The Cast of TUF 20
With taping commencing on July 1st, we’re less than two weeks away from the start of TUF 20 filming! Eight athletes from Invicta Fighting Championships are already cast for the first all-female season of The Ultimate Fighter. Thirty-six other women tried out on April 28th in Las Vegas for the remaining eight places and two alternate positions. Last year, it wasn’t until August after filming had finished for TUF 18 that the UFC officially announced the cast. However, speculation is already underway for this season, which has a monumental prize at the end – the inaugural UFC Strawweight Championship Title!
Since the tryouts took place, nine female fighters have already competed in or are scheduled to be in upcoming bouts, including: Angela Hill, Karina Taylor, Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, Jillian Lybarger, Danielle Taylor, Tyra Parker, Amy Montenegro, Mandy Polk and Sarah Schneider, and so they will not be a part of TUF 20.
Twenty-seven possible athletes remain. Today we will be looking at the 15 of those that have had more than 3 professional MMA fights and maintain a winning record. Those ladies are:
Jessica Penne
Photo Credit: Esther Lin for Invicta FC
11-2-0
Former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion
1-0-0 Shootboxing
Aisling Daly
Photo Credit: Esther Lin for Invicta FC
14-5-0
Former NAAFS Flyweight Champion
Justine Kish
Photo Credit: Pau Noikoon
4-0-0
1-0-0 Amateur MMA
14-1-0 Pro Muay Thai (World Champion)
2-0-0 Pro Boxing
Lisa Ellis
Photo Credit: Esther Lin for Invicta FC
15-8-0
Flyweight & 110 lbs Champion
3-1-0 Amateur MMA
0-1-0 Shootboxing
Heather Jo Clark
Photo Credit: AndrewDemattos.com
6-4-0
1-0-1 Pro Boxing
Nina Ansaroff
Photo Credit: Esther Lin for Invicta FC
6-3-0
3-0-0 Amateur MMA
Angela Magana
11-6-0
Michelle Ould
Photo Credit: michelleouldmma.com
7-3-0-2
0-1-0 Pro Boxing
Claire Fryer 
4-1-0
5-4-0 Amateur Muay Thai
2-2-0 Amateur Boxing
Randa Markos-Thomas
Photo Credit: Resurrection Fighting Alliance
4-1-0
Provincial Fighting Championships Strawweight Champion
3-1-0 Amateur MMA
Tessa Simpson
3-1-0
Kathina Catron
4-3-0
5-0-0 Amateur MMA
Paulina Granados
2-1-0
Amateur 110 lbs Champion
4-0-0 Amateur MMA
Diana Rael
5-3-0
Amateur 111 lbs Champion
2-2-0 Amateur MMA
Angelica Chavez
Photo Credit: AndrewDemattos.com
4-2-0
0-1-0 Pro Boxing
Some of the favourites so far on this list include the experienced veterans Jessice Penne, Aisling Daly, and Lisa Ellis. Randa Markos-Thomas has been promoted by Penne several times on twitter lately, which might be a sign of things to come. Interestingly, of the 15 athletes listed above, 7 are Invicta FC veterans, including the former Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne.
Tomorrow we will take an overall look at the other twelve athletes. While their professional records may be why they’ve been disregarded by some predictions and media outlets, amongst them is a BJJ world champion, as well as those with a wealth of amateur fighting experience.
