White: UFC discussed Rousey as 'TUF' coach potential before promotional debut

MONTREAL – UFC President Dana White dropped a quick bombshell at the tail end of Saturday’s UFC 158 preliminary card on FX when he announced Ronda Rousey will coach Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

She’ll coach opposite the April winner of Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano on a season that will feature both female and male 135-pounders living in the “TUF” house together.

Rousey’s win over Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 this past month, her UFC debut and the first women’s fight in promotion history, obviously paved the way for her coaching opportunity this fall.

White said that development, as well as other potential things in the works, were predicated on Rousey winning and essentially going over with fans as well as she has so far. He said the UFC had discussions about her being a potential “TUF” coach prior to her first-round armbar win over Carmouche.

“Obviously her winning the fight was a big deal,” White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following the post-event news conference for UFC 158 on Saturday in Montreal. “There were a lot of things going on for that fight that determined (things). We had kicked it around that maybe it could happen.”

White said he doesn’t have any concerns about having a big enough talent pool to fill a cast of women’s bantamweights for the house.

Tryouts for the show will take place April 15 in Las Vegas, two days after the current Season 17 live finale. On that finale, Tate and Zingano fight in the second women’s bout in UFC history – which now has even more at stake.

“We already know we have enough women to do it, and every time you do tryouts people pop up that you never knew about,” White said.

Rousey and Tate have history. It was Tate who held the Strikeforce title when Rousey took it from her in one of the most talked-about women’s MMA fights in history. Tate has been pining for a rematch, and she could get it, plus the “TUF” coaching gig opposite her nemesis, with a win.

“TUF 18? will begin shooting this summer with the series likely to debut in September. That would mean Rousey’s next defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title is not likely until December after the show wraps.

With Rousey’s reported strong showing with pay-per-view numbers at UFC 157, one likely spot for her title fight against whoever winds up coaching against her would be at the UFC’s annual year-end pay-per-view, though that’s far from official.

(Pictured: Ronda Rousey)