Dana White on ‘TUF 20’: Best decision I ever made was to bring women in

BANGOR, Maine – It’s part of UFC President Dana White’s job to hype every season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show as a must-see product. He’s done the same song and dance for years, but when discussing “TUF 20,” the first-ever all-female season set to debut next month, he seems to really mean it.

“I’m really, really excited and proud of this season,” White told MMAjunkie. “The best decision I ever made was to bring women in (to the UFC).”

“TUF 20” differs from every previous season of the nine-year-old competition/reality series. As previously announced, it’s the first all-female cast and is essentially the Trojan horse for the introduction of the women’s strawweight division.

Moreover, and most importantly of all, it’ll crown the UFC’s inaugural 115-pound champion.

The long-running reality series is usually used as a platform to discover the next hidden gems in the sport. That’s not the case with this season, though. Among the 16 ”TUF 20” cast members are some of the highest-ranked fighters in the division. Rather than the usual six-figure contract, a UFC championship belt is on the line.

“TUF 20” officially wrapped filming on Thursday, and White knows exactly how the season is going to play out. While many believe the “TUF” format has run its course, the UFC boss begs to differ, thanks in part to the experience level on the upcoming season.

“(The fighters are) technically unbelievable,” White said. “We had two fights yesterday, and both fights were unbelievable. Great fights, really technical. These girls are nasty. I can’t tell you how pumped I am. It’s really fun. There are a few girls on this season that remind me of (UFC women’s bantamweight champion) Ronda (Rousey). They have that killer instinct.”

In the span of less than two years, White’s stance on women’s MMA has changed dramatically. He was once avidly opposed to the idea of females competing under the UFC banner, but now there are two women’s divisions (the strawweight division officially debuted this past month at UFC Fight Night 45), with more potentially on the way.

“I’m so sold on women fighting,” White said. “Years ago, this whole thing started, and look at how much it’s evolved. I look at somebody like Ronda Rousey, and she is so empowering to women and to little girls.

“I was at dinner last night with the whole cast of ‘The Ultimate Fighter 20,’ and I was telling them that this table could get up and clean out this casino right now. And these girls are 115 pounds. This season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ is unbelievable. I’m so happy that I made the choice.”

With UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and No. 1 contender Gilbert Melendez serving as coaches, “TUF 20” is set to debut Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FOX Sports 1. MMAjunkie will have episode recaps, as well as weekly guest bloggers to discuss the series.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.