The Ultimate Fighter 23: “Team Joanna vs Team Claudia” premiered tonight on FOX Sports 1 and TSN. This season’s debut episode included all 16 elimination-round bouts as male light heavyweights and female strawweights began their quests to become TUF 23 champion and earn a UFC contract.
Led by UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna JÄ™drzejczyk and rival Claudia “Claudinha” Gadelha, two opposing teams – each composed of four male light heavyweights and four female strawweights – compete against each other this season. Tonight, 16 fighters made it into the “TUF House.”
The Ultimate Fighter 23 marks the third season in the long-running show’s history to feature female competitors. TUF 18 in 2013 included eight female bantamweights, and the all-female TUF 20 season in 2014 included 16 female strawweights who battled until only one, Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza, was left standing as the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. This season features some of the sport’s top 115-pound female prospects who hope to one day compete for UFC gold.
TUF 23 Premiere Quick Results:
– Amanda Bobby Cooper (1-1) def. Mellony Geugjes (0-1) by Submission (Armbar) at 1:00 of Round 1
– Lanchana Green (0-1) def. Ashley Cummins (3-3) by TKO (Knees & Punches) at 3:11 of Round 2
– Jamie Moyle (3-1) def. Alyssa Krahn (3-1) by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:11 of Round 1
– Ashley Yoder (4-1) def. Jodie Esquibel (5-1) by Split Decision (20-18, 20-18, 18-20)
– J.J. Aldrich (2-1) def. Kristi Lopez (2-0) by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)
– Tatiana Suarez Padilla (3-0) def. Chel-c Bailey (2-0) by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)
– Kate Jackson (7-2-1) def. Irene Cabello Rivera (6-2) by TKO (Punches) at 4:47 of Round 2
– Helen Harper (4-1) def. Amy Cadwell Montenegro (7-2) by Submission (Armbar) at 2:09 of Round 1
Following the elimination bouts, teams were chosen by the coaches. Aldrich, Moyle, Yoder and Harper will compete for “Team Joanna.” Padilla, Jackson, Cooper and Green will fight for “Team Claudia.” Top picks Aldrich and Padilla face off in the first female quarterfinal bout, which will air on May 4th.