On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the UFC aired the sixth episode of the 20th season of its famed reality show, The Ultimate Fighter.
The show is serving as a title tournament for the first time in its history, showcasing the 115-pound, women’s strawweight division.
The roster for The Ultimate Fighter 20 started to take shape late last year when the promotion announced its acquisition of a number of strawweight fighters from the Invicta FC roster, including reigning champion Carla Esparza, unbeaten Tecia Torres, Bellator veteran Felice Herrig, undefeated Scottish fighter Joanne Calderwood, Australians Bec Rawlings and Alex Chambers, Rose Namajunas and Emily Kagan.
On April 28, the UFC held tryouts to find eight additional cast members who would join the Invicta imports and round out the field of 16 on the show. On July 3, the promotion revealed those additions: Heather Jo Clark, Aisling Daly, Lisa Ellis, Angela Hill, Justine Kish, Angela Magana, Randa Markos and Jessica Penne.
The season filmed for six weeks beginning in July. The season was coached by former Strikeforce champion and UFC title challenger Gilbert Melendez and current lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. Pettis and Melendez will fight for the 155-pound title following the show’s conclusion.
For the show’s opening round fights, the fighters were ranked from No. 1 to No. 16 by UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby and matched accordingly. Team Pettis won the coin flip and opted to pick the first fighter. When a fighter was selected, their opposing-ranked fighter was automatically put on the other team.
*Due to the ACL injury suffered by No. 9-ranked Justine Kish, Kish and Torres switched teams.
No. 2 Joanne Calderwood def. No. 15 Emily Kagan by majority decision (Episode No. 2)
No. 14 Randa Markos def. No. 3 Tecia Torres by unanimous decision (Episode No. 1)
No. 4 Jessica Penne def. No. 13 Lisa Ellis by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:47 (Episode No. 3)
No. 5 Aisling Daly vs. No. 12 Angela Magana
No. 6 Felice Herrig def. No. 11 Heather Jo Clark by unanimous decision (Episode No. 5)
No. 7 Rose Namajunas vs. No. 10 Alex Chambers
No. 8 Bec Rawlings vs. No. 3 Tecia Torres*
*No. 9-ranked Justine Kish was forced out on Episode No. 5 due to a torn ACL and was replaced by Torres
For the sixth bout of the season, coach Anthony Pettis selected No. 5-ranked Aisling Daly to fight No. 12-ranked Angela Magana of Team Melendez.
The pair immediately clinched along the fence and jostled for position. Magana scored with a trip and quickly passed to side control. Daly looked to escape, but Magana took her back with both hooks and threatened with a rear-naked choke. Daly didn’t panic and was able to escape the submission attempt. Daly attempted to stand and Magana was content to hold on without attacking, prompting the referee to separate them. Late in the round Magana looked for a takedown, but was countered by a kimura attempt from Daly. Daly opened up with her hands in the waning seconds of the round.
Daly continued to let her hands go to start round two and stuffed an early takedown attempt from Magana. Magana looked for a takedown along the fence, but Daly powered out and landed short punches from close quarters. Daly got in deep on a single-leg takedown and brought the fight to the mat. The Irish fighter was unable to keep Magana down for long, but continued to inflict damage. From standing, Daly was able to transition to Magana’s back and return the fight to the ground in the final minute of the frame. Daly attacked with a rear-naked choke of her own, but Magana survived the round.
In the sudden victory round, the fighters traded kicks early, but Daly again looked to take the back of Magana. Daly secured both hooks and delivered a series of right hands before flattening out Magana. Magana rolled to her back and Daly continued to score with strikes from the mount. Magana made no attempt to defend and the constant flow of punches from Daly forced the referee to waive off the bout.
On episode seven, No. 7-ranked Rose Namajunas will face off with No. 10-ranked Alex Chamber.