn burner with Tecia Torres being her only loss, Namajunas is the darling of TUF promotion department so we don’t expect to lose the first fight. We see an armbar submission for Namajunas.
Herring: Heather Clark (split decision); Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc (unanimous decision)
What to Expect
There is no love loss between Clark and Herrig. Clark had been perusing a match with Herrig for over a year before she got her shot at Bellator in March 2013. The two battled with Clark taking the first round. A broken arm hindered Clark’s performance in the later rounds that gave Herrig the split decision win. After the final bell, Herrig screamed at Clark and Clark swiped at her. Since then, Clark had traded camps from Syndicate to Xtreme Couture and trains with Miesha Tate.
Herrig lost to Tecia Torres in her last outing and the “Little Bulldog” is looking to get some redemption.
Expect another heated battle between the two, with Clark possibly getting the upset.
Calderwood is known for her striking game and has a decent ground game. Kagan is the lone Jackson’s MMA representative (Clark had left Jacksons two year back). It will be interesting to see if Kagan tries to take it to the ground, but Calderwood’s ability to keep it standing will give the favorite an edge. We see a decision.
Both are vets and have some big upset wins under their belt, and is the closest match in the opening round. Daly’s ground game has improved immensely and has looked better in her past few fights than Magana. Expect Daly to take a unanimous decision win.
Tecia Torres (Team Melendez; 4-0) vs. Randa Markos Thomas (Team Pettis; 4-1)
Notable Wins
Torres: Felice Herrig (unanimous decision); Rose Namajunas (unanimous decision)
Thomas: Allanna Jones (armbar round 3); Lynell House (armbar round 1)
What to Expect
As much as Thomas’s record has been solid, Torres has made her way through some of the top talent in the division. Well rounded, she is the favorite to win it all. Expect another unanimous decision for the “Tiny Tornado”.
This is a rematch from InvictaFC 1 and was “Fight of the Night”. More than two years have passed and will be interesting to see how each person’s game has improved. We see Penne taking another TKO win.
The former InvictaFC champion never defended her belt before vacating, and is now back at square one in terms of getting a title. Her overwhelming experience looks like a solid lock for her to move on.
Rawlings proved she could hang with the top of the division, going five rounds with champion Carla Esparza. Kish has been on a roll getting some good wins under her belt. In a match that is too close to call, Kish may have an edge.
•Evidence of the semi-finalist have been popping up since the end of taping. Two major hints people were telling us is Namajunas was still in cornrows at the wrap party for the show; and Esparza was donning a black eye.
•Certain fighters were not on the press tour. These include Justine Kish and Bec Rawlings. (Alex Chambers and Joanne Calderwood are out of the country). Read into this as you may.
•There is obviously an incident with Angela Magana and Felice Herrig that happened first week. If we get it in the first or second episodes is anyone’s guess
Going only by commercial hype, I think Bec vs Rose is the title fight.
I'm luke warm on how much I will watch the season. I want to see all the fights but will probably have to record and watch to skip all the BS. The show hasn't even started yet and there is a hefty amount of it.
From the promo tour pics I've seen, Calderwood looks pudgy and out of shape, which doesn't fill me with confidence that she got through. Certainly doesn't look like the shape of someone training for a title fight.
Good first fight... and surprising result. Tecia Torres just made some bad decisions in there, trying to finish submissions that are not there instead of using them to get up.
Also, i had no idea Calderwood had such a soft dainty little voice... that voice masking the fact she is a stone cold killer.... is kind of psychopathic actually.
Torres might not be the only top seed surprised either... Angela Hill is undersized, but also a straight killer, so watch out for that fight.
I do agree she may make it to the finals but I'm not sure she will win if she faces Carla Esparza. However, favorites have been upset before. This could be the case and if so Calderwood could win.
A LOT of illegal back of the head shots in the first.
I thought the girl that lost looked a lot more impressive than the one who won, at least stylewise. Gotta work on that take down defence if you want to get anywhere in MMA though.
good first episode, I'll probably keep watching this season. I thought Torres looked better overall, but made the mistake of not standing up when she had the chance and got out grappled.
I hate to say it, but Herb Dean has been one of the worst referees for a while imo. I wouldn't have said it before because refs can make unfortunate calls in the heat of the moment, and one bad in a million good isn't something to mention. But I've just noticed situations like these shots in the back of the head a lot recently.
Calderwood next, great. Or should I say Kelderwood Pettis? Azling Daly is there too Dana.
Im so hyped for this season . I like it more than anything in TV . or any ufc event in the next couple of months -_- .
I was pretty sad when rose wasn't picked by Pettis . I think he just doesn't want to fight pat .
I basically hate Melendez . but obviously respect him in the cage .
Seriously looking forward for the next fight . calderwood is gonna kill it .
I swear that one episode made me a lot more into wmma . but only reason obviously is because most of em are beasts .
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