A new season of the Ultimate Fighter has arrived and few previous seasons have been met with such excitement, as this season will crown the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion. The coaches are current UFC Lightweight Champ Anthony Pettis and former Strikeforce Champ Gilbert Melendez. UFC announced eight fighters they acquired from Invicita Fighting Championships who will compete, as well as eight other strawweight women who they chose through tryouts in Las Vegas.

TUF 20 Episode 1 Recap

First introduced on the show was Carla Esparza, who is the former Invicita Strawweight Champion. She gave her belt up to go for UFC Gold. Esparza trains out of Team Oyama in Irvine, California. She has a professional record of 9-2 with wins over fellow cast mates Bec Rawlings and Felice Herrig.

Next we were introduced to Felice Herrig, who fights out of Crystal Lake, Illinois. She talked about how she is into interacting with fans. She also stated that she has to market herself as a fighter and that she is her own brand. Felice said she thought about retiring after her last fight — a loss against Tecia Torres, but this UFC offer changed her mind. She trains with Team Curran and has a professional record of 9-5

Alex Chambers was next to be introduced. The Australian born fighter has a degree in astrophysics but gave up a good job to choose her passion. She had one fight in Invicita, which was a submission over Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 6.

We saw some clips of the women trying out for the open spots. They started with grappling drills and then they went on to striking drills. Dana kept warning the fighters not to go too hard and that he knows they’re all very aggressive.

We are next seeing Angela Hill — a very inexperienced fighter from New York who currently trains in Asheville, North Carolina. Hill has a Muay Thai background but only one MMA bout to her credit. She actually lives in the gym as we saw her getting up from her bed and walking right into the gym area.

Heather Clark who has a record of 6-4 was the next fighter introduced. She is training in Las Vegas with UFC veteran Miesha Tate and has previously fought cast mate Felice Herrig at Bellator 94 in March 2013 in a losing effort.

Angela Magana was the next fighter to appear and she trains in Thailand. She has a 12-year-old daughter who lives with her in Phuket. She seemed to enjoy the hardcore nature of the training in Thailand. She also enjoys the very beautiful scenery in Thailand. Magana has a record of 11-6 and has fought UFC Veteran Jessica Eye and cast mate Jessica Penne.

The next scene we are shown is the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas. All the fighters are arriving. The wall was sporting the traditional giant photos of coaches Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez. White walked into the gym with both coaching staffs behind him. White complimented the cast, saying they are some of the best at 115-pounders and that this was the first ever season that will crown a champion, “it will be the hardest experience of your life.” White stated before the coaches were given an introduction.

This season had a bit of a different scenario as far as the teams go. The UFC Matchmakers have ranked the fighters 1-16. The matches have already been decided but both coaching staffs were able to evaluate the talent before they decided who to pick. The coaches did not know the seeds, but were able to pick who they want. The opposing team was awarded the fighter matchmakers have seeded against the other teams pick. Example 1. vs. 16., 2. vs. 15. etc. The traditional coin flip to decide who got first pick or first match up is done. The coin landed on Team Pettis and they decided to take the first pick.

Team Pettis selects – 1. Carla Esparza
Team Melendez receives – 16. Angela Hill

Team Melendez selects- 3. Tecia Torres
Team Pettis receives – 14. Randa Markos

Team Pettis selects 2. Joanne Calderwood
Team Melendez receives 15. Emily Kagan

Team Melendez selects – 7. Rose Namajunas
Team Pettis receives – 10. Alex Chambers

Team Pettis selects – 4. Jessica Penne
Team Melendez receives – 13. Lisa Ellis

Team Melendez selects – 11. Heather Clark
Team Pettis receives – 6. Felice Herrig

Team Pettis selects – 9. Justine Kish
Team Melendez receives – 8. Bec Rawlings

Team Melendez selects – 12. Angela Magana
Team Pettis receives – 5. Aisling Daly

All fighters faced off. The only noteworthy one was Herrig and Clark, as both women got in each others faces in a very heated face-off which saw Clark push Herrig’s face away. White announced there will be a Harley Davidson given to the winner as well as two $25,000 bonuses for “Performance of The Season” and one for “Fight of the Season”.

Team Melendez got to choose the first fight and they selected the number three seeded Tecia Torres to fight first against number fourteen Randa Markos.

Markos was profiled and she revealed her and her family escaped her home of Iraq when she was very young. She moved to Canada eventually where she still lives and trains today in Windsor, Ontario. She also spoke about enjoying her job in pharmaceuticals. She was shown fishing and states that her husband is a former fighter.

3. Tecia Torres (Team Melendez ) VS 14. Randa Markos (Team Pettis)

Referee- Herb Dean

Round 1- Torres started with some leg kicks and punches. Markos charged forward but Torres countered nicely and side kicked to the mid section. Torres went forward but Markos greeted her with a take down attempt. They sprawl, Markos attempted a heel hook but Torres avoided it and they made their way back to the feet. Markos pressured Torres against the cage — they fight for a takedown. Torres went for the back but Markos kept position on top and Torres attempted some strikes as Markos returned to her feet. Markos landed a knee from the clinch and they return to the center of the Octagon. Torres went forward with some hooks and other strikes, but Markos is able to avoid and block some of the strikes. Markos landed a body lock and they hit the floor. Markos passed half guard while Torres was staying very active on her back with strikes and a submission attempt. Torres tried a reverse triangle but couldn’t sink it up. Torres couldn’t quite get the submission as Markos counters with knees to the body.

Round 2- Torres started off with a couple of inside leg kicks. Markos returned fire with a leg kick. Torres rushed in with a flurry. Torres threw a body kick that Markos caught and sent them to the fight to the floor. Torres tried to grab a leg for a submission, but Markos went to half guard. She passed into side control, but Torres recovered her guard quickly. Torres attempted an amrbar that had Markos in some trouble. However she was able to escape and return to the top. She went into side control and then made her way to mount and land some devastating elbows as the bell signalled the end round 2. Markos layed on her back as the round ended — Coach Pettis urged her to get up because there was possibility of a third round.

Judges declare it a draw and their will be a 3rd sudden victory round.

Round 3- Markos started off by landing a kick to the inside of Torres’ leg. Torres went in with a straight punch. Torres continued to go forward with different offensive combinations. Markos landed another leg kick. Torres returned with more offensive techniques and strikes. They went into the clinch and Markos landed a knee to Torres’ head. Markos went for a takedown Torres spun her off into the cage. Torres backed up as they circled around the cage with little activity. Markos went for a takedown and was successful. On the ground Markos went to side control and kept Torres from going to her feet. Torres eventually got up but Markos was latched onto her back. Torres dropped down, but Markos reversed and wound up on top. Markos went into mount and finished with some punches as the bell ended the fight.

Randa Markos defeats Tecia Torres via unanimous decision

Markos celebrated as the fourteenth seeded fighter upset the number three ranked Torres. Melendez and Torres were both over heard thinking that she did enough to win the fight. Markos’ victory gave Team Pettis control to pick the next fight. They selected Joanne Calderwood vs. Emily Kagan.

Next Week- Joanne Calderwood vs. Emily Kagan

By Johnny Brown