36 female fighters trying out for TUF 20

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, for various reasons. 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.

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Statistics: Posted by Labeouf — Apr 28. 2014, 13:02 — Replies 4 — Views 71

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