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TUF 20 Timeline:
December, 2013 - UFC announces TUF 20 with a cast of Strawweights. The season will be a 16-woman tournament to decide the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion. The UFC acquired 11 contracts from Invicta FC: Carla Esparza, Alex Chambers, Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Bec Hyatt, Emily Kagan, Julianna Lima, Rose Namajunas, Tecia Torres, Paige VanZant, and Joanne Calderwood.
*** Three of the rumoured participants are signed to the UFC, but will not compete on TUF 20: Paige VanZant (due to age restrictions), Claudia Gadelha (due to her management's concerns over making the SW limit frequently during the show), and Juliana Lima (due to language barrier).
February, 2014 - TUF 20 Coaches are announced: UFC LW Champion Anthony Pettis & Gilbert Melendez. The two will meet at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada for the UFC LW Championship.
April, 2014 - Tryouts are held in Las Vegas to determine the remaining 8 cast members for TUF 20.
June 11, 2014 - UFC books first Strawweight bout in UFC history as Claudia Gadelha (11-0, Brazil) Vs. Tina Lahdemaki (5-0, Finland) in Atlantic City, New Jersey at UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone Vs. Miller -July 16, 2014
* Claudia Gadelha wins by unianimous decision. (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
June 30, 2014 - UFC books second Strawweight bout in UFC history as Joanna Jedrzejczyk (6-0, Poland) Vs. Juliana Lima (6-1, Brazil) in San Jose, California at UFC on FOX 12: Brown Vs. Lawler - July 26, 2014
* Joanna Jedrzejczyk wins by unanimous decision. (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
July 3rd, 2014: TUF 20 Cast revealed!
(Left to Right) Joanne Calderwood, Rose Namajunas, Bec Rawlings, Jessica Penne, Angela Magana, Angela Hill, Heather Jo Clark, Tecia Torres, Emily Peters Kagan, Aisling Daly, Lisa Ellis, Alex Chambers, Carla Esparza, Randa Markos, Justine Kish, Felice Herrig
8 former Invicta Strawweights: (See photos and short bios on this page)
Carla Esparza (9-2, USA) (Invicta SW Champion)
Tecia Torres (4-0, USA)
Joanne Calderwood (8-0, Scotland)
Alex Chambers (4-1, Australia)
Felice Herrig (9-5, USA)
Bec Rawlings (5-3, Australia)
Emily Peters Kagan (3-1, USA)
Rose Namajunas (2-1, USA)
8 Strawweights selected through tryouts: (See photos and short bios here and here )
Heather Jo Clark (6-4, USA)
Aisling Daly (14-5, Ireland)
Lisa Ellis (15-8, USA)
Angela Hill (1-0, USA)
Justine Kish (4-0, USA)
Angela Magana (11-6, USA)
Randa Markos (4-1, Canada)
Jessica Penne (11-2, USA) (Former Invcita Atomweight Champion)
August 5, 2014 - UFC signs unbeaten Hawaiian Strawweight, Kailin Curran (3-0, USA)
September 10, 2014 - TUF 20 is set to debut on FOX Sports 1.
Teams are selected, and matches are made based on a ranking system:
Bracket A
#1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #16 Angela Hill (Team Melendez)
#8 Bec Rawlings (Team Melendez) vs. #9 Justine Kish (Team Pettis) (Out due to injury, replaced by #3 Tecia Torres)
#5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis) vs. #12 Angela Magana (Team Melendez)
#4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #13 Lisa Ellis (Team Melendez)
Bracket B
#2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #15 Emily Kagan (Team Melendez)
#7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez) vs. #10 Alex Chambers (Team Pettis)
#6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #11 Heather Clark (Team Melendez)
#3 Tecia Torres (Team Melendez) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
1st Fight: #3 Tecia Torres (Team Melendez) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
Randa Markos def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3.
2nd Fight: #2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #15 Emily Kagan (Team Melendez)
Joanne Calderwood def. Emily Kagan via majority decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19), Round 2.
