The Ultimate Fighter - 23 ª Season

For the first time ever light heavyweight men and strawweight women will compete on The Ultimate Fighter. But first they must face off in 16 elimination fights to get into the house. The coaches, UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and #1 contender Claudia Gadelha, watch the fights alongside UFC President Dana White. The two coaches pick their teams from the winners, and the first preliminary matchup is announced.

Khalil Rountree for Team Joanna versus Cory Hendricks for Team Claudia. Roundtree and Hendricks are training partners in Las Vegas who square off in the first fight of season 23.

Helen Harper is distraught after getting injured in practice and Cory and Khalil have a donut-eating contest at the house. Dana White rewards the fighters with a night of video gaming and two straw-weights face off for the first time this season.

Joanna lashes out at her fighters after a perceived lack of effort during training. A rallying cry by the Red Team rubs Team Claudia the wrong way. Then, in the third preliminary fight, a classic striker vs grappler matchup determines the next semifinal spot.

TUF 20 winner Carla Esparza pays a visit and helps Team Joanna during training. Abdel Medjedoub gets a disturbing call from home, putting his future in the competition in jeopardy. Then, two strawweights battle it out for a spot in the semifinals.