Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter” had higher stakes than any other season in the show’s history. 16 of the world’s best women’s strawweights entered the tournament and only one would come away as the UFC’s inaugural women’s strawweight champion.
The season’s finale for the title featured finalists Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas colliding. The just 22-year-old Namajunas impressed so much so during the season that she came into the finale as the betting favorite over former Invicta FC champion Esparza. However, Esparza would prove to be too much for Namajunas, submitting the young gun via third round rear-naked choke.
Esparza will now be defending her title for the first time in the co-main event of UFC 185 against undefeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Jedrezjczyk won a controversial split decision over then undefeated Claudia Gadelha to earn her shot at the title.
Before Esparza and Jedrezjczyk meet, take a look back at Esparza’s bout against Namajunas where she became the first ever UFC women’s strawweight champion.