3rd Fight: #4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #13 Lisa Ellis (Team Melendez)
Jessica Penne def. Lisa Ellis via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
4th Fight: #1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #16 Angela Hill (Team Melendez)
Carla Esparza def. Angela Hill via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
5th Fight: #6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #11 Heather Clark (Team Melendez)
Felice Herrig def. Heather Clark via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18), Round 2.
6th Fight: #5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis) vs. #12 Angela Magana (Team Melendez)
Aisling Daly def. Angela Magana via TKO, Round 3.
7th Fight: #7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez) vs. #10 Alex Chambers (Team Pettis)
Rose Namajunas def. Alex Chambers via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
8th Fight: #3 Tecia Torres (Team Pettis) vs. #8 Bec Rawlings (Team Melendez)
Tecia Torres def. Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision, Round 2.
Quarter-Finals:
1st Fight: #6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
Randa Markos wins via submission (Modified Armbar), Round 1.
2nd Fight: #4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis)
Jessica Penne wins via unanimous decision, Round 3.
3rd Fight: #1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #3 Tecia Torres (Team Pettis)
Carla Esparza wins via majority decision, Round 2.
4th Fight: #2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez)
Rose Namajunas wins via submission (Kimura), Round 1.
November, 2014 - UFC signs South Korean AW Seo Hee Ham (15-5 MMA). She will compete at SW in the UFC, debut vs. Joanne Calderwood at TUF 20 Finale.
November 22, 2014 - Third UFC SW bout is Paige VanZant (3-1, USA) Vs. Kailin Curran (3-0, USA) (Originally scheduled for October 4 in Halifax, Nova Scotia at UFC Fight Night 54: MacDonald Vs. Saffiedine - Fight moved due to VanZant injury)
* Paige VanZant wins by TKO, Round 3. (4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Both fighters receive a $50,000 bonus for FOTN.
December 12, 2014 - The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 13, 2014 - Claudia Gadelha (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC, Brazil) Vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC, Poland) booked for UFC on FOX 13.
Earlier News, Rumours, Cast Profiles, etc. :
TUF 20: Guide to the Strawweight Division
BY NATHAN MCCARTER
DECEMBER 13, 2013
Dana White announced on a conference call this week that the UFC has acquired 11 strawweight fighters from Invicta FC. Those 11 will compete in a tournament on The Ultimate Fighter's 20th season to determine the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion.
The 115-pound division has long been considered the deepest division in women's MMA. However, it has not been a long time where the elite have been able to compete against one another.
It was Bellator who signed several of the top female athletes to have them compete in a tournament back in 2010. Longtime divisional standout Megumi Fujii would take on Zoila Frausto Gurgel in the finals and lose a controversial decision.
Since then, the division has changed. Gurgel moved to 125-pounds, Jessica Aguilar moved to the top of the division with a seven-fight win streak and Invicta FC appeared on the scene.
Invicta finally began to build a true elite 115-pound division, and Carla Esparza would take their inaugural title. The organization brought in several of the top ranked women from around the world and helped foster prospects such as Tecia Torres.
A lot of hard work has paid off, and now the deepest division of women's MMA will be under the big top of the UFC.
TUF 20 Non-Top 10 Strawweights
Alex "Astro Girl" Chambers (4-1, Australia)
Chambers is 35 years old, and she is on a two-fight win streak. That includes a 95-second submission victory over Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 5. Her lone loss was in 2012 to Mizuki Inoue.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: ALEX CHAMBERS ARTICLE here
Emily Kagan (3-1, USA)
Kagan is 1-1 in Invicta FC. She lost to Rose Namajunas, but rebounded with a stoppage victory over Ashley Cummins.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: EMILY KAGAN ARTICLE here
"Thug" Rose Namajunas (2-1, USA)
This 21-year-old is a fantastic prospect who is coming off a loss to Tecia Torres in a fun fight at Invicta FC 6.
She has a fantastic array of strikes, and has shown good submission skills as well. Her flying armbar shocked folks at Invicta FC 5. All three of her professional bouts have taken place at Invicta.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: ROSE NAMAJUNAS ARTICLE here
...continued...
December, 2013 - UFC announces TUF 20 with a cast of Strawweights. The season will be a 16-woman tournament to decide the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion. The UFC acquired 11 contracts from Invicta FC: Carla Esparza, Alex Chambers, Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Bec Hyatt, Emily Kagan, Julianna Lima, Rose Namajunas, Tecia Torres, Paige VanZant, and Joanne Calderwood.
*** Three of the rumoured participants are signed to the UFC, but will not compete on TUF 20: Paige VanZant (due to age restrictions), Claudia Gadelha (due to her management's concerns over making the SW limit frequently during the show), and Juliana Lima (due to language barrier).
February, 2014 - TUF 20 Coaches are announced: UFC LW Champion Anthony Pettis & Gilbert Melendez. The two will meet at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada for the UFC LW Championship.
April, 2014 - Tryouts are held in Las Vegas to determine the remaining 8 cast members for TUF 20.
June 11, 2014 - UFC books first Strawweight bout in UFC history as Claudia Gadelha (11-0, Brazil) Vs. Tina Lahdemaki (5-0, Finland) in Atlantic City, New Jersey at UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone Vs. Miller -July 16, 2014
* Claudia Gadelha wins by unianimous decision. (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
June 30, 2014 - UFC books second Strawweight bout in UFC history as Joanna Jedrzejczyk (6-0, Poland) Vs. Juliana Lima (6-1, Brazil) in San Jose, California at UFC on FOX 12: Brown Vs. Lawler - July 26, 2014
* Joanna Jedrzejczyk wins by unanimous decision. (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
July 3rd, 2014: TUF 20 Cast revealed!
(Left to Right) Joanne Calderwood, Rose Namajunas, Bec Rawlings, Jessica Penne, Angela Magana, Angela Hill, Heather Jo Clark, Tecia Torres, Emily Peters Kagan, Aisling Daly, Lisa Ellis, Alex Chambers, Carla Esparza, Randa Markos, Justine Kish, Felice Herrig
8 former Invicta Strawweights: (See photos and short bios on this page)
Carla Esparza (9-2, USA) (Invicta SW Champion)
Tecia Torres (4-0, USA)
Joanne Calderwood (8-0, Scotland)
Alex Chambers (4-1, Australia)
Felice Herrig (9-5, USA)
Bec Rawlings (5-3, Australia)
Emily Peters Kagan (3-1, USA)
Rose Namajunas (2-1, USA)
8 Strawweights selected through tryouts: (See photos and short bios here and here )
Heather Jo Clark (6-4, USA)
Aisling Daly (14-5, Ireland)
Lisa Ellis (15-8, USA)
Angela Hill (1-0, USA)
Justine Kish (4-0, USA)
Angela Magana (11-6, USA)
Randa Markos (4-1, Canada)
Jessica Penne (11-2, USA) (Former Invcita Atomweight Champion)
August 5, 2014 - UFC signs unbeaten Hawaiian Strawweight, Kailin Curran (3-0, USA)
September 10, 2014 - TUF 20 is set to debut on FOX Sports 1.
Teams are selected, and matches are made based on a ranking system:
Bracket A
#1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #16 Angela Hill (Team Melendez)
#8 Bec Rawlings (Team Melendez) vs. #9 Justine Kish (Team Pettis) (Out due to injury, replaced by #3 Tecia Torres)
#5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis) vs. #12 Angela Magana (Team Melendez)
#4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #13 Lisa Ellis (Team Melendez)
Bracket B
#2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #15 Emily Kagan (Team Melendez)
#7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez) vs. #10 Alex Chambers (Team Pettis)
#6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #11 Heather Clark (Team Melendez)
#3 Tecia Torres (Team Melendez) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
1st Fight: #3 Tecia Torres (Team Melendez) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
Randa Markos def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3.
2nd Fight: #2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #15 Emily Kagan (Team Melendez)
Joanne Calderwood def. Emily Kagan via majority decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19), Round 2.
3rd Fight: #4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #13 Lisa Ellis (Team Melendez)
Jessica Penne def. Lisa Ellis via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
4th Fight: #1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #16 Angela Hill (Team Melendez)
Carla Esparza def. Angela Hill via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
5th Fight: #6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #11 Heather Clark (Team Melendez)
Felice Herrig def. Heather Clark via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18), Round 2.
6th Fight: #5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis) vs. #12 Angela Magana (Team Melendez)
Aisling Daly def. Angela Magana via TKO, Round 3.
7th Fight: #7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez) vs. #10 Alex Chambers (Team Pettis)
Rose Namajunas def. Alex Chambers via submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1.
8th Fight: #3 Tecia Torres (Team Pettis) vs. #8 Bec Rawlings (Team Melendez)
Tecia Torres def. Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision, Round 2.
Quarter-Finals:
1st Fight: #6 Felice Herrig (Team Pettis) vs. #14 Randa Markos (Team Pettis)
Randa Markos wins via submission (Modified Armbar), Round 1.
2nd Fight: #4 Jessica Penne (Team Pettis) vs. #5 Aisling Daly (Team Pettis)
Jessica Penne wins via unanimous decision, Round 3.
3rd Fight: #1 Carla Esparza (Team Pettis) vs. #3 Tecia Torres (Team Pettis)
Carla Esparza wins via majority decision, Round 2.
4th Fight: #2 Joanne Calderwood (Team Pettis) vs. #7 Rose Namajunas (Team Melendez)
Rose Namajunas wins via submission (Kimura), Round 1.
November, 2014 - UFC signs South Korean AW Seo Hee Ham (15-5 MMA). She will compete at SW in the UFC, debut vs. Joanne Calderwood at TUF 20 Finale.
November 22, 2014 - Third UFC SW bout is Paige VanZant (3-1, USA) Vs. Kailin Curran (3-0, USA) (Originally scheduled for October 4 in Halifax, Nova Scotia at UFC Fight Night 54: MacDonald Vs. Saffiedine - Fight moved due to VanZant injury)
* Paige VanZant wins by TKO, Round 3. (4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Both fighters receive a $50,000 bonus for FOTN.
December 12, 2014 - The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 13, 2014 - Claudia Gadelha (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC, Brazil) Vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC, Poland) booked for UFC on FOX 13.
Earlier News, Rumours, Cast Profiles, etc. :
TUF 20: Guide to the Strawweight Division
BY NATHAN MCCARTER
DECEMBER 13, 2013
Dana White announced on a conference call this week that the UFC has acquired 11 strawweight fighters from Invicta FC. Those 11 will compete in a tournament on The Ultimate Fighter's 20th season to determine the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion.
The 115-pound division has long been considered the deepest division in women's MMA. However, it has not been a long time where the elite have been able to compete against one another.
It was Bellator who signed several of the top female athletes to have them compete in a tournament back in 2010. Longtime divisional standout Megumi Fujii would take on Zoila Frausto Gurgel in the finals and lose a controversial decision.
Since then, the division has changed. Gurgel moved to 125-pounds, Jessica Aguilar moved to the top of the division with a seven-fight win streak and Invicta FC appeared on the scene.
Invicta finally began to build a true elite 115-pound division, and Carla Esparza would take their inaugural title. The organization brought in several of the top ranked women from around the world and helped foster prospects such as Tecia Torres.
A lot of hard work has paid off, and now the deepest division of women's MMA will be under the big top of the UFC.
TUF 20 Non-Top 10 Strawweights
Alex "Astro Girl" Chambers (4-1, Australia)
Chambers is 35 years old, and she is on a two-fight win streak. That includes a 95-second submission victory over Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 5. Her lone loss was in 2012 to Mizuki Inoue.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: ALEX CHAMBERS ARTICLE here
Emily Kagan (3-1, USA)
Kagan is 1-1 in Invicta FC. She lost to Rose Namajunas, but rebounded with a stoppage victory over Ashley Cummins.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: EMILY KAGAN ARTICLE here
"Thug" Rose Namajunas (2-1, USA)
This 21-year-old is a fantastic prospect who is coming off a loss to Tecia Torres in a fun fight at Invicta FC 6.
She has a fantastic array of strikes, and has shown good submission skills as well. Her flying armbar shocked folks at Invicta FC 5. All three of her professional bouts have taken place at Invicta.
FULL MEET THE STRAWWEIGHTS: ROSE NAMAJUNAS ARTICLE here
...continued...
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