Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held its tryouts for season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) last weekend in Las Vegas, after naming UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey and division number one contender Cat Zingano as coaches.
And it got one hell of a turnout.
In fact, one thing became very clear after seeing fighters like Tonya Evinger, Tara LaRosa, Roxanne Modafferi, Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke. This isn't a proving ground for up-and-coming talent. It's an audition for the female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who have been busting their ass on the regional circuit waiting for the day UFC opened its doors to women.
That day has finally come
The 45-percenters are rejoicing. Georges St. Pierre? Not so much.
As you can tell from some of the reactions in the above video, it's a dream come true for most of the ladies in the room. That could be the driving force behind TUF 18, premiering in September on FOX Sports 1, which in turn could give us one of the best seasons in years.
If not ever.
Assuming the guys don't muck it up by being douchebags. Oh yeah, it's coed. Disaster waiting to happen?
We shall see.