The Ultimate Fighter 20 debuted last week to rave reviews and not-so-great television ratings.
But regardless of the show’s ability to capture fan imagination—it has grown long in the tooth over the years—there is no doubt that the latest version of The Ultimate Fighter is the most interesting in years. From the high-level competitors to the unique new seeding and tournament structure, it is a breath of fresh air.
In a house filled with title contenders, only one woman will emerge as the new UFC strawweight champion. Today, we take a look at five competitors who have the inside track to December’s championship fight.
Carla Esparza (Seed: No. 1)
Esparza, the former Invicta strawweight champion, is the odds-on favorite to win the season and become the first UFC strawweight champion.
Under the UFC’s new Ultimate Fighter seeding system, Esparza was ranked No. 1 going into the house. And rightly so. As the centerpiece of the Invicta division acquisition by the UFC late last year, Esparza was given slight preferential treatment due to her status. All of the Invicta fighters were paid a salary to wait until TUF began filming; Esparza’s pay was higher.
Esparza’s grinding style is tailor-made for a healthy run through the Ultimate Fighter house. She is adept with submissions but fights to her strengths and fights smart. That can take her a long way in a tournament so densely packed into six weeks of filming.
Esparza is the favorite for a reason, and she could very well be holding a UFC championship belt by the end of 2014.
Jessica Penne (Seed: No. 4)
For the past four years, Penne has competed at atomweight (105 pounds). But for the opportunity to appear on The Ultimate Fighter and make her way to the UFC roster, she moved back up to her old strawweight stomping grounds.
Penne is a veteran combat fighter, having competed since 2006. Her last lost came when she gave up the Invicta atomweight championship to current title holder Michelle Waterson.
Eight of Penne’s 11 wins have come by submission. It is easily her strongest suit. That, combined with her veteran guile, make her one of the dark-horse favorites going into the season.
Rose Namajunas (Seed: No. 7)
Namajunas has just three professional fights to her record, but she is one of the more recognizable names in the house for UFC fans due to her long-term relationship with fiance Pat Barry. Namajunas has personality in spades, and her flying armbar submission of Kathina Catron in Invicta will no doubt make UFC highlight reels should she ultimately make the finals in December.
Namajunas has improved drastically since her amateur fighting days, and there is little doubt she has improved immeasurably since her loss to Tecia Torres last July. It will be interesting to see if Namajunas’ skill set can ultimately match up to her personality; if it does, watch out. The UFC might have its first true strawweight sensation on its hands.
Dana White has said there is potentially a Ronda Rousey on this season of The Ultimate Fighter. Was he referring to Namajunas? Time will tell.
Joanne Calderwood (Seed: No. 2)
Calderwood, the charming Scottish former muay thai champion, is the best striker in the Ultimate Fighter house. That is reason enough to give her the No. 2 seed, which matchmaker Sean Shelby did.
She found her way to martial arts by accompanying her brother to his classes, then fell in love with it. She won multiple world titles in muay thai before making her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2012. Since then, she is undefeated and went into the Ultimate Fighter house as a truly dangerous opponent.
Calderwood has the potential to be a major star, and that star will rise even higher if she captures the UFC strawweight championship.
Tecia Torres (Seed: No. 3)
Yes, Torres lost in her first bout on the show, dropping a decision to Randa Markos in last week’s episode.
But we have seen losing fighters brought back into the competition after injuries or other ailments befall their fellow competitors. It has happened plenty of times. And since we’ve already been given hints that someone is forced to go home (during the season preview that aired after last week’s episode), it is not out of the realm of possibility that Torres will get one more shot in the Octagon.
She’s charismatic and fun to watch. And she’s highly ranked. If someone is forced to go home, my money is on Torres getting back into the competition.
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